The Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield first opened its doors 1936, with the mission to provide direction and guidance to boys and young men growing up in the community. At that time, it was located in a house on the corner of Main and Governor Streets. When the Club moved to its current location in 1958, the 6,000 square foot building included a gymnasium, a woodshop, a games room, and a multi-purpose room.
Eighty-eight years later, the Club, a 501-c3 non-profit, has continued to be a beacon to the community. “Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens,” says Mike Flynn, Chief Executive Officer of BGCR.
Over the last three quarters of a century, the Club has increased both its physical size and membership. The latest addition, completed in 2023 and made possible by the generosity of private donors, increased the square footage to 30,000 feet. The expanded facility now includes a learning center, tech center, games room, middle school center, teen center, full-sized gym, art studio, outdoor soccer field, Olympic swimming pool, auxiliary gym, conference center, and rooftop play area. “We now have adequate space for everybody, and we are able to serve kids in a variety of ways,” says Flynn.
The Club now has more than 3,000 members (which obviously now includes girls), with an average daily attendance between 250 and 300 members during the school year. This number swells to nearly 550 members a day when school lets out, making it the largest state-licensed camp in Connecticut. The Club hires more than 125 seasonal employees for the summer to make sure that all campers are properly supervised. Many of the young adult staff were members themselves at one point.
Thanks to the continued support of the community, the Club can remain committed to its mission of never turning away any family for financial reasons. Scholarships and aid are available to all who need it. “The Club is here for everyone, but especially for those who need it most,” says Flynn.
For many, the Boys and Girls Club is a home away from home – an environment where kids thrive because of the relationships forged there. “Simply put, we impact young people’s lives for the better,” says Flynn.
We asked current Club members what is their favorite part of summer at the BGCR and what it means to them to be a member.
