Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco's Beacon at Carver Elementary School is one of our three locations serving the Bayview and Hunters Point community. We are proud to have two School-Based Clubs and our traditional Willie Mays Clubhouse within a mile of each other offering families numerous access points to our afterschool and summer programming.
Like all BGCSF locations, Beacon at Carver Elementary School offers youth the opportunity to stretch their wings and flex their skills while learning and engaging in a wide-range of fun activities with their peers. From reading and literacy support to athletics, cooking and arts and crafts, the program exposes kids to a future of a wide range of possibilities.
Girl Power!
One of our recent program additions is the Ladies In Power curriculum for third to fifth-grade girls. The curriculum is focused on mental and physical health and financial literacy, designed to strengthen the minds, bodies, and spirits of the young women at Beacon at Carver Elementary.
Another program, especially for girls, is the San Francisco Girls Chorus curriculum for our younger girls in Kindergarten to 2nd grade. Through rigorous, empowering music education, girls explore their creativity and build their confidence for success onstage and off.
Community Focus
One of the many ways in which our Beacon school-based Clubs align with BGCSF values is referred to as The Beacon Program Model, which “closes the gap between schools and community needs.” Our Club at Carver also focuses on supporting the local community. Youth are taught that leadership means giving back to the neighborhood that supports them. Curriculum highlights how a vision for a bright future inspires individual and community hope.
Recent Happenings
The last few months have been busy with a range of activities. In February, the second annual Black History Month door decorating contest engaged members in creating decorative bulletin boards that honored African Americans in the STEM field. On Valentine’s Day, the Club celebrated with a Valentine's Gram sale.
Youth also recently participated in The Peaceful Warriors program. Through this program, The Golden State Warriors, in partnership with Adobe, aim to inspire mental wellness for elementary-aged students. The program gives youth the tools to thrive in social circumstances through creativity. Activities support the culture of youth development in its goals to be an inclusive, safe, supportive and creative environment for all.
Members at Carver have a broad range of academic skills, interests, and learning styles. The programming here integrates BGCSF’s approach of using a wide variety of programs and strategies to support kids and meet them where they are. Youth participate in a daily dedicated Power Hour (homework support) as well as tutoring, and STEM enrichment programs.
Other core values such as healthy lifestyles are also an important part of programming. Every day at the Club, staff promote healthy habits and behaviors by providing youth with nutritious snacks; fun, engaging in fitness activities; and competitive sports.
As a Beacon site, BGCSF not only provides youth development and academic learning but also supports parents in skill development and helps families navigate schools. You can learn more about the Beacon model here. We are pleased to be involved in several Beacon partnerships that emphasize a wrap-around approach putting families and communities at the center. We are pleased and honored to have such a strong presence in supporting the Bayview and Hunters Point communities.
This week marks the official start of summer—and here at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco’s Excelsior Clubhouse, we can already feel the energy building. At Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (BGCSF), summer is a verb. It’s about movement, momentum, and joyful, purposeful action. As a Clubhouse Director, I have the privilege of witnessing our members' summer firsthand.
From hiking under the redwoods to mastering our ropes course, from swimming in the Noyo River to mountain biking and archery lessons, every day at Camp Mendocino is packed with bold first steps and joyful moments that shape young people’s futures.
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (BGCSF) had an incredible time celebrating NBA All-Star Game Weekend! We were honored to be a beneficiary of the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker program, which donates $1,900 for every assist made during the NBA All-Star Game. We are deeply grateful to the NBA, State Farm, and NBA Cares for their investment in our mission and our youth.