Keystone Club is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County’s premier leadership development program for high school-aged teens ages 14–18. Designed to empower young people to reach their full potential, Keystone Club provides meaningful opportunities for teens to build character, strengthen leadership skills, and make a positive impact in their community. Through Keystone Club, members take the lead—planning service projects, organizing events, and using their voice to advocate for issues that matter to them. It’s more than a program; it’s a platform for teens to grow into confident, responsible, and caring leaders.
Teen Programs
Keystone Club - Leadership in Action for Teens
What Teens Experience
- Leadership Development: Hands-on opportunities to lead meetings, plan initiatives, and build real-world skills
- Community Service: Projects that give back to Charlotte County and instill a lifelong commitment to service
- Academic & Career Readiness: Activities that support goal-setting, decision-making, and future planning
- Character & Confidence Building: A supportive environment where teens are encouraged to step up and stand out
- Youth Voice: Opportunities to represent the Club locally, regionally, and beyond
Making an Impact
Keystone Club members are actively involved in shaping their Club experience and serving as role models for younger members. Whether they are organizing a fundraiser, leading a volunteer project, or representing the Club at events, these teens are developing the skills and confidence needed to succeed in school, career, and life.
Why It Matters
Programs like Keystone Club ensure that teens have a safe place to belong, caring mentors to guide them, and meaningful opportunities to grow. By investing in teen leadership today, we are building stronger communities for tomorrow.
For more information on our teen programming, please call us at
(941)743-1507.
Sizzling Squad: Cooking Up Healthy Futures
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County, healthy lifestyles come to life through our teen-led Sizzling Squad program. Created and named by Club teens themselves, Sizzling Squad gives youth hands-on opportunities to learn healthy cooking skills, nutrition education, kitchen safety, teamwork, and leadership.
Each month, teens participate in interactive cooking experiences where they prepare healthy meals and snacks while learning about nutrition and wellness. Participants explore new ingredients, practice healthy habits, and build confidence in the kitchen with skills they can recreate at home for themselves and their families.
Beyond learning to cook, Sizzling Squad members also help serve weekly dinners to younger Club members, encouraging leadership, responsibility, and service to others. Through this program, teens are not only developing lifelong healthy habits but also making a positive impact within the Club community.
Youth of the Year
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County Youth of the Year program celebrates and develops teens who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, academic success, and commitment to living a healthy lifestyle. Recognized as the premier youth recognition program of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Youth of the Year empowers teens to build confidence, strengthen public speaking and leadership skills, and become advocates for themselves and their communities.
Participants engage in leadership development, community service, career exploration, healthy lifestyle activities, and mentorship opportunities while preparing speeches and sharing their personal stories. Through the program, teens gain valuable life skills, build positive relationships, and develop the confidence needed to pursue their goals and inspire others.
The program also encourages healthy decision-making, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth by providing youth with supportive mentors and opportunities to succeed both inside and outside of the Club.
