Summer Camp and Skills for Life: How the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is Setting Students Up for Success

By Aubree Herzog, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, 2026 St. Louis Fellow

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis serves youth ages 5 to 18 through a variety of different programs. Youth can participate in summer camp, teen, afterschool, or sports programs at 6 different club locations in the Greater St. Louis area. The clubs serve as a place for strong youth development, and as a safe and supportive environment. 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis - Herbert Hoover Club in the JeffVanderLou neighborhoods hosts a summer camp program with a variety of programming  including art class, a game room, a gym, a rock climbing wall, field trips into the city, and other recreational activities. 

Rock Climbing wall at Herbert Hoover Club

Deneen Busby, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said that the summer camp “reduces summer learning loss, so when they go back to school they’re not starting over again. It keeps them in routine and in a mode to continue learning.”

The summer camp at Herbert Hoover Club has 200 students, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has over 900 students across all six clubs. The programs teach students about team work, potential careers and passion in athletics and art, and important skills like financial literacy. The club also has connections with multiple professional athletes which provides access and exposure for kids to potentially find their purpose.

Art made during summer camp art classes

President and Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Williams he shared his vision for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis newest venture, the Great Futures Academy. Williams himself is a former NFL player who grew up in St. Louis and went to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis - Mathews-Dickey. 

“Returning to the organization in this professional capacity marks a truly monumental milestone for me, and it is something I never anticipated happening," he said.

The Great Futures Academy is an outcome of a partnership with the PGA REACH Gateway, and St. Louis Cardinal, Ozzie Smith. The Academy will provide youth access to high-quality golf and soccer facilities. The initiative “Play Through Capital” represents the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ desire to invest in younger generations to create pathways for personal growth and future success. 

The $13 million project is partly being funded by the Community Development Administration (CDA) through a Neighborhood Transformation Grant. While the entirety of the funding for the project has not been secured, the CDA awarded $500,000 to the Great Futures Academy. 

The CDA also awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis. For Fiscal Year 2025, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis received two CDBG awards, one providing for Out of School Time for Youth, and the other for the St. Louis Internship Program for Youth. 

The golf center will be located just across the street from the Herbert Hoover Club. The location was chosen because of its long-time vacancy, and the opportunity to transform a neglected site into a vibrant green space for the community. The site used to be home to Carter Carburetor factory, which required the site to be environmentally reviewed and remediated. The process took seven years, and a $38 million federal investment before construction could start for the facility. Current plans are to break ground for Phase 1in late fall of 2026, which is long awaited after discussion began for the project in 2012.

Exterior of Herbert Hoover Club

The JeffVanderLou neighborhood is excited to welcome this new addition that will generate jobs during and after construction. Permanent positions will be available once the academy opens, and it will also expand career opportunities for youth in North St. Louis. Youth will have access to golf clubs and other equipment needed to ensure equal access, and there are no barriers to exploring the opportunities. 

Youth will be able to develop new skills, build confidence, network, and be exposed to more opportunities through a variety of programs on the new campus. The Academy will give youth access to golf, soccer, STEM, academic support, health and life skills, and mentorship. The game of golf is an economic driver, providing job opportunities in the field and making lasting connections while on the course. It will provide access to youth in North St. Louis, who have never had the opportunity to play golf. 

Rendering of the planned golf complex on the site of the former Carter Carburetor.

Site of Golf Complex prior to construction starting in Fall 2026

The Great Futures Academy will also be connected to the upcoming Brickline Greenway. The golf center will be added as a green space to the neighborhood, and also connect to the Greenway’s network of urban trails.

Williams also discussed the golf center's importance saying that “From golf professionals and course management to hospitality, turf management, instruction and business operations, the golf center will introduce young people to career pathways they may have never considered. With that, the next Tiger Woods could come from the Great Futures Academy.”

About the Community Development Administration (CDA):

Established in 1974, CDA invests approximately $25 million each year in affordable housing, community development, and public services across St. Louis. As the City’s housing and community development agency, CDA works in partnership with HUD, the Planning and Urban Design Agency and the St. Louis Development Corporation to ensure that funding priorities are transparent, competitive, and community-driven.