The Blackduck Branch serves up to 100 youth in grades K-8, operating all day Mondays, while Blackduck school is not in session, and after school Tuesday through Friday during the school year. A summer session serves families and youth with programming that is dedicated to academic success to reduce summer slip and fun, outdoor activities for wellbeing.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area opened a Blackduck Branch of Club services in partnership with Blackduck Public School, co-locating within the school at the start of the 2024 school year. The Blackduck Branch was made possible by a grant through the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, which funded approximately 60 percent of the operations for the first two years. A lot of community members worked hard for years to bring together the leadership and funding to make this dream possible. We are grateful to the school leadership, United Way, and the whole Blackduck community for welcoming us and partnering with us to serve Blackduck youth.
The sustainability of the Blackduck Branch is so important to the Club and its partners. We want to be in the Blackduck community for years to come. So, the Club is dedicated to a diverse revenue strategy to ensure the organization can continue to serve youth and famiilies with high-quality academic support and youth development programs.
This includes direct mail fundraising campaigns, special events like the Blackduck Golf Fore Club Kids Scramble and Blackduck Bonanza, partnership and dedicated support from United Way of Bemidji Area, funding from local government and townships, local business and civic group support, and grant funding.
