Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos added three new hybrid vehicles to its fleet thanks to a $300,000 grant award from the California Natural Resources Agency. Funding will support the All for 1 Culture Club, a newly-launched program that aims to connect teens with opportunities to expand their knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures. 

“We are proud to be able to help our members expand their worldview by connecting them with meaningful cultural experiences,” said Cathy Baur, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos. “Our new vehicles will create countless opportunities for youth to create lasting memories as they explore new places and gain new experiences.” 

During the program’s launch in the fall semester, members in the All for 1 Culture Club attended eight field trips, including leadership camps in Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain, museums in Balboa Park, Old Town San Diego, and a live production of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird at the San Diego Civic Theatre. 

In conjunction with the offsite cultural expeditions, members participate in a bi-weekly specialty club, a semester-long program prepared and facilitated by BGCSM staff. Held during the afterschool program at the organization’s Teen Center and on-campus middle school sites, members immerse themselves in new cultures as they create hands-on projects, try new types of cuisine, and produce presentations on the history and traditions of different countries. 

The All for 1 Culture Club was one of 65 projects awarded funding through the inaugural cycle of grants through the Youth Community Access Grant Program. Funded by Proposition 64, the California grant program supports youth projects that support access to natural or cultural throughout the region resources with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The program is available to students in grades 6-12 who attend BGCSM's afterschool programs at the Teen Center, located in the Jennifer Loscher Branch, and on campus at Double Peak School, La Mirada Academy, San Elijo Middle School, San Marcos Middle School, and Woodland Park Middle School.