Boys & Girls Club Blog

March 30, 2025

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. At the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, we believe in being an essential part of that support system for our families. We offer a variety of classes and workshops designed for parents and families as a whole. Our goal is to provide valuable resources and opportunities for families to bond while connecting with others who share similar challenges or interests. To make it easier for families to participate, our classes are either free or low-cost, and we provide both childcare and meals at each session.

Our parent classes are designed to support parents in addressing common struggles such as managing difficult behaviors, improving communication, reducing stress, and enhancing personal wellness, among other topics. Our family offerings provide the opportunity for families to learn something new together, whether it’s cooking, a sport, or a fun hobby. With the addition of the Hyde Family Community Center, we’ve been able to expand our offerings significantly.

Recent program highlights include a 6-week Mental Wellness series through the WeCOPE program with UW-Extension and a 4-week series, “A Parent’s Journey to Mental Resilience,” featuring keynote speaker Molly Hildebrandt, in partnership with the Women’s Fund. Our Club is also a Triple P provider, collaborating with Parent Connections and the YMCA to offer Triple P class series. Our recent Positive Parenting series addressed topics like managing fighting and aggression, developing a good bedtime routine and having a hassle-free shopping experience with your kids.

We’ve also been thrilled to collaborate with Chef Shelly, an adjunct Culinary Instructor at Fox Valley Tech, who brought our new teaching kitchen to life with her expertise in cooking, safety, and nutrition, providing families with hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, we offered a 4-week introductory Martial Arts course with the American Black Belt Academy.

“It’s so rewarding to see our families engage and take advantage of these various layers of support,” says Danielle Bittelman, the Club’s Director of Youth & Family Engagement. “Through these opportunities, they are not only gaining valuable experience, resources, and knowledge, but also forming lasting friendships and connections with one another.”

Thanks to the additional space in the Hyde Family Community Center, we will also be offering a parent series over the summer for the first time. Open to the entire community, these sessions will feature a finance guidance workshop in partnership with Goodwill, a mental health session with Rawhide, and a session on navigating IEPs with our partner Focus on Freedom. We are excited to continue expanding our offerings and providing much-needed support to the families in our community.