Athletics, Recreation, & Aquatics

Ensuring kids have an outlet for exploration and energy is one of GSGBC core competencies. It also supports the core competency of Healthy Living. When a child has a healthy outlet, they can direct their energy in a productive way. Through our Athletics, Recreation, and Aquatics programs, kids have opportunities for new experiences in a safe space.

GSGBC Recreation

Action Adventure Club was developed in partnership with River City Outdoors, whose mission is to connect urban youth to outdoor recreation in their community.

32 members participated in Action Adventure Club in 2025 and attended excursions such as:
- Spring Break overnight trip at Shaw Nature Reserve
- Forest Park paddle boating, outdoor climbing wall, hiking, St. Louis Zoo, and The Nature Playscape
- Weekly Park Adventures
- 9-mile canoe trip on the Mississippi River
- Neighborhood nature walks

This Week, GSGBC invites you to donate to vote for where our Action Adventure Club explores next! Swipe through the images to see the options to vote on!

Other Recreation activities GSGBC offers are:

Gaming Club
Elementary Explorations
Puzzle Club
Club basketball
Club Volleyball

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Fitness Club & Group Games
- At the Soulard Campus, Fitness Club focuses on stretching, learning muscle groups in each part of the body, sportsmanship, cooperative games, and healthy recreation. 41 members participated.
Fitness for You(th) - Presented by Gateway Region YMCA
- At St. Cecilia, grades 3-5 were able to participate in social-emotional activities that connect with games that can be played in the program and at home. 28 members participated.
Tennis Clinic - Presented by Breakpoint Tennis & Life Skills Academy
- 38 members at Soulard Campus and St. Frances Cabrini Academy participated in weekly tennis clinics facilitated by Breakpoint Tennis & Life Skills Academy coaches.
- During the summer, 30 members attended Tennis & Reading Camp at Dwight Davis Tennis Center at Forest Park.
Summer Golf Program - Presented by the Missouri Golf Foundation
- 25 members attended Summer Golf Camp at the Highlands Golf & Tennis Club
Earn-a-bike Program - Presented by B-Works
- During the summer, 6 Soulard Camps members attended Bike Maintenance & Bike Safety classes.
- 100% of participants attended all 6 sessions and were awarded a bicycle, helmet, and lock
Ski Lessons - Presented by Hidden Valley Ski Resort & River City Outdoors
- In January-March 2025, 8 members of Action-Adventure Club & Coach Jamal attended 5 weeks of ski lessons at Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
- In addition to ski lessons, all participants received a hat, gloves, goggles, snow boots, ski jacket, ski pants, and a healthy dinner at the ski resort.

GSGBC Athletics

Basketball Clinic and AAU League
- Coach Jamal hosts a practice with middle school boys three days a week to prepare for participation in AAU basketball league games; Younger members were allowed to join practice once a week to develop basketball skills.
- 19 members participated in the Spring of 2025 and 29 members participated in the Fall. 10 members were selected to play for the GSGBC Grizzlies AAU team.
- The first AAU season GSGBC participated in, ended with a 0-6 record, but the seconded ended with a 3-3 record showing great improvement in teamwork and skill building.

GSGBC Aquatics

All members who attend Summer Camp have the opportunity to take swimming lessons twice a week. Swimming and water safety are vital, life-saving skills for our members.
In Summer 2025, 204 members participated in swimming lessons. 95% of members ages 6-12 and 75% of members 13-16 participated.
Members swimming skills were evaluated at the beginning and end of the summer camp
- Bobs (submerging underwater)
- Blowing bubbles
- Front float
- Back float
- Front Crawl
- Back Crawl
Members also learn swim safety, treading water, and diving. All members who participated were able to attend an aquatics field trip.

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Explore today, grow tomorrow!