Housed in a kid-friendly complex in West Garfield Park, the Off The Street Club gives 4- to 18-year-old kids a place to do their homework or play computer games in the Learning Center; perform plays in the Performing Arts Center; dance, rollerskate, sing, and play musical instruments; express themselves through arts and crafts and woodshop; and more. Off The Street Club kids have mentors, tutors and role models; girls can experience real “girl power” and heightened self-esteem in the Girls Center, while boys and girls together can meet and interact safely and respectfully throughout the Club.
Founded in 1900, Off The Street Club is Chicago's oldest boys and girls club and serves more than 3,000 kids. The primary goal is uncomplicated and direct; to give these kids the simple childhood moments that most of us take for granted.
In the summer, Off The Street Club kids get to trade in the violence and drugs of their neighborhood for cookouts, sing-alongs, swimming, hiking and horseback riding at Camp Mathieu. Around the nightly campfires the only things to fear are the ghost stories. Winter Weekends at the camp let kids experience skiing, sledding and other outdoor winter sports. Everyone goes home with memories that'll last a lifetime.
The Off The Street Club kids are special because by choosing to attend the Off The Street Club, and to abide by its rules and regulations, they've chosen to follow a different path — and in their neighborhood, a harder path. Gangs, drugs and other antisocial activities lure many West Side kids, but the Off The Street Club offers those kids who want a better life another way.
Ralph Campagna, the OTSC executive director, grew up at the club. His compassion, devotion and love is the very heart and soul of the Club. He leads a dedicated and caring staff whose members are the inspirational guiding light of the Club and uphold the Club motto, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
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Source: http://www.otsc.org/
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