We at Crème de la Crème of Oklahoma City know how important it is for kids to get involved in clubs and other activities that connect them with their peers, inspire them to support their community, and promote their interests. Oklahoma City offers plenty of local institutions and local chapters of national organizations that you can join with your kids, or your kids can take part in on their own. Here are seven awesome clubs you should think about joining in the OKC area. 

Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma City

The Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma City is a local chapter of the national organization where you can register your child, if they attend one of the sponsored schools, to participate in projects and clubs focused on leadership and service, education, health and wellness, arts, and sports and recreation. All of the programs this organization offers help children build important life skills, participate in professional activities, explore future career options, and find new passions.

You can register your children ages 5 to 18 for as little as $10 for the year. All programs are after school or during the summer to complement your kids’ education.

After School Kids Club

The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department sponsors many awesome clubs and activities for children of all ages. You can find an After School Kids Club at many of the local rec centers in OKC that are perfect for kids in 1st through 8th grades. The programs vary by rec center but include educational activities, fun sports and games, creative arts and crafts, and more. You can register your child for as little as $10.

OKC Youth Soccer League

“Soccer – Army Youth Sports and Fitness” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by USAG-Humphreys

What’s more, OKC Parks and Rec also has a variety of adult and kids sports leagues, so you and your kids can join different leagues in the same sports, have some awesome game stories to share with each other, and practice before your upcoming matches.

Consider signing your kids up for the Summer Soccer League, which is a 4-versus-4 league of seven competitive games. Put all of your kids on the same team for family domination, or get your kids to ask a few friends to join them on the field. Or, get them involved in the fall and spring league, which is best for more experienced and skilled young soccer players as this league takes your kids to matches against other fantastic players their age in town and around the state.

These kinds of leagues are a great way to instill sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication in your children. Not to mention they get to have matching uniforms, too!

Teen Anime Club

Another great place to find local clubs to join is the library! The Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma City offers a wide variety of clubs and events around reading, writing, creative arts, and other interests. 

One of the coolest clubs your kids can join is the Teen Anime Club, hosted by Almonte Library and is currently held online. Kids 12 through 17 can gather with fellow fans of manga and anime to chat about their favorite shows, movies, books, and related media. This club is a great way to find new friends who love the same types of books and media that your kids do, especially if their friends from school aren’t into it.

Teen-Led RPGs

A variety of Metropolitan Library System branches host virtual and in-person RPGs and Dungeons & Dragons games for teens ages 12 to 18. This weekly event is two hours of immersive storytelling led by a fellow club member. Your teen can either play as a character or take a turn as the Dungeon Master who guides players through the story, narrating every battle, scene, and event that takes place. All they have to do is register online, create a character with fantastical features, qualities, and skills, and then follow the story during the game.

What’s more is that there are many benefits to having your children play RPGs like D&D, such as improved skills in reading, writing, creative and critical thinking, decision-making, collaboration, and public speaking. Some of the branches that host these events include Chocktaw, Del City, and Harrah, so find out which branch near you is hosting and get your teens to sign up for this awesome character-driven event they’ll be looking forward to each week. 

Family Book Club

The Metropolitan Library System also has some family book club programs for kids of nearly all ages and their parents or caregivers. You get to read a book as a family and then go to book club to discuss it with others. These events can be a great way to get shy children more involved with groups since they’ll have you there to support them. A family book club also creates more opportunities to read together (no matter your kids’ ages), start intellectual conversations, and get to know each other in a different way.

Rotary Club

The Rotary Club (also known as Rotary International) is a worldwide organization with thousands of branches dedicated to doing good in communities all over the globe through humanitarian projects. What’s great about the Rotary Club is that this organization has programs, meetings, and events for both adult and youth members. That means you and your kids can be members of the same organization and work toward the same missions in different ways.

For example, Rotary Club youth members can go on service exchange trips, perform local service projects while meeting new friends, and more. Check the site for local Rotary Clubs to see what adult and youth club memberships exist and the programs you and your kids can take part in to help change the world for the better.

Getting your kids involved in a club can help them make friends, connect with peers who have similar interests, and develop much-needed socialization and life skills. And when you’re able to join in the same club, you can be moral support and a peer, which can help you further develop your relationship with your kids. Did we miss any of your family’s favorite clubs in and around OKC? Contact us to let us know which ones we should add to our list!