Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem at Collins Middle School, 29 Highland Ave, Salem, MA 1970
About
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem offers activities in character and leadership, education and career, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. The program also includes field trips to local attractions and a “Brain Gain” program that focuses on preventing summer learning loss by using a fun learning model in daily activities. The Teen Club includes a focus on community service and on teens’ academic and social needs and interests.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Price: The Club operates the Youth Club for children 8 through 12 years-old ($225/school year) and the Teen Center for 13- to 18-year-olds ($100/calendar year).
The Youth Club for 8- to 12-year-olds has been developed in collaboration with local school leaders. The organization runs a year-round Teen Club and a Summer Camp, and the Summer Camp is described as extremely popular, with each week having a different theme and including field trips to fun local attractions. Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender or gender identity, familial status, disability, ancestry, age, marital status, public assistance status, sexual orientation, veteran history/military status or genetic information.
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem traces its history to 1869, when the Salem Fraternity was founded to mentor and challenge youth in the community, and it is the oldest Boys & Girls Club in Massachusetts and the second oldest in the country. In 1906, the national organization Boys Clubs of America was established, and in 1990 the word “Girls” was officially added to become Boys & Girls Clubs of America; the Salem Fraternity then became the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. In 2019, the Club celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The Club’s mission states that it believes all kids deserve a safe, fun and supportive community, and that at the Boys & Girls Club staff nurture, value and inspire young people, build usable skills, enhance self-esteem and promote a culture of high expectations. The leadership team includes retired Executive Director/CEO Joanne Scott, newly named Executive Director/CEO Sue Gabriel, Board President Susan Ulbrich, Karen Andreas (CEO North Shore Chamber of Commerce), and Patti Beckwith (CEO Constitution Financial). Sue Gabriel brings more than 25 years of non-profit experience, including roles as Executive Director of Beverly Bootstraps and Development Director at Beverly School for the Deaf, and has been involved with Rotary, the Fisher & Fuel Fund in Beverly, and the Affordable Housing Trust in Beverly.
The Boys & Girls Club programs comply with all regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and are licensed by the Salem Board of Health. Joanne Scott received the 2025 Diamond Award from the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and a member named Nahsyr has been recognized as Youth of the Year 2025. The program is funded in part by the City of Salem Department of Planning & Community Development and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and polls of alumni have found that over 90% graduate high school and that even more report learning valuable life lessons through their membership at the Club.
Testimonials describe Joanne Scott as having been a force of positive change for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem and the wider community, and note her dedication to the mission, work ethic, and passion for making a difference. In her own words, Joanne Scott has called leading the Club the honor of her life and has expressed excitement about a new generation of leadership. Newly named Executive Director Sue Gabriel has stated that she is excited to serve an organization with a strong, compelling mission and looks forward to working closely with the community to build the Club’s future.
Last updated January 25, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Price: The Club operates the Youth Club for children 8 through 12 years-old ($225/school year) and the Teen Center for 13- to 18-year-olds ($100/calendar year).
The Youth Club for 8- to 12-year-olds has been developed in collaboration with local school leaders. The organization runs a year-round Teen Club and a Summer Camp, and the Summer Camp is described as extremely popular, with each week having a different theme and including field trips to fun local attractions. Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender or gender identity, familial status, disability, ancestry, age, marital status, public assistance status, sexual orientation, veteran history/military status or genetic information.
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem traces its history to 1869, when the Salem Fraternity was founded to mentor and challenge youth in the community, and it is the oldest Boys & Girls Club in Massachusetts and the second oldest in the country. In 1906, the national organization Boys Clubs of America was established, and in 1990 the word “Girls” was officially added to become Boys & Girls Clubs of America; the Salem Fraternity then became the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. In 2019, the Club celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The Club’s mission states that it believes all kids deserve a safe, fun and supportive community, and that at the Boys & Girls Club staff nurture, value and inspire young people, build usable skills, enhance self-esteem and promote a culture of high expectations. The leadership team includes retired Executive Director/CEO Joanne Scott, newly named Executive Director/CEO Sue Gabriel, Board President Susan Ulbrich, Karen Andreas (CEO North Shore Chamber of Commerce), and Patti Beckwith (CEO Constitution Financial). Sue Gabriel brings more than 25 years of non-profit experience, including roles as Executive Director of Beverly Bootstraps and Development Director at Beverly School for the Deaf, and has been involved with Rotary, the Fisher & Fuel Fund in Beverly, and the Affordable Housing Trust in Beverly.
The Boys & Girls Club programs comply with all regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and are licensed by the Salem Board of Health. Joanne Scott received the 2025 Diamond Award from the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and a member named Nahsyr has been recognized as Youth of the Year 2025. The program is funded in part by the City of Salem Department of Planning & Community Development and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and polls of alumni have found that over 90% graduate high school and that even more report learning valuable life lessons through their membership at the Club.
Testimonials describe Joanne Scott as having been a force of positive change for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem and the wider community, and note her dedication to the mission, work ethic, and passion for making a difference. In her own words, Joanne Scott has called leading the Club the honor of her life and has expressed excitement about a new generation of leadership. Newly named Executive Director Sue Gabriel has stated that she is excited to serve an organization with a strong, compelling mission and looks forward to working closely with the community to build the Club’s future.
Last updated January 25, 2026.
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