• Clubs can help children develop leadership skills.leader image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
  
  Leadership is an ability that children acquire gradually through group experiences in which they practice communication, cooperation, problem solving, time management, self-reliance and teamwork. In addition to building these skills at school and during extracurricular sports, they may gain a can-do confidence by participating in after-school clubs and programs aimed at developing young leaders.
  
  

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

• Although they are separate organizations, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts have similar aims. They encourage children to grow in a variety of settings ranging from home communities where they participate in service projects to campgrounds where they hone skills including outdoor safety. These opportunities begin in the primary grades through through Tiger Cub Scouts for boys and Daisy Scouts for girls.
  
  Both Scout organizations gradually expand children's abilities by encouraging them to complete skill-related projects to earn badges. In high school, boys who aspire to the rank of Eagle Scout must plan, develop and lead service projects. Similarly, high school girls work toward becoming an Ambassador Scout who participates in a "journey" project aimed at exploring and seeking solutions to an issue that deeply concerns them.
  
  Boy Scouts of America
  
  National Council
  
  P.O. Box 152079
  
  Irving, TX 75015-2079
  
  972-580-2000
  
  scouting.org
  
  Girl Scouts
  
  420 Fifth Ave.
  
  New York, NY 10018
  
  800-478-7248
  
  girlscouts.org
  
  

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America has 4,000 locations across the nation and on military installations throughout the world. They are places where children can gather after school and on weekends to participate in programs including the arts, athletics and fitness, homework support, life skills and leadership. The middle school Torch Club and high school Keystone Movement are leadership groups aimed at "helping youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process," according to the organization's website.
  
  Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  
  National Headquarters
  
  1275 Peachtree St. NE
  
  Atlanta, GA 30309-3506
  
  404-487-5700
  
  bcga.org
  
  

Global Kids

• Global Kids is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1990 that primarily serves youths in New York City Public Schools. Its mission is "to educate and inspire urban youth to become successful students, global citizens and community leaders," according to the organization's website. In 2000, Global Kids launched its Online Leadership Program, which reaches youths and teachers in more than 100 countries. The program engages youths in topics such as understanding digital media, creating socially conscious online games and using platforms such as Second Life to conduct virtual leadership workshops.
  
  Global Kids
  
  137 East 25th St., 2nd Floor
  
  New York, NY 10010
  
  212-226-0130
  
  globalkids.org
  
  

Children for Children

• Children for Children focuses on creating programs that schools and communities can use to provide service learning for children from elementary through high school. One such project is "Sweat for Nets," which focuses on increasing awareness of malaria and raising funds to provide insecticide-treated bed nets for people around the world. Children for Children offers project organizers a free toolkit and video.
  
  Children for Children
  
  6 East 43rd St., 25th Floor
  
  New York, NY 10017
  
  212-850-4170
  
  childrenforchildren.org