Activities
Boy Scouts – Abraham Lincoln Council
Type of service: Leadership development, Character development and Community Service
What they do: Camping, fishing, boating and Career surveying
Who is eligible? Cub Scouts are Kindergarten – 5th grade, boys, and girls. Scouts BSA are 6-12th grade, boys, and girls. Venturing Crew is coed ages 14-21. Sea Scouts are 14-21 and for both young men and women. Exploring are 14- 21 and for both young men and women. There is a $74 yearly fee, but this fee may be reduced or eliminated through fundraising and a one-time $25 New Scout Fee.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call Abraham Lincoln Council and they will connect you with the right unit or program in Jacksonville
Address: 5231 South 6th Street Rd., Springfield 62703
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone number: 217-529-2727
Contact person: Jerry Daniels or James Grable
Email: Jerry.daniels@scouting.org or James.grable@scouting.org
First Christian Church – The Warehouse
Type of service: Youth group/Youth development
What they do: Youth group with weekly meetings/activities and special events. Students will engage in worship, small groups, games, and a lesson specifically aimed at where they are in life.
Who is eligible? Middle School (6th – 8th grade) on Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. and High School on Sunday night from 5:30 pm – 8 pm. Hangout and snacks is from 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Transportation can be provided by request; must call each time you need transportation the week prior to the event and it’s only available on Sunday mornings.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Can just show up or call the office by 9 p.m. the night before if you need a ride.
Address: 2106 S. Main St., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Jr High: Wednesday 6 – 7:30 p.m., and High School: Thurs 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Phone number: 217-243-6445
Contact person: CJ Monroe for Middle School and Zach Nave for High School
email: CJ@1c.church or Zach@1c.church
Humble Horizons
Type of service: Activities, Mentoring, Youth Development
What they do: Student-Athlete Program, Career/Networking Program, Male Involvement Program, and Humble Horizons Sisters Circle. Host events and provide mentorship activities to youth while maintaining the core values of Humility, Unity, Maturity, Blessed, Leadership, Education.
Who is eligible? Youth and adults. Please see individual programs for targeted ages.
Referral needed? No. Just contact Sam or Terry to get started!
Best way to access services: Call or email.
Contact Person:
Samuel Holmes Jr- Email: sam@beehumbleteam.com Phone: 217-370-8357, or
Terry Grant- Email: terry@beehumbleteam.com Phone: 217-204-4991
Address: P.O. Box 1382 Jacksonville, IL 62651, Facility coming soon to the corner of Clay and Walcott!
Hours of operation: Special events only at this time, please contact Sam or Terry, or follow on Facebook for updates!
Jacksonville Public Library
Type of service: Activities
What they do: Programming that promotes learning, literacy, and more! Lego Club, Poetry Club, STEA(A)M programs, Storytime and Lapsit (for little kids), Community Book Club, concerts, art displays, workshops, and talks/lectures
Who is eligible? Open to all! Some programs require registration
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Visit the website to learn more. Click on “Upcoming Events”
Address: 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone Number: 217-243-5435
Girl Scouts
Type of service: Leadership development, recreation
What they do: Troops, camp
Who is eligible? Ages 5-18. Open to all girls. There is a registration form (paper or online) as well as a fee. Membership Assistance is available. No one will be turned away due to financial reasons. Ages for camps vary, as do costs. There are sliding fee scales and financial assistance for camp.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: For a troop: Call, email, or Facebook message to find out about Jacksonville troops; For camp: Register online, call, email, or Facebook message or come into office with questions
Address: 3020 Baker Dr., Springfield
Hours of operation: Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Phone number: 888-623-1237
email: customercare@girlscouts-gsci.org
Email: customercare@girlscouts-gsci.org
Salvation Army
Type of service: Camp, Youth Group/Youth Development
What they do: Camp, Youth group (7th – 12th grade), Cub Scouts (1st – 6th grade), Sunbeams (girls 1st – 6th grade), Corp Cadets (7th – 12th grade), Girl Guards (7th – 12th grade)
Who is eligible? Varies, depending on program. Financial assistance for camp is available (when funding allows).
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or walk in for more information
Address: 331 W. Douglas Ave., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. (group meeting times vary)
Phone number: 217-245-7124
Website: http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/jacksonville
Western Illinois Youth Camp
Type of service: Volunteer
What they do: Welcomes youth for volunteering, meeting space available for rent for youth organizations
Who is eligible? For Volunteers: 15 – 18 years old (do not need parent present). Under 15 requires adult present
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or email
Address: 2244 4-H Club Lane, Jacksonville IL
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Phone number: 217-673-3771
Contact person: Aaron Eisfelder
email: contactourcamp@gmail.com
Walking for Wellness
Type of service: Recreation
What they do: Walking/exercise program
Who is eligible? Anyone!
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Just show up. There’s a sign in sheet when you arrive.
Address: JHS Bowl (215 S. Church St, Jacksonville) or First Christian Church (2106 S. Main St., Jacksonville)
Hours of operation: November through March on days that school is in session on Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. (at JHS Bowl) and 12:30 pm – 3:00 p.m. (at FCC)
Spirit of Faith
Type of service: Drop-in Center
What they do: Tutoring/Homework help, Parent/child toddler room, open gym, volleyball team, art, music, dance, drama, weight room, rec/game room
Who is eligible? Open to all
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Walk in
Address: 105 E. Dunlap, Jacksonville IL
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 2:45 – 5 p.m. during the school year
Phone number: 217-371-6363
Off/On the Square
What they are: A shop that hosts events for role playing games and trading card games (D&D, Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, etc)
Fee? Yes, fees vary depending on the event.
Best way to access services: Walk in or check out their FB page for events.
Address: 221 E. State St, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 12 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Phone: 217-245-0306
Green Pastures Christian Campground and Retreat Center
Type of service: Camp
What they do: Camp and retreat center
Who is eligible? All are welcome. Ages for camps vary. Most are 5th – 12th grade, and past campers can come back for certain events. Financial assistance is available.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Get registration form from website and mail it in.
Address: 1936 US Hwy 67, Meredosia
Hours of operation: Can call anytime. Director lives on the camp property.
Phone number: 217-584-1374
email: greenpast@adams.net
4-H (through the University of Illinois Extension Office)
Type of service: Youth Development
What they do: Cloverbuds and 4H groups
Who is eligible? Ages 5-7 can do Cloverbuds, ages 8 and up can enroll in 4-H
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or email for more information
Address: 104 N. Westgate Ave., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone number: 217-243-7424
Website: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/4-h-youth-development
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Illinois-Extension-Unit-15-297666487094/ (Extension Office)
YMCA
Type of service: Recreation, after school, and camp
What they do: fitness, youth and adult sports, aquatics
Who is eligible? Open to all. Youth, individual, and family memberships, and Day Passes. Membership assistance available.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or walk-in to register
Address: 1000 Sherwood Lane, Jacksonville
Phone: 217-245-2141
Contact person: Lisa Hadden (membership) or Mary Henry (after school and camp)
Hours of operation:
Regular facility: Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 12:00 pm
After school program: until 6 p.m.
Summer camp: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website: http://jvilleymcacrossfit.wixsite.com/bob-freesen-ymca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Freesen-YMCA-159136661393/
Jacksonville DREAM Center Foundation
Type of service: Volunteer
What they do: Match kids of all ages with volunteer experiences and adult mentors to help them explore their interests, gain job skills, and participate in the community. If you are interested in learning to do something, the DREAM Center can probably help you out!
Who is eligible? Open to all. You can even bring your friends or family with you!
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Walk in or email with questions
Address: 210 W. College, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Most afternoons and evenings
email: jacksonvilledreamcenter@gmail.com