The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress, recently merged with Greater Anaheim, has now become part of the much larger Boys & Girls Club of Central Orange Coast, according to a spokesman for the group.
Last week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast’s Cypress Club officially reopened the club’s Cypress location, opening a “Future Ready” exhibit where Boys & Girls members can explore future careers, and its significance can be found in trends represented in the Orange County Community Foundation 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report.
Cypress Mayor Leo Medrano was among those attending the ribbon-cutting of the FutureReady event.
“The future of Cypress is brighter because the Boys & Girls Club has spent five decades helping young people recognize their potential and reach for it,” said Mayor Leo Medrano.
An interested student takes a look at one of the many career paths on display, this one a culinary path now included in the CTE pathways.
“The Future Ready Lab builds on that legacy by giving young adults opportunities to explore careers, gain real-world experience and prepare for what comes next. I’m excited to see the doors it opens for the next generation,” he added.
“The new Future Ready Lab is going to provide an immediate positive impact on teens in Cypress as it gives young people a place to explore careers and better understand what drives and motivates them,” said Kristle Duran, COO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast.
“Planned programs, including a Junior DJ Club, biomedical engineering, nursing, criminalistics, and computer science, will help youth to connect their passions and interests to real-world learning experiences that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving to prepare them for college, careers, and life,” she said.
The Lab is designed to introduce teens to careers they might not have considered by providing access to real-world learning experiences across career technical education (CTE) pathways.
Created by Paxton/Patterson, a national leader in career-ready labs and curriculum for middle and high school students, the Future Ready Lab will feature five interactive career exploration modules, including biomedical engineering, culinary arts, computer graphics & game development, home maintenance systems, and nursing.
The ‘Future Ready Lab’ gives local middle-school-aged students direct, real-world exposure to careers in biomedical engineering, culinary arts, computer graphics and game development, home maintenance systems and nursing, long before they’d typically be introduced to this kind of career-technical education. And more modules will debut later this year thanks to its ongoing partnership with Paxton/Patterson.
Through real-world learning, these modules will help youth discover their passions and develop the skills they need for the future, ensuring they are better prepared to make informed decisions about college, careers, and life beyond the classroom. BGC of Central OC will introduce more career modules throughout the school year, including cosmetology, computer science, engineering, forensic science, and video production.
For 85 years, BGC of Central OC has provided life-changing programs, academic support, and quality mentorship to over 200,000 youth. These efforts ensure that the Club helps Club members reach their full potential and prepares them for long-term success
Numerous teens lack hands-on learning experiences that expose them to a wide range of professional opportunities.
The Future Ready Lab aims to provide middle-school-to-early-high-school youth with the tools they need to excel in their education, setting them on a path toward success. Today’s changing workforce requires students to gain real-world experience and practical skills before entering the job market.
Local employers, community partners, and educational institutions benefit from a stronger pipeline of future talent as youth develop the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to pursue in-demand careers and contribute to the local workforce.