Experience

Give a child an experience. DONATE TODAY to the Hamilton Community Foundation. Please reference the "Experience Fund". https://experiencelifeconnected.com/donate/

Experience is the bridge between the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton and organizations such as The Fitton Center for Creative Arts, The Cincinnati Zoo, Brick Street Experience, Miami University, the Great Miami Valley YMCA, and many more. Experience helps open up a child’s world and allows them to be a part of opportunities that they may not otherwise have had a chance to enjoy. It can help them see

themselves in a new light and make them aware of endless possibilities for their future. The sky is the limit as far as what these children are able to accomplish. Every child at the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton can have the opportunity to earn their experience by:
• consistent attendance in after school
educational programs
• active participation in the
homework/reading club
• demonstrating positive behavior

Experience helps to fund, organize, and create new adventures that plant seeds in the minds and hearts of children. We can all get involved with Experience by giving the gift of our time, talent, or donating to the Experience Fund through the Hamilton Community Foundation. For opportunities in which you can connect by volunteering, call Angela Pontious, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton, at 513-893-0071. To learn more about how to give to Experience please call Krista Parrish, Experience Co-founder, at 513-675-6128. Coming Together Through Experience. What encourages people to come together? What increases relatability, which in turn starts conversations and true relationships? Shared experiences promote feelings of unity that create common interests, build background knowledge, encourage friendships and strengthens feelings of connectedness. What if we felt more connected to those around us? What if, instead of looking at ourselves as ‘us’ and others as ‘them’, we started building the idea of ‘WE’? If we become involved with each other through shared experiences, similarities and differences may be celebrated and enjoyed. We begin to connect and relate to one another. Becoming connected to the children of our community is the idea behind the donor designated fund at the Hamilton Community Foundation called Experience. Experience was founded to expose children from the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton to activities they otherwise would not have the opportunity to enjoy, such as:
• experiencing camp
• taking archery lessons
• learning how to canoe
• exploring the wilderness
• experiencing zip lining
• enjoying horseback riding
• going swimming
• sitting around a camp fire
• experiencing the theater
• taking a tennis lesson
• participating in an art class
• visiting the zoo
• going to watch a FC Cincinnati, Reds, or Bengals game
• touring a college campus

These Experiences build background knowledge that help to promote school success. Research shows that increased background knowledge helps students make connections in the classroom and puts them at an advantage. That is what we want for the children in our community.

05/28/2026

A special thank you to Kendra Smith for organizing the generous donations from the Presbyterian Church Women’s Bible Study. Because of these thoughtful gifts, each Experience camper will receive a bag filled with the necessary toiletries they need for their weeklong overnight camp at YMCA Camp Campbell Gard .

Experience is life connected.🧡💙

05/14/2026

What a great day at YMCA Camp Campbell Gard! 🌲☀️

We recently spent the day at camp with 3rd–6th grade students from Highland Elementary through our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton, and the excitement for overnight camp this June is already building! From ziplining and map reading to crafts and outdoor adventures, the day was full of confidence-building moments and new experiences. 💙🧡

“Making tin punch art was really fun because I got to make my own design and take it home to show my family.” – KW

“The zipline at Camp Campbell Gard made me feel nervous at first, but now I want to do it again!” – IM

“The activities today helped me try new things I never thought I could do.” – IK

“We got lost in the woods but were able to find our way out.” – BS

“Going today to Camp Campbell Gard makes me excited to get to go to the overnight camp.” – AP

What started as a simple belief — that every child deserves meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom — has grown into a community-powered mission helping kids build confidence, friendships, and lifelong memories through experiences that expand their world.

Learn more and support what’s next at experiencelifeconnected.com. 🌟

05/02/2026

A dashing Derby Party that raised funds for Experience! 🌹🐎 Love these throwback memories from 2019… and stay tuned about our next fundraising event coming this fall! Details coming soon!🥳

For 10 years, we’ve been opening doors, minds and connections through experiences kids earn through good behavior, attendance and completed school work. From concerts and theater to arcades, go-karting, Cincinnati Reds games, FC Cincinnati matches, college visits, and summer camp.

What started as a simple idea is now a community-powered mission fueled by supporters, volunteers, and partners who believe in our kids.

Help us keep it going. Donate or sponsor an experience at experiencelifeconnected.com 🌟

04/26/2026

It’s National Kids and Pets Day 🐾 A powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful ways kids experience the world is through animals.

At Experience, we create those moments. From visits to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to horseback riding, camp encounters, and even exotic animal experiences, these hands-on connections spark curiosity, build confidence, and expand knowledge of the world around them.

For 10 years, we’ve been opening doors through experiences kids earn. From concerts and theater to arcades, go-karting, Cincinnati Reds games, FC Cincinnati matches, college visits, and summer camp.

What started as a simple idea is now a community-powered mission fueled by supporters, volunteers, and partners who believe in our kids.

Help us keep it going. Donate or sponsor an experience at experiencelifeconnected.com 🌟

04/18/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Monica and Brian Scalf for more than a decade of supporting Experience! 🧡💙 From the very beginning, they’ve been loyal, generous partners—consistently giving their time, resources, and heart to help make meaningful Experiences possible.

Through our ongoing partnership with , kids are gaining confidence, curiosity, and a true sense of belonging through opportunities outside the classroom. Experiences like this fun day at are just one example of how that support comes to life.

Because of long-time champions like Monica and Brian, kids feel rewarded for working hard and making positive choices. They get the chance to connect with each other, explore new places, and feel genuinely seen and celebrated.

This work only happens because of a community that shows up. When we come together, these moments become more than just fun days—they build confidence, expand horizons, and create lasting momentum.

Be part of what makes this possible. Learn more or make a gift at experiencelifeconnected.com.

04/11/2026

Throwing it back to our very first experience— and it couldn’t be more fitting. ✨

We started with a campus tour of Miami University, opening the door to new possibilities for the kids we serve. As an educator, our co-founder Krista understands how powerful experiences can be in shaping curiosity, confidence, and growth. College visits like this give children who may not often leave their communities a chance to see what’s possible and begin to picture themselves there.

Now we’re celebrating 10 years of Experience. 🎉

What started as a simple belief—that every child deserves meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom—has grown into a community-powered mission supported by volunteers, partners, and advocates who believe in what’s possible. 🧡💙

Through our work with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton, kids are exploring new interests, building confidence, and gaining experiences that shape their future.

When a community shows up for kids, experiences become more than memories. They create momentum.

Learn more and support what’s next at experiencelifeconnected.com. 🌟

04/04/2026

Thank you to Tom Rentschler Jr. for sharing more about how Experience and the The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton work hand in hand to create meaningful opportunities for local children!🧡💙

With a long-standing legacy in the community, BGC Hamilton continues to do incredible work—and Experience builds on that by giving kids exciting experiences to work toward through positive behavior, attendance, and completing schoolwork.

We’re grateful to have Tom as one of our earliest and most steadfast supporters. Because of support like his, kids get to explore, learn, and grow through one-of-a-kind experiences—from summer camp to museum visits, sporting events, concerts, and theater. These moments build confidence, spark curiosity, and create lasting memories.

Every donation goes directly toward hands-on programs for children at BGC Hamilton. Together, we’re creating experiences that inspire futures.

✨ Learn more and make a difference at experiencelifeconnected.com/donate

03/28/2026

Celebrating a whole decade of creating experiences like these—and we’re just getting started! 🎉

For 10 years, Experience has been helping kids expand their horizons through moments that matter—from fancy restaurants to concerts and nights at the theater… arcades and go-karting… to Cincinnati Reds games and FC Cincinnati matches… and even college visits and summer camp. These are experiences they earn—ones that build confidence and shape what they believe is possible.

What started as a simple idea has grown into a community-powered mission, fueled by supporters, volunteers, and partners who believe in our kids.

We can’t do it without your support. Donate today or sponsor an experience at experiencelifeconnected.com 🌟

03/21/2026

This is one of those days our Experience kids look forward to all year long. 🧡💙

We truly cherish our partnership with Badin High School and the heart they bring to serving our community.

Badin students — with the help of their Service Coordinator, Megan Halverson — plan an incredible, fun-filled day for our Experience children each year. From BINGO and obstacle courses to arts and crafts, games, and lunch, every detail is thoughtfully created to make the day special.

Moments like these are exactly why we do what we do. Creating meaningful, joy-filled experiences for local children is at the heart of everything we’re about.

Every donation directly supports opportunities like this for children at . To learn more or make a donation, visit experiencelifeconnected.com. ✨

03/14/2026

Celebrating 10 years of Experience, and we’re just getting started!🎉

This month marks the 10th anniversary of Experience. For a decade, we’ve been creating moments that open doors, spark curiosity, and connect kids to a bigger world.

What began as a simple belief that every child deserves meaningful experiences beyond the classroom has grown into a community-powered mission fueled by supporters, volunteers, and partners who believe in what’s possible. 🧡💙

Through our work with the The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton and other community partners, kids are discovering new interests, building confidence, and gaining experiences that help shape how they see themselves and the future they can create.

When a community comes together around kids, experiences become more than memories. They become momentum.

Learn more and help support the next decade of impact at experiencelifeconnected.com.🌟

Address

319 N 3rd Street
Hamilton, OH
45011

Telephone

(513) 863-1717

Website

https://experiencelifeconnected.com/

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