Members of the Vogelweh Keystone club pose at the 2025 National Keystone Conference in Chicago. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

The Vogelweh Keystone Club placed as one of the Top 3 Keystone Clubs of the Year for 2025. Announced in July at the National Keystone Conference in Chicago, the honor acknowledges the efforts of the club over the past school year.

The Vogelweh Keystone Club prides itself in their contribution to the local base and German community through volunteerism, and with over 1,000 community service hours, and that commitment earned them a spot as one of the top three clubs in the world.

The club also earned second place for Career Preparedness. They even got to try their hand at a new career: modeling. Club members volunteered and were selected to showcase this year’s Old Navy fall apparel. It gave them a chance to step out in confidence.

There are more than 4,700 Keystone Clubs at BGCA facilities around the world. Keystone is a community leadership and service club hosted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Youth and teen centers on military installations around the world are affiliated with BGCA, and Keystone is one of the many clubs and programs available to club members.

12 teens attended the 2025 National Keystone Conference in Chicago along with their advisors, including Pebbles Sambolanay who won Teen Advisor of the Year. “When I see my teens being out there, it just inspires me the most. It makes me so proud,” says Sambolanay.

Mental health panel members, including Vogelweh Keystone Vice-President Brandon, pose with WNBA athlete Chamique Holdsclaw. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Vogelweh Keystone Club teenagers and their advisor explore Chicago during while at the 2025 National Keystone Conference. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Vogelweh Keystone Club teenagers and their advisor pose while fellow youth participants in the Old Navy modeling show pose for a group shot behind them. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Vogelweh Keystone Club member Emma walks down the aisle modeling Old Navy apparel. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

The conference in Chicago gave Vogelweh Keystone members an opportunity to network with other clubs and participate in breakout sessions with club members from around the world. They participated in community service projects like building bikes. They also learned about leadership and mental health, with one youth member even appearing on stage during a panel discussion with WNBA athlete Chamique Holdsclaw.

In preparation for the conference, and during field trips while in Chicago, the club learned about money management and financial planning. The Vogelweh Keystone Club, and some members of their sister club at Ramstein Air Base were the only Europe-based military clubs able to attend this year, a feat accomplished through fundraising and grants.

During the school year, the Vogelweh Keystone Club meets weekly to organize and plan events at the teen center. They coordinate activities at the youth center, take financial and career courses, plan and recruit other youth for volunteerism in the community, mentor the Torch Club at the youth center and lead new projects like an upcoming youth podcast. “When I say the teen center is powered by teens, [Keystone] are the ones who are powering it. … those are the actual leaders that make sure that everybody is being heard,” says Sambolanay.

The Vogelweh Keystone Club helps organize community involvement for teen center members, like volunteering at the kids color run. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

The Vogelweh Keystone Club holds an annual winter coat drive. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

The Vogelweh Keystone Club plans events like painting at the teen center. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Vogelweh Keystone Club were recognized at the Annual Volunteer Excellence Awards held on Ramstein Air Base. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Vogelweh Keystone Club and AFN volunteer Dom Ingram work on the club’s new podcast. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Volunteering at basewide events like the Easter egg hunt earned the Vogelweh Keystone Club a spot as one of the Top 3 Clubs of the Year. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff.)

Visit the youth or teen center at your installation for details on what they offer including BGCA programs like Keystone Club.