The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley provides after school and Summer Camp programs for children ages 5 to 18, at the Club’s two locations; 1400 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula and 565 First St., Fillmore. Club members pay a $25 annual fee to attend the Club, and no child is turned away for their inability to pay the membership fee. It costs the Club $560 per child annually to provide services for its members. The obvious gap between cost of services and membership is bridged by generous donations from local businesses, private donors and local and national grants. Donors interested in providing financial assistance to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley are encouraged to contact the Club at 805-525-7910. All donations, regardless of amount, are gratefully appreciated.
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Boys & Girls Club members gather in the park for Club Round Up, a daily members meeting to learn Club rules and share information. This day’s meeting is conducted by staff member and Boys & Girls Club alumni Jose Saucedo (center). |
School’s Out and Summer Camp at the Club is Open
School is out in Santa Paula, and the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley’s Harvard Clubhouse is rocking with the sound of young voices. The Club reports a record 120 children enrolled in the Summer Program, with over 100 children per day taking advantage of the Club and its programs. The Club helps kids learn and grow utilizing programs developed through Five Core Areas, The Arts, Education and Career Development, Health & Life Skills, Sports, Fitness & Recreation, and Character & Leadership Development. Of course, summer is time for fun and activity, and the Club is meeting the challenge with weekly themes such as “Splash Week” “Creative Art Week” and “Super Science Week.”
Days start early at the Club, with “Early Birds” arriving at 7:30 am, where they are greeted by staff members, Debbie Gonzales, Mari Juarez and Julio Romo, all of whom organize the members into such activities as gym games, arts, board games, and other activities. The Club’s staffers make every effort to take full advantage of their location by taking the members out into the park and/or sports fields to be sure everyone is active and enjoying the great outdoors. Older Club members are also encouraged to read to the younger members, with instructions to be “enthusiastic” and “speaking clearly,” behaviors that engage both reader and recipient. The day is rounded out with snacks, lunch and plenty of fresh air and fun for all.
Construction is on-going at the Harvard Site, and should be concluded by mid-July. The contractor’s work is being conducted in closed-off locations in the Club’s perimeter. Additionally, the Club parking has been restricted with parents and staff asked to park their cars in the adjacent parking lot, leaving the black-top available for kid chalk art, which has been enthusiastically embraced by Club members (their artwork covers the black-top in several colors and sizes.)
