By Katya Miltimore | Executive Director
As Washington State celebrated its official reopening on June 30th, 2021, WA State Boys & Girls Clubs are busy implementing summer programs for our Club kids. These programs are focused on helping our members regain a sense of normalcy, build on their resilience, and assess what supports they may need to prepare for return to in-person school in Fall of 2021. Most of the focus in our Summer programs is on fun, connection with peers, healthy outdoor activities and high-yield learning opportunities that will keep our members' brains and imaginations engaged.
Here is what our Club parents have shared with us about their children's experience at our Clubs during the pandemic:
My son RH had a great time at rotary this year. He had help with daily assignments from the staff, he always had a computer and desk to use when he left his home laptop. He would always come home and tell me stories about how fun gym time and was, and tell me how often he washed his hands. He was encouraged to spend time with friends and play games even though we were in a pandemic. He felt safe at Rotary and still does!
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I am so grateful to Ballard Boys and Girls Club and to all the staff there, especially Dennis and Kara. When everything was closed down completely last year and the early part of this year, it was such a relief to have a place still available to help me care for my 11 year old son. What's more, the facilities were being run in an extremely safe and measured way, protecting both the staff and the kids. He went to a couple weeks of camp in summer 2020 and then during the school days 3 days a week when school was all virtual.
My son has always loved going to the BGC, and he continued to love it, even during the Covid restrictions. This means that the staff are a group of very special people, who can re-create an excellent program and adapt to really difficult circumstances. If the kids are not stressed by it, then you know the staff are doing an excellent job to make them feel secure in spite of what might otherwise be a very stressful situation.
Many thanks to everyone there.
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We appreciate your past support that has allowed our Clubs to remain open, serve families in need, and weather the storms of the pandemic!
We look forward to a stronger, healthier and more connected community of Clubs and families in the school year ahead, and the Clubs will continue to play a critical role in youth development and family support for our members and outreach youth!
Thank you,
Katya Miltimore
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington State
Association and Alliance
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