Need a place to send your 13- to 17-year-old throughout the summer?
The Boys & Girls Club of Cochrane & Area (BGCC) staff is revamping its youth programs this summer, in an effort to host a more flexible schedule with a diverse selection of activities.
“Our aim is to support the youth – typically we are known for supporting the younger kids but we want to start offering programs and supports for the older youth,” said Jeff Gray, manager of the club’s youth programs.
The club will host themed weeks throughout the summer during the drop-in hours, with the plan to also have a field trip every Friday.
“These open hangouts are kind of a response to the (deaths) last summer. We felt like we had to do something to support the youth,” Gray said.
So far, organizers said there has been 15 youth who have expressed interest in the summer program, with the hopes to boost the number to 30. The staff has also set up a summer program in Bragg Creek, offering cooking and sports classes.
Due to it being the first year, the Boys & Girls Club will be hosting a different summer program schedule, Gray said they are open to any suggestions once the hangouts start.
“The summer stuff will be planned but this is a learning experience for us and it is about what the kids want – if we find what we are doing is not working then we can alter the programs,” Gray said.
The summer programs will also run alongside the Rogers Raising the Grade tutoring program, where organizers encourage youths needing help with “life-after-school” responsibilities to check it out.
“We will be offering resume-building, helping to apply for post-secondary schoolings, stress-management tests and any other supports the youth might need,” Gray said.
The supports are made available through volunteers, and staff said they are always welcoming the help.
Organizers are also planning ahead for the next school semester, where they will focus on doing more work in the Cochrane High Schools.
“We’ve noticed the kindergarten to Grade 8 classes seem to have supports set up, where the high schools don’t have as many,” Gray said.
“We want to target and help find youth needing the support.”
The summer drop-in hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the clubhouse, located at 111 Fifth Ave. There is no registration and no fees associated with the programs or activities.
For more information call the staff at 403-851-0167 or go to the official Facebook page at “Boys & Girls Club of Cochrane & Area.”
