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A Summer Like No Other
A Summer Like No Other – How Clubs Supported a Fun, Enriching Experience at Home
By Meg Mirshak
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Boys & Girls Club staff across the nation rolled up their sleeves to maintain connections with young people and mitigate learning loss during a noticeably different summer. While nearly 1,000 Club sites were serving youth on site, kids in many communities were unable to return to in-person Club programming as the nation continued to respond to COVID-19. In some of those communities, the Club experience was delivered to families’ doorsteps. Activity kits filled with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, puzzles, books and science experiments became an integral component for reaching youth and families when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered most Clubs in March. With more unstructured time than usual imposed on kids during the summer, Clubs reasoned that engaging activities would provide a relief from screen time and create positive memories. “We know our populations are vulnerable and to think about them not being connected to the Club is frightening,” says Kimberly Key, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento. “The Club is their lifeline and we need to keep that going the best we can.” During a delivery of activity kits to a public housing development, kids were waiting outside with eager anticipation when staff members from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento arrived. Children screamed with excitement not only for the fun activities but for the opportunity to see their Club mentors. Home deliveries also enabled staff to assess family well-being and the need for food and hygiene items, Kimberly says. A weekly kit that included a waffle iron and ingredients for homemade waffles encouraged families to spend quality time together. Additional kits included a journal for youth to record their experiences and reactions to racial injustice. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo, staff were alarmed by reports from teachers and parents saying homes lacked reading books for children. The Club delivered a 10book library to 100 kids along with crayons, markers, construction paper and basic supplies corresponding to virtual activities hosted by staff. Shawna Woody, director of program operations at Boys & Girls Club of Toledo, said the Summer Brain Gain program had been adapted for virtual learning. In July, the Club began offering in-person day camp for 32 kids per week to allow for social distancing. They normally serve more than 250 kids during summer camp. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine also delivered activity kits to children who were registered for virtual summer camps. The kits contained writing materials, art supplies and STEM activities for youth to follow along with virtual lessons. Karen MacDonald, chief operating officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, says the activity kits foster a sense of connection, combat learning loss and address loneliness among youth who lack social interaction during long summer days. “We all thought we’d be back in person by the summer,” says MacDonald. “Now as circumstances evolve, we know our members need the Boys & Girls Club as well as regular activities to keep them busy and provide some learning engagement.”
Leading Racial Equity
As communities across the nation call for action on racial injustice and equity, Boys & Girls Clubs have an important role to play. We are committed to guiding young people as they navigate the world, elevating their voices and helping them build skills that will empower them to shape the future. With a local and national footprint, we amplify this work by highlighting issues that matter to young people and partnering to drive community-based solutions to help eliminate barriers that prevent the full participation and advancement of the young people we serve.
Breaking Down Barriers – The Boys & Girls Club Call for Change
The mission and core beliefs of Boys & Girls Clubs fuel our commitment to equity. For far too long, systemic barriers have created and perpetuated inequities for Black, Indigenous and other people of color. To accomplish our mission, Boys & Girls Clubs are advancing racial equity for the youth, families and communities we serve.
