Expansion of Afterschool Programs in Harney County

By The Roundhouse Foundation

Kids Club of Harney County has the distinction of being the only afterschool care program for kids in Harney County, which has a population of more than 7500 residents. And now, with grants and donations from individual donors and major funders including The Roundhouse Foundation, Kids Club will also have a new, expanded facility open its doors in 2024.

“With the completion of Geno's Youth Center we can expand services to include additional youth and programming,” said Executive Director Amy Dobson. “This will be the newest youth facility in our area since the high school was built in 1959.”

Serving Burns, Hines, Crane, and The Burns Paiute Tribe, this county asset is set to open early in 2024, and they plan to double their enrollment beginning this upcoming summer.

“We will increase our Camp Kids Club Program from 30 to 60 youth in grades K-5 in Harney County,” said Dobson. “Our numbers may not be many but we matter—and we create amazing opportunities for our youth and our community.”

The organization’s mission is to provide a safe and enriching out of school environment for youth that prepares them for success in academics and life by offering support and guidance as they learn the responsibility of healthy life choices.

Kids Club of Harney County embodies their mission through an intentional focus every day:

Monday– Enrichment Day

Tuesday– Social & Emotional Learning

Wednesday– Wacky Wednesday

Thursday– Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics

Friday– Physical Activity

There is also an intentional payment structure for families of participants.

“We want to offer parents the opportunity to have their child in an enriching, safe summer program at a reasonable price versus having a young child left home because the parent has no other option,” explained Dobson. “No child is denied membership based on their ability to pay.”

Kids Club of Harney County currently has a waiting list for enrollment, but once the new facility is complete, they will be able to meet their capacity goals, hire and train new staff, and more easily divide participants into small groups where they can receive more attention and age-specific activities.