How can youth today build the skills necessary to achieve a great future? They need a place that allows them to sharpen their skills and discover new pursuits. A place that is fun and safe, while inspiring creativity and ingenuity. A place where they can feel heard and supported in every way, knowing that there’s a team of caring professionals on their side. A place where they can also be surrounded and supported by friends and mentors.

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. This is met by providing life-changing programs led by trained and caring staff.  Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) provides an evidence-informed, comprehensive, out of school service for young people ages 6 to 18 years old. Club membership is only $20 per child for an entire year; this low cost membership ensures that every child has an opportunity to attend.

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For the past four years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County has had the privilege of offering a summer program in Estes Park. This program allows parents in the community to give their child a safe place to go during the long summer hours. Knowing that their child is being taken care  of by professionals, at an affordable rate, is reassuring for parents, especially households where both parents work.

 

Camden Birkeland, a father of one of the summer program members said, “The program gave my son the opportunity to learn in a different way and he came home every day raving about the program.” He also mentioned that the program times were helpful, because he and his wife both work and they needed a safe place for their son to go. 

 

The summer program has grown over the past four years from serving an average daily attendance of 43 members to now serving an average daily attendance of 60 members. Each summer, the wait list for the program also grows. Prior to the start of 2017’s summer program, more than 50 families were on the waitlist. This increase illustrates a need for not only summer programming in Estes Park, but also  year round programming.

 

“We are excited about the potential to serve more kids in Estes Park,” Kaycee Headrick, Executive Director, said, “Our organization is uniquely poised to meet the needs of youth when they need it the most. We hope to continue that model in Estes Park in a more permanent capacity. In order to do that, we need to garnish larger community support so that we can ensure a sustainable program.”

 

“It (Boys & Girls Clubs) is the best thing that ever happened in Estes Park for youth,” Marc Grandmaison said. He also noted that his daughter, Cassidy, loves the counselors and has been attending the summer program for the last four years.

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County is committed to ensuring great futures for the youth of Estes Park. If you would like to join us in this effort, please contact us at 970-223-1709 to donate (BeGreatLarimer.org/donate) or get involved. Club programming is dependent upon community support; your involvement helps us ensure another great summer for youth in Estes Park.

 

We would also love to hear from Boys & Girls Club Alumni - please contact our Program Support Office at 970-223-1709.

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Since 1986, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) has been at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances in Loveland and Fort Collins, since 1994 in Wellington, and since 2014 in Estes Park through a summer program.  BGCLC currently serves over 3,500 youth in Larimer County each year.  For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County and our programs, please call 970-223-1709 or visit www.BeGreatLarimer.org.