Boys and Girls Club

Several of you have asked about affordable options for your kids, and let me just say that I don't think it gets any better than Boys and Girls Club for affordable, quality options.

Now, if you're anything like me, you're thinking that the Boys and Girls Club is designed for lower-income, inner-city kids.  (Or maybe I'm just a bad person....but either way)  It's definitely not.  While the Boys and Girls Club does serve a high number of the at-risk population, they're open to everyone.

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with 2 of the directors for our area at the Hylton Club located on Dale Boulevard near what was the ice arena.  First of all, as a former children's pastor, I know passion for kids, and these two ladies are seriously dedicated to making sure that each child that walks in the doors is having a safe, quality experience.  Second, I was completely impressed by the facility! State of the art computers, X-Box Kinects, well maintained classrooms, a library complete with summer reading titles from local schools, an on-site accredited teacher to help with homework, tabletop games, an outdoor jungle gym, they've really got it all.

The Boys and Girls Club does have a focus on achievement.  They have a few key areas they focus on including Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.  Clubs offer tutoring, volunteer clubs run by the kids, pickup games and even sports leagues for a small additional fee.

So here is the breakdown.  Membership is $30 a year.  No joke.  And your membership is good at the Hylton, Manassas, and Dumfries clubs.  That means your child can go to the club Tuesday-Friday from 3-9pm and Saturday from 10-4.  Kindergarten through Teens can belong, and there's separate age-appropriate programming for everyone.  Classrooms have glass windows everywhere so there's total accountability and transparency. 

In addition, the clubs offer very affordable before and after care from 6am to 6pm Monday through Friday.  Children can opt to stay until 9 Tuesday through Friday, if they need/desire.

Boys and Girls Clubs also offer Summer Camp and Spring Break Camps.  Summer camp includes:
1 Weekly Field Trip
1 Weekly Swimming Trip
1 Field Day
2 days in the club rotation
They're closed 4th of July, but other than that, there's total summer coverage.

I was completely impressed by the Boys and Girls Club, and I'd encourage you to check it out as an option for your child!! At $30 a year, even if you just use it as a rainy Saturday backup activity, it's totally worth the cost.  They're doing great work with our kids and youth right here in PWC.
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If Boys and Girls Club doesn't sound like something your family is interested in, but you'd like to support the work they do with at-risk children, including never turning a child away because of an inability to pay, you can support them by attending a Friday night Bingo game (ages 10+) or by attending their Steak n' Steak Dinner and Silent Auction  held annually in May