Registration for BGC summer program begins Monday

Michael J. Ross

AMERICUS May 20, 2008 12:41 am

— The Boys & Girls Club of Sumter County (BGC) summer program will be from June 2 -July 18. The summer program will provide breakfast and lunch, computer classes, recreation, tutors, various field trips, guest speakers.
There is a $100-fee for the approximately seven-week summer program. Jimmy Green, the interim chief professional officer of the BGC, said this is a bargain because some comparable summer programs cost up to $75 per week.
The BGC summer program is $100 for the first child in a family, $50 extra for the second child in the family, and $25 extra for each additional child after that. Call 924-0414 for more details.
Children that live in the Housing Authority of Americus, ages 6-12, may attend the summer program for free, but parents must come register their children. The BGC and Housing Authority have a partnership.
The summer program will be held both at the Easter Morning Unit in Americus and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Unit in Plains. Registration for the summer program is from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday, at both the Easter Morning and Carter units. Call 924-0414 for more information.
The BGC summer program is for ages 6-12, and Green said the summer program isn’t a baby-sitting program. He said the participants will be enriched in several ways. The program will be from 8 a.m -2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The daily activities of the summer program will also include Power Hour, a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program and SMART Moves. The SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program addresses problems such as drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity.
The SMART Moves program uses a team approach involving club staff, peer leaders, parents and community representatives. More than simply emphasizing a "Say No" message, the program teaches young people ages 6 to15 how to say no by involving them in discussion and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence. The ultimate goal is to promote abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement through the practice of responsible behavior.
The various field trips of the summer program will include the Andersonville National Historic Site, Global Village & Discovery Center, Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, Chehaw Park and a trip to a local strawberry patch.
The junior staff of the BGC who will assist with the summer program will have the opportunity to participate in the Money Matters program. Created with the Charles Schwab Foundation, Money Matters was designed specifically to help teens (ages 13 to18) expand their knowledge of money management and learn the skills that lead to financial independence and well-being.