Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County concluded another summer program last week. As one could imagine, this summer’s program looked significantly different than previous years. After working closely with and getting clearance from Larimer County’s Health Department, Boys &
Girls Clubs operated out of 11 different locations throughout Larimer County in Estes Park, Fort Collins, Loveland and Wellington. They provided full-day, in-person services to more than 570 youth throughout the summer with the majority of families paying minimal fees.
All Boys & Girls Clubs locations offered full-day programming that included meals, access to educational enrichment, social and emotional health support and fun activities. Meals were made possible through partnerships with the Food Bank for Larimer County and Thompson School District’s Summer Feeding Program. Academic-based programs were a focal component to the summer experience, specifically in Loveland where Boys & Girls Clubs partnered with Thompson School District’s Link2Learn summer learning program. New to the Boys & Girls Clubs team this summer was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who was hired to provide youth with the resources they may need to cope with the new daily challenges around COVID-19. Most importantly, the Boys & Girls Club provided a safe place for youth to go, where they could be with friends, enjoy summer activities and have some sense of normalcy and consistency amongst the stress of this pandemic. Similarly, the Club enabled parents to work and not be overburdened with this high cost associated with most other youth summer programs.
Kaycee Headrick, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, says, “While our summer program looked much different this year, we are proud to have
provided another safe, fun, and enriching environment for youth, especially this summer. The Boys & Girls Club have always served young people when they need it the most, that has never been more
true than today. We will continue to adapt our services for young people and we thank our community who have helped to make this possible. ”
