The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach announces they are back together again! Together to care, together to connect, together to play, together to achieve, together to thrive. The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, supports not only our community’s youth but the entire family!
According to Hans Laroche, Senior Branch Director, “We are here for single working parents who need assistance with balancing responsibilities with distance learning, for only children who need to interact with peers, for the stay at home parent who desperately needs a break, for parents with multiple children and can’t juggle multiple grades of distance learning and entertainment, for households where both parents work and the household is too busy with everyone home. Our highly trained Youth Development Professionals are here to facilitate distance learning. Once the school day wraps up, kids will be able to be kids, connect with each other, have fun and participate in our award-winning enrichment programs!”
The Boys & Girls Club re-opening means there are trained, dedicated professionals to facilitate our community’s youth in distance learning efforts, allow youth to connect and have fun together again. The BGC-Laguna team has completed extensive training to make sure The Club is COVID safe as well as to address the emotional well-being of youth during these complex times. Redesigned program spaces allow for physical distancing protocols to be followed and updated policies and procedures ensure additional cleaning, sanitation, and safety. Members and staff will stay in small pods (groups/ cohorts) to lower the risk of spreading COVID.
“We are here to aid with distance learning but more importantly to tend to the social emotional well-being of our community’s youth,” said Pam Estes, CEO. “With distance learning, youth can miss out on the soft skills they gain while in the classroom interacting with their peers and teachers. School creates a sense of independence and several skills are learned on how to get along in the world outside of their family unit. Losing this independence can be hard on youth and their development. We are together again to allow our members to explore skills like this and to give them the edge to thrive. Now that we have reopened, we do not intend to close again due to COVID-19. We are here for everyone in the community and we will never turn away any child due to financial circumstances.”
Pam Estes also announced the organization’s Together Again fundraising campaign. “Communities that care for each other thrive together,” said Estes. “Thanks to our board of directors and the Massen Greene Foundation we assembled a $100,000 community scholarship challenge! All gifts, small or large, will be matched until we reach out $200,000 scholarship goal. Please make an investment in our young people and their future. By helping together, we create a stronger community.” To make a donation, please visit bgclagunabeach.org.
To contribute to the Together Again campaign or to learn more about fall programming visit www.bgclagunabeach.org, contact Jennifer Costales at JenniferC@bgclaguna.org or call 494-2535.
About The Club
The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach service area includes Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest and the surrounding communities. We offer a nationally recognized and award-winning year-round Out-of-School enrichment program that focuses not only on the whole child but on the whole family. For nearly 70 years the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach offers an array of programming that focuses on leadership development, health & wellness, academic success and creative expression.
For more information about The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, visit: www.bgclagunabeach.org.
Laguna Canyon Enrichment Center
1085 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-2535
Bluebird Enrichment Center
1470 Temple Terrace, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-7630
Teen Zone
at Lang Park & Community Center
21540 Wesley Dr., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Photo Credit: The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
