NASHUA – With schools closed, business and workplaces reopening, and summer underway, kids throughout the community need a safe place to interact with other kids, release energy, and just have fun. This is especially true for many members of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua who have parents that are essential workers, single caregivers, or are struggling to make ends meet.

Wanting to help their members through this challenging time by providing them with a fun summer experience, the Club has now reopened to kids ages 5-18. The Club’s licensed childcare program, Kids Club, is open to children in grades K – 3rd with financial aid available to those who qualify through the state. Kids Club follows standard guidelines, remaining in their designated area and participating in daily programs run by trained staff members. Pre-registered Clubhouse members in grades 4-7 can sign up for summer camp at $25 a week, with small groups participating in a wide range of activities on a rotating schedule. The Stahl Teen Center is also open for members’ in grades 7-12 with dinner served daily.

The Club is currently serving over 80 youth between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm. Members in attendance have access to summer programming activities, daily meals including breakfast, snack and lunch (dinner for teens), and the direct support of professional staff mentors. To ensure the safety of both staff and youth members, the Club has limited the amount of kids they are serving in their building. There is also no drop-in program for children grades 4-7. All Clubhouse campers need to be pre-registered by contacting Christine Lessard at 883-0523 x 232. Teens are free to drop-in at their designated location.

“The safety and protection of our Club members is the number one priority of our organization,” said Club CEO Norman Bouthilette “We are following State and CDC guidelines and doing everything possible to keep our Club members and staff protected from the COVID-19 virus.”

In keeping with CDC guidelines, the Club has also implemented a safety protocol that includes requiring all Club staff and members to undergo daily temperature checks and health screenings before entering the building, practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing, and requiring all staff and Club members to wear masks. Any kids or staff members showing symptoms of being sick are immediately sent home.

To maintain social distancing, Clubhouse campers (grades 4-7) are separated into small groups and rotate to different program areas based on a pre-determined schedule. Each group engages in daily activities including arts, crafts, recreational sports, games, mindfulness activities, virtual educational field trips, swimming, academic STEM activities, outdoor adventures, character & leadership education, and movie time. Campers also take part in special activities related to the week’s theme. Around the World week, Harry Potter week, and Super Hero week are just a few of the planned themes for the next month.

“We know this is a hard time for members, so we want to provide a fun summer experience for everyone who registers to attend,” said Clubhouse Director Eric McCambly. “We hope with everything we offer at the Club, kids will be able to enjoy the summertime while also staying safe and healthy.”

The Club also offers the Fresh Start Gardening program where kids learn how to maintain a garden and grow their own food. Lessons on irrigation, self-pollination, and plant nutrition are just some of the educational activities’ members participate in. This year, gardens will be planted with a large assortment of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A new archway between garden boxes has been built and planted to form a living tunnel of green beans!

The Club hopes to expand their summer program as New Hampshire continues phasing into a complete reopening of the state while keeping with necessary safety regulations and protocol.

Bouthilette said, “We realize that our Club is the only place that some of the families in our community can turn to when schools are closed, and parents have to return to work. We are monitoring the situation diligently and will continue to operate with these limitations in place as long as we are able to provide a safe and enriching environment for the youth we serve.”

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