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Boys & Girls Club kicks off summer and prepares for a post-COVID transition

By Staff | Jul 24, 2021

Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua participate in Camp Ohana-Nash’s Heroes vs. Villains-themed event. (Courtesy photo)

NASHUA – Summer activities are in high gear at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua’s Camp Ohana-Nash. Youth enjoy themed weeks throughout the camp season, through August. Kids Club (grades K-3) kicked-off the week with an Aloha-Summer theme, while Clubhouse members (grades 4-6), enjoyed programs inspired by the theme Heroes vs. Villains.

Camp Ohana-Nash is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and offers a fun-filled day of programs and activities, including open swim, outdoor adventures, fitness/athletic activities, arts & crafts, STEM activities, gardening club, recreational games, movies, weekly field trips and more. Recently, members of the cultural arts program brought their artistic talents to downtown Nashua, painting artwork onto street dividers to brighten up the city.

In other program areas, BAE volunteers are running educational STEAM activities to inspire budding scientists and engineers, while another group of volunteers leads the Yacht Club with Clubhouse members, a program focused on designing, building and sailing miniature wooden boats. One of the biggest highlights of the summer is the Club’s Fresh Start Garden Program, where members plant and nurture a wide range of fruits, vegetables and herbs in the club’s community garden. Along the way, they harvest and prepare tasty nutritious snacks and treats from the produce they grow with their own green-thumbed, hands.

Teens have their own summer adventures planned with field trips to York Beach & York Zoo, the Horse Hill Nature Preserve, the Freedom Trail and Boston Market, Brownstone Adventure Park and deep-sea fishing. Games, cookouts and activities round out their daily fun. Teens also can participate in summer-long programs such as an eight-week creative writing program that concludes with a summer celebration trip. Teen hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To energize and refuel during the day, the Club provides nutritional breakfasts, snacks and lunches. Safety remains the club’s No. 1 priority. Campers ages 5-12 are organized into socially distanced groups that rotate to activities throughout the club. Groups are led by fully trained youth development professionals who offer encouragement, positive reinforcement and guidance along the way.

A group of kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua visits the Andes Art Institute. (Courtesy photo)

“COVID offered us challenges, but many opportunities as well,” said club CEO Craig Fitzgerald. “I am deeply grateful to our staff who remained fully committed to our kids and families and provided a safe and healthy environment throughout the school year. Our staff participated in over 90 hours of trainings this spring to prepare for summer and beyond, and to ensure we are providing the best programing possible for our youth members. Our goal is to continually bring new and innovative programming to our already-comprehensive curriculum.”

The 2021 Friel Memorial Golf Tournament, one of the Club’s signature fundraising events, also has some fun changes in store this year. The event is scheduled for Sept. 16 at a new location, Overlook Golf Club in Hollis. Two flights will be offered, 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., as well as scramble or tournament formats, fun contests and great golfer gifts. Anyone interested in sponsoring or participating in the event can reach out to Lisa Pavlopoulos at 602-883-0523, ext. 213 or lpavlopoulos@bgcn.com.

“I grew up as a club kid and am so inspired by the dedication and passion of the staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua,” Pavlopoulos said. “My goal is to share my extensive event and fundraising management skills with the team to help us increase community engagement and support. This will allow us to continue to develop enriching programs for the youth in the Greater Nashua community. I look forward to connecting with local community members and businesses soon.”

Parents interested in registering their kids as club members should reach out to Senior Manager of Club Operations Christine Lessard at 603-883-0523, ext. 232 or clessard@bgcn.com.

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