Boys and Girls Club provides resources, programs for children

When school lets out, there's a place children can go to play sports, make friends, study sign language, learn leadership skills and go on field trips: The Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club.

Many parents value the club and its resources and programs for their children. In addition to after-school care, the club also offers a summer camp from June 9 to July 31.

Allison Barnhill of Cape Girardeau prefers the Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club to day care as an after-school option for her daughters, Gracie, 8, and Phoebe, 6. She likes the dedicated staff, the variety of resources available and the exposure to diversity her daughters receive there. She said it is comforting to know her children have a place to go where attention is consistent and staff are personally interested.

"As a single mom, there are a lot of things I can use ... tutors, youth counselors, programs teaching children to make good choices. Every single person has given something of value to my children. They're like an extension of family. It's like leaving them with family. It's not just another after-school program," Barnhill said.

Gracie and Phoebe attend a private school where there's not much diversity, Barnhill said. From the Boys and Girls Club, "They learn they can have friends from anywhere," she said.

The after-school program works for Barnhill because her children's transition time before she comes home from work is well spent.

"Sometimes I don't get home till 7 p.m. By that time, my kids have had a snack, time to wind down, their homework is done -- they're content."

The club is not only open after school. It also has summer camp during July and August. Enrollment is currently at about 50 children and teens from 6 to 18, all from Cape Girardeau.

Luther R. Bonds, the Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club executive director who came on board in April, said, "My goals are pretty broad, but I would like to see the Boys and Girls club service all of Cape Girardeau, Scott City and Jackson."

Separate areas

The summer program combines fun and learning. Each week has an academic focus such as science, math, social studies, American history, language arts, reading or world geography.

While the club's main address is 1915 Whitener St., the Teen Center is in the basement of Central Junior High School. It will take on a new character once the students in the summer camp give the walls their artistic stamp, part of the summer's art activities. The center consists of two adjoining rooms; one is a leisure and game room, the other a programming area where curriculums like SMART Moves and a Citigroup financial program will be taught.

Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club unit director Robert White III said, " The Boys and Girls Club of America found it better for teens if they have their own space away from the younger set."

The Citigroup financial program was made possible by a grant from Citigroup to help students gain understanding about finances and financial planning.

"I like it because it's interactive. This is the computer generation and the interactive curriculum is an advantage," White said.

He said he and the staff members think of their job as working with the future leaders of tomorrow.

Summer camp plans also include learning sign language, spending Fridays at the Central municipal swimming pool and trips to the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center and the Regional Museum. There is also a focus on activities that are culturally enriching and important in making smart life decisions, as well as character and leadership-building activities.

Director wants growth

As executive director, Bonds said keeping the program high-quality and consistent is important. He considers Cape his second home, although he isn't a native. "It is a place where I grew and advanced and learned how to give back. Here I developed a family away from home."

His experience began as a student at Southeast Missouri State University, which included playing on the basketball team. He was the director of Weed and Seed in Cape Girardeau as a counselor for the Division of Youth Services. Following graduation from college he worked in law enforcement. In Cape Girardeau, he managed Applebee's and coached at Central High School before taking a position at the Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club.

Bonds' plans for growth rely on funding from the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, United Way of Southeast Missouri, Grace United Methodist Church, and the Federal Strategic Prevention Framework/State Incentive Grant, which is administered by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and locally applied by the Southeast Missouri Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.

To prove the youth program is a good investment, the executive director plans on "getting out there to show others what we're doing."

One fundraising event coming up soon gives the public a chance to come out and see what the club is all about. Called the One Campaign, it is a nationwide Boys and Girls Club of America event. Details are not firm, but plans for the August event include an auction and presentation on leadership and community involvement by Ron Shumate, former Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach, who will also share some stories about his players, coaching experiences at Southeast, greatest moments and most touching experiences.

Junior high connection

Connections to the junior high have expanded beyond just physical location.

When former executive director Natika Rowles worked at relocating the club due to the expiration of its lease about two years ago, she met with principal Roy Merideth, who was then assistant principal. In turn, he met with the board who agreed to let the club meet there. Merideth is supportive of the Boys and Girls Club, especially the SMART moves program that he promoted when his duties as an assistant principal involved discipline. He waived student detentions if they agreed to get involved with the club and SMART moves.

"We started tracking grades, behavior and attendance of those kids before and after attending SMART moves and you can see a decline in absenteeism, rise in attenance and better behavior that grew out of a result of attending SMART moves," Merideth said.

Merideth said he is passionate about the Boys and Girls Club. "Luther and I will talk about how to maximize the club. I don't want it to become a segmented thing where only kids that are home alone after school go, or athletes or low income and minority kids go. It should be a resource for everybody."

Enrollment for summer camp is still open. The program begins June 9 and continues to July 31.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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On the Net

• The Boys and Girls Club of America: www.bgca.org/whoweare