Fredericton Boys and Girls Club
Fredericton Boys and Girls Club
Cindy Sheppard
Caring matters
Published Thursday February 21st, 2008
“Torch Club is very fun. There is a great staff and I like learning leadership skills. The afterschool program is awesome too,” says Lauren, age 12 of the Fredericton Boys and Girls Club program. Lauren is one of the over 1000 youth in the Fredericton area who benefits from programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club. The organization has been providing programs and services to local youth since 1968 – that’s forty years of helping kids. The club provides numerous programs and services to local youth, many of whom are considered underprivileged. The club currently runs programs out of four facilities: Devon, Skyline Acres, Esty’s Bridge and Youth Choices. Programs are designed to help youth reach their full potential, no matter what their situation.
The clubs objective is the “promote equal opportunity, the fulfillment of individual potential, and provide learning experiences enabling members to achieve personal growth leading to active and responsible membership in the community”. This is achieved through programs like Girl Power. Jeri, age 10 says, “I really liked the Girl Power program at the Boys and Girls Club. We got to go bowling, we went to the movies and there were guests that came and talked to us. I really liked the leaders for the program. They had fun with us and made us feel special.” For a 10 year old, it’s very important to “feel special”.
The local Boys and Girls Club is a member of the national network of clubs – each with a similar purpose. The national website indicates that “Each club develops its programs in response to the specific needs of the young people and families in its local community. Programs are provided by qualified staff and volunteers and take a child-focused approach to skill development, self-esteem enhancement and character building for young people ages 5 to 18.” In Fredericton some of the programs being offered include, a breakfast program, pre-school play group, after school program, summer day camp, leadership programs, recreation leagues, karate, judo, girl power, boys’ night, art and drama, counseling, employment counseling, career link and GED preparation. This covers many of the areas youth find challenging. The programs are developed based on feedback from local parents and children who use the program. Additionally, these programs are available to all children, regardless of the ability to pay fees – creating opportunities for youth who may otherwise fall through the cracks.
Research indicates that over a million families in Canada have children in the 6-12 age group, and most parents are working and not at home when that school bell rings. Some research indicates as many as 82% of mothers work outside the home. Not all children, regardless of age, want to go home alone after school. That’s why, according to the national website, “Boys and Girls Clubs generally operate during the hours when children are out of school and in need of a safe place to go where they can have fun and participate in constructive, stimulating activities. Most Boys and Girls Clubs provide after-school programs between 3:00 and 6:00 pm, the time of day when children, who are unsupervised, are most vulnerable.”
New Brunswick currently has 12 Boys and Girls Clubs. For information on the Fredericton Club, contact 472-5112 or check out the website at www.fbgc.ca. The tag line for the Fredericton Boys and Girls Club