We have been with Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Santa Cruz County four years in a row for Leni and Paulie.
I happened to be aware of its existence through my former colleague Paula C. Years ago, she sent her grandchildren there when they came to stay with her. As far as I remember, she was at once impressed and pleased with its service and potential benefits.
In 2022, Leni came to spend her summer in Santa Cruz. Prior to her arrival, Paul and I inquired about the BGC and started our application process. Little did we know that it was a very competitive one. There are three BGCs in Santa Cruz County, Downtown, Live Oak and Scotts Valley. The most competitive BGC is the Live Oak one, due to its brand-new building and proximity the Simpkins Family Swim Center. Its admittance list is always full with a long waiting list to the boot.
We finally heard from the Downtown and Scotts Valley BGCs. In consideration of my work location, we chose the Downtown one. And it was a wise and happy choice, especially with its nurturing and experienced director Katie Freeman. In the three years there, Leni has transformed from a scarred and quiet girl to a good swimmer, excellent artist and dabbling guitarist. With the frequent visits of Santa Cruz Public Libraries nearby, she has acquired the habit of reading.
Through Leni's attendance, we have also learned our lesson. It seems that spring is the time to register. In as early as March this year, we signed Paulie up, as Leni was planning to stay home with her parents. Just a week before June, we got an unexpected call, saying that a hundred kids from the Downtown BGC would join the Live Oak one for the first two weeks, due to its construction on the building. Two weeks later, we fell a victim of convenience, and decided to stay put for Paulie in the location of Live Oak where we reside.
After a mutual confer between the Unit Director Silka and Area Director Katie who has deservedly been promoted to the top position, our request was duly approved. It has a bitter-sweet ending. Paulie has grown mentally and physically in this summer, especially his art work and, eloquence of language and reasoning. Owing to his young age and free spirit, he was not used to receiving and obeying explicit instructions. As a result of this compounded by administrative miscommunications, he was prevented from attending several outdoor activities, such as movie-going, local sight-seeing spots, Beach Days and Simpkins Swim Field Trips. Thanks to the sympathetic Papou, Paulie was not wanting from any of those activities. Papou took him to CineLux Capitola for How to Train Your Dragon the same week after the group viewing. He also let Paulie play on beaches and the Simpkins Center. "It is the best days of my life," declared Paulie after the last swim. Hopefully, he will be mature enough next year to avoid those penalties, and truly blossom and succeed in the club.
After our personal experience with Boys and Girls Clubs, Paul and I have been curious about BGCs, its present and part. It seems that it is a nationwide organization founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, by three women, Elizabeth Hamersley, and Mary and Alice Goodwin. At present, there are around 5864 BGCs in the United States (BGCA), with 800 local chapters/alliance in the state of California. According to BGCA, about 92% club members expect to graduate from high school, 81% plan to go to post-secondary education, 86% are prepared to stand up for what is right and 88% are ready for a leadership role, and treat people around them fairly. It is quite impressive achievement and bright prospect for our future leaders!
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