Peninsula Boys & Girls Club get ready to re-open
Several Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula locations are set to reopen their doors in time for the start of the school year.
Six clubs will re-open Sept. 8, including locations in Yorktown, Gloucester, Newport News and Hampton.
Each location will offer a space for children ages 6 to12 years old to attend during the school day between 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. This expands on the typical before and after school programs during the school day.
“We recognize with what’s going on right now that we needed to modify our program to offer a fullday program … so that kids that need a place to go have a place,” said Hal Smith, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula.
During the hours of operation, they will have time for virtual learning as well as daily physical activities and programs under the supervision of trained staff members. Virtual learning times will vary based on the schedules sent out by the school districts, which the clubs will follow.
Programming outside of virtual learning will be centered around education, career development, leadership, sports and recreation, and the arts.
Each child who attends will receive a lunch and a snack.
“This program is providing some of the essentials they need. Having access to a location, having a lunch and a snack … having support from our staff,” Smith said.
The program has limited availability and spots are on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a $60 weekly fee per child in addition to a onetime new member fee of $25. Registration is now open.
Smith said they wanted to make the program affordable and accessible.
The clubs will follow all guidelines from the CDC,
Gov. Ralph Northam and the Department of Social Services.
Some of the precautions they are taking include curbside check-ins, temperature checks throughout the day, hourly sanitation of spaces and equipment, hourly hand washing for children and staff, and masks required for staff. Children are strongly encouraged to wear masks and the clubs will have a supply available.