Arlington Boys & Girls Club Opens Kids Zone and More!

It was a long four months for the staff at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club. After all, kids are their business. Lots and lots of kids. Babies. Tots. Tweens. Teens. Boys and girls. Being away for so long was like the sun missing the flowers. The staff ached to hear kids return to their building on Spy Pond. They missed the splashing in the pool, the squeaking of sneakers in the gymnasium and most of all the loud banter of happy kids.

On July 13 the Arlington Boys & Girls Club opened their doors for the Kids Zone program. The Club spent six weeks adapting their procedures and training their staff in response to state and local Covid-19 health and safety guidelines. They were ready and excited. You can only imagine the joy the staff felt when the first camper arrived. Each week the Kids Zone program hosts 40 children in groups of 6 or 7. The experienced counselors are fabulous and strive to provide the best possible experience for their participants given the restrictions and limitations of Covid-19.

Kids Zone activities include free swim, gym time, and use of the Club playground where the slide is transformed into a waterslide on hot days! Chalk artwork is very popular as are arts and crafts. A favorite social distanced game has been line tag using a pool noodle! The layout of the Club allows each small group to safely rotate through the activity areas giving the children plenty of space to socially distance! The Club has even partnered with the Robbins Library to provide each Kids Zone participant with a new, free book to promote summer reading!

Lauren Duddy, Program Coordinator, says, ”The best part of Kids Zone has, and always will be, the staff. Our staff is back and more ready than ever to connect with these kids! Many participants are attending multiple sessions allowing them to form great relationships with our counselors. We feel these connections are so crucial during these challenging times. We are lucky to have such dedicated, fabulous staff each summer!”

Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, the Club is slowly and methodically opening for other activities as well. On August 3rd the Club will execute a very controlled opening for Adult Lap Swim. Swimmers must sign up for slots on the Club’s weekly Sign Up Genius and adhere to all Covid-19 safety protocols. Also in August, the Club is rolling out a Summer Sports Series. These are hour long sports themed weekly classes for youth, consisting of ten participants. The response to these classes has been phenomenal. The Club is grateful that their supportive community trusts their commitment to upholding the strictest of health and safety standards while still allowing for a ton of fun!!