The Boys & Girls Club provides quality youth programs throughout the year, complementing the academic calendar. Activities comprising these programs are divided into five areas:

Our structured programs are designed to expose our members to activities in each of these areas weekly.

Summer Day Camp 2008

While school is not in session members may enroll in Day Camp, a structured program designed to enrich children's lives by providing activities in each of the five core areas above. Members are divided into groups by age and each group participates in activities according to a weekly schedule. Each group has a staff group leader for supervision in addition to our regular program staff. See all of our great program activities below.

Summer Day Camp will operate 8am - 6:30pm, Monday through Friday, June 17 - August 15, 2008 and is open to children in grades 1 -8. The weekly cost is $75 per child, which includes a camp T-shirt. Discounts are available as follows:

No refunds available regardless of attendance.

High School Students

Your $20 yearly membership fee also covers the summer. That's right--attend the Teen Center for the whole summer and pay only $20! See Roger for details.

Overnight Camp at Pathfinder Ranch!

Through our camp facility, Pathfinder Ranch, we offer a traditional overnight summer and winter camp in the cool mountains near Idyllwild, CA. Children live in dormitory style cabins for six days and five nights (for summer camp) and participate in horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and other exciting outdoor activities. Bus service to and from the camp is provided by the Club. Ages served: 7-17.

Cost for each session is $300 per camper and campers must be Boys & Girls Club members. Scholarships are available for qualified families (a financial assistance form must be completed for consideration), reducing costs as low as $40.

This summer's Pathfinder Ranch dates (all sessions Monday through Saturday):

After School Program 2008-09

The after school program (September through May) gives children a safe and positive environment in which to channel their energies at a time when they are most susceptible to negative influences: after school, before a parent returns from work. In this semi-structured program, members are free to choose from among the activities below according to their needs and interests. Supervision and guidance is provided in each area by our trained staff.

Children typically arrive after school by Laidlaw Transit bus, provided at no additional cost to members (see calendar for schedule and schools served), and parents must arrange to pick up their children by 6 p.m. (8 pm for Teens). Ages served: Pathfinder Center - children currently enrolled in first through fifth grades. Patrick Center - sixth through twelfth grades.

Physical Education

A variety of team sports and individual athletics are offered to our members in the Pathfinder Gymnasium/Lockwood Athletic Center. These include basketball, flag football, floor hockey, volleyball, whiffelball, and mini-soccer. Guidance is provided by Athletic Director, Robert Smith.

Other supervised sports such as kickball are held in Sunrise Park adjacent to the Club.

Basketball Legue 2007-08

The annual Basketball League tournaments are a great way get some exercise, meet new friends, and have some fun!

Participants are divided into divisions by age. Each team plays against other teams in its division. You'll play against other Boys & Girls Club teams and teams from other Coachella Valley youth organizations.

A scene from last year's Basketball League.

Winning teams will be honored at a banquet held at the end of the season.

Cost is only $15 for Club members. Team jerseys will be provided.

Download the 2007-08 Basketball Brochure and sign up now!

Arts & Crafts

Members are given daily instruction in arts and crafts under the direction of our Art Director, Andrea Olsen, in the Bill Demarest Art Center. Media include paint (oil and water based), colored pencil, clay, wood, and papier-mâché.

Youth Leadership

To develop citizenship and leadership skills, members are encouraged to participate in a variety of organized groups under the guidance of a staff facilitator. These include the Jr. Citizens Police Academy, the Keystone and Torch Clubs, and the CILT counselor training program.

Computers

Instruction in the use of computer hardware and software is offered in the Stergios Learning Center, the Hale Center's Computer Lab, and the new Patrick Teen Center's Hayes Computer Lab. Members become efficient in the use of word processing and publishing software in the course of preparing reports for school; they learn how to create greeting cards and manipulate photographs digitally; they acquire the skills necessary to perform basic troubleshooting of computer systems; and they acquire complex problem solving skills through the use of strategy and simulation games.

Those wishing to deepen their knowledge may join the Computer Club for weekly lessons in specialized computer topics such as web design, advanced troubleshooting, and system assembly.

The Teen Center's Hayes Computer Lab now offers Internet access to members for academic/research use.

Education

Tutoring

Tutoring in academic subjects and help with homework is provided by Education Director, Paul Stickles, in the Stergios Learning Center Monday through Thursday when school is in session. Members may drop in any time for assistance with school work and are encouraged to complete their homework prior to participation in other club activities. Parents may request to have their child's name checked off daily to verify attendance.

Ultimate Journey

This internationally recognized, award-winning program leads Club members ages 6-12 on a fun-filled journey into the amazing world of plants and animals. The Ultimate Journey motivates young people to develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the environment, helping them build the knowledge and motivation to protect our natural resources.

Participants utilize such scientific tools as a computer interfaced microscope and refracting telescope to explore the world around them at scales not ordinarily visible.

This program is coordinated by John Papalia.

Games & Recreation

Central to every Boys & Girls Club curriculum, gaming and recreation give children a break from academics and the more demanding educational, vocational, and physical activities offered by the Club. Members learn good sportsmanship and are given ample opportunity to interact socially.

Boys and girls play such games as pool, Ping-Pong, and air hockey in the Games Room; play board games, watch movies, and dance in the Music Video Room; and enjoy a snack at the Snack Bar.

Specialty Programs

Field trips and other special events round out our programming. Members participate in local and regional contests with youths from other areas, visit senior citizens' homes, attend first-run movies, and take part in special classes like cooking, first aid, and yoga.

We also offer special services such as free dental examinations to our members.

Smart Girls

Studies show that as girls enter adolescence, many of them suffer a loss of self-esteem. Young women begin to notice that they are often judged by their physical appearance rather than strength of character or personal accomplishments. The problem is compounded by contemporary American society, in which there is no longer a traditional female model for girls to follow.

The Smart Girls program is designed to help girls, ages 10-15, develop healthy attitudes and lifestyles as they transition to adulthood. To accomplish this, the program addresses health and social issues that are specific to young women. The program consists of several weekly sessions, offered during regular Club hours, each of which has multiple activities conducted by an adult facilitator.

Smart Girls prepares girls to make positive decisions at a critical stage in their development. The program promotes skills necessary for the establishment of a healthy lifestyle for girls. This includes an understanding of their bodies and the physical, emotional, and social changes they experience; healthy exercise habits; positive nutritional habits; communication skills through the involvement of adult female role models; and an understanding of the health care delivery system in our community.

Passport to Manhood

The passage form boyhood to manhood is a challenge for most adolescent males since it requires them to understand and manage a variety of issues and transitions: physical changes in their bodies; altering relationships with authority, friends and members of the opposite sex; greater freedom and responsibility for personal decisions; new expectations in how they conceive and plan for the future; preparation for life's roles, particularly related to education and careers; and greater pressures from peers, authority and popular culture in how they respond to drugs and alcohol, sexual relations and the acquisition of money and material possessions.

This passage to manhood can be difficult enough for any young male, but for boys from homes in which caring male role models are not present or conspicuous, special attention is required to talk explicitly about and model responsible manhood and to introduce them to good examples of dependable men. This important function cannot be left to television, professional sports or popular culture personalities.

While adolescence can be difficult for all youth, boys are more likely to commit violent crime, get into trouble in school and join gangs during this critical period in their development. In many communities, the journey to manhood is made even more difficult as boys struggle with competing forces without the support of personal male mentors and role models.

Passport to Manhood represents a targeted effort to engage young boys in interactive discussions and activities that reinforce positive behavior. The program consists of 14 weekly sessions, offered during regular Club hours, each of which has multiple activities conducted by an adult group leader.

To participate, parents or guardians are required to attend an informational session prior to enrolling their child in the program. You are encouraged to contact our Passport to Manhood program coordinator to become involved.

Our 2007-08 calendar is available in PDF form for downloading and printing. In it you will find our complete schedule of operations for the year, the bus schedule, important deadlines, and general Club information.

Bus Schedule

The Palm Springs Unified School District transports students to the Club from the following schools:

Please refer to the Palm Springs Unified School District's website for the latest information regarding Laidlaw bus routes and exact times.

Sign-ups are conducted on a space available basis and must be completed in person. This gives you a chance to tour our facility and discover if our programs are right for your child.

You may download a membership form here and complete it prior to your arrival.

Please note the registration dates on our calendar above. Many of our programs (particularly summer) are quickly filled, so it is best to register early. You may contact us for the latest registration information.

Sign-ups for Fall are underway now at the Pathfinder Center (first through fifth grades), and the Patrick Teen Center (sixth through twelfth grades) . Please stop by to reserve your spot!

School year fees are based upon a sliding scale and proof of earnings is required for those whose annual income is less than $32,000. This system ensures no one will be turned away for financial reasons. Summer programs are charged on a flat rate. Scholarships are available to qualified families.