Program Accomplishments 2021
The Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich is a not-for-profit organization that has been reaching out to children and teens in our community for almost 63 years. The Club provides facility-based youth development programs and school-age child care on a daily basis and is supervised by trained professional staff members and dedicated volunteer workers. The Club typically serves more than 700 youngsters annually, of whom more than 300 are members, all of whom benefit from our programs and services.
The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich has a lineup of tested, proven and nationally recognized programs that address the most critical issues affecting today’s youth and provide them with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to pursue their dreams and succeed in life. Our programs are carefully designed to support achievement of the Youth Development Outcomes, which our National Movement has articulated for young people leaving our Clubs at age 18: Positive Self-Identity; Educational, Employment, Social, Emotional and Cultural Competencies; Community and Civic Involvement; Health and Well-Being; and a Moral Compass.
Our Club provides a diverse program in hopes of attracting and retaining boys and girls with a wide variety of interests and needs. This is accomplished partly by offering programs in all five Core Program Areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.
Our 2021 accomplishments at a glance:
See how the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich has impacted the lives of children, their families, and the community:
Bilingual Outreach Program: This program encouraged Spanish-speaking youngsters and their families to participate in Club activities promoting intercultural understanding. Our Bilingual Outreach Coordinator was available to translate Club literature into Spanish and to assist families with pertinent Club paperwork and registration forms.
Child Care Programs: The Club is extremely proud of our licensed Before and After School Programs. Our Before School Program has an average enrollment of approximately 33 youngsters. Children are dropped off as early as 7:00 a.m., are supervised by caring Club personnel, receive a nutritious breakfast, and take part in age-appropriate educational and recreational activities. Homework help is available each day, as well. Our After School Program, with a 2021 average enrollment of 54 children, is effective, affordable, and popular with parents and children, alike. The tuition for these programs is extremely reasonable, with scholarships available for families who qualify for financial assistance.
Coffee Socials: The Club began offering Coffee Socials periodically to engage parents and obtain feedback about the programs offered. To date, more than 100 parents have participated and provided the Club and its employees with valuable feedback to ensure the programs are meeting the needs of the families it serves.
“Friday Night Fun” Program: Is a fun-filled, age-appropriate program conducted almost every Friday evening that school was in session for Mini Members (3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old, not yet in kindergarten) and members in grades K-6. For a nominal fee, parents enrolled their children for an evening of fun, including planned activities and dinner.
Full and Half-Day Programs during School Holidays and Recesses: Full and Half-day programs were conducted to provide care for youngsters whose parents must work during school recesses and vacations. The program operated from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with scholarships available. Half-day sessions were available in the morning, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and in the afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for members who were not in need of child care all day, but were looking for fun and engaging activities in which to participate. “Mini Members” were offered a half day morning or afternoon program option during school recess from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The flexibility to find something that meets their needs was definitely appreciated by parents and, without a doubt, this was an exciting way for members to spend their school vacations!
COVID-19 Camp: In an effort to remain flexible for the families we serve, in 2020 the Club designed a COVID-19 response camp that would be put in effect on the second day of a multi-day closure to provide child care to working families if the district needed to close as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to planning this program and promoting it to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich community, in 2021, we expanded and arranged to promote this program to other local districts in the event they may experience a closure and need child care.
Member of the Month Program: Each month, the Club nominates one member as its "Member of the Month." This member is chosen by Club staff, based on a member’s character, willingness to help, and positive attitude.
Mini Member Programs: This feeder program serves children, ages 3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old and not yet in kindergarten, and is operated by trained professionals. Mini Members are invited to participate in age-appropriate activities during school recess and summer camp programs where “minis” enjoy a morning session of fun and engaging activities that keep with a weekly theme.
Nutrition Program-Monthly Healthy Meals: During the Club’s Before School Program, a healthy breakfast is served to participants, and a healthy snack is served daily during the After School Program. Throughout the year, cooking classes and workshops are offered where healthy selections and alternatives are discussed and offered. During the summer, the Club offered “Try It Tuesday” opportunities where members got to experience different healthy food options that they might not have tried before.
Summer Camp: Camp is comprised of on-site activities based on weekly themes. Our program for members in grades K-12 operated from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., with the option to add Extended Care, which allowed children to arrive as early as 7:00 a.m. and/or stay as late as 6:00 p.m. Our Mini Member program was available to members, ages 3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old and not yet in kindergarten. Families who demonstrated a need, had the cost of camp (which is already affordable) subsidized from 10 to 90 percent through our scholarship program. Flexible options allowed families the opportunity to sign up day by day, or just for the afternoon to better fulfill their child care needs. The option to purchase lunch was also available.
Torch and Keystone Clubs: Torch and Keystone Clubs are comprised of young members, ages 12–18, who planned and implemented community service projects. In 2021, 69 tween and teen members participated in these Clubs. For example, each year around the holidays, these young adults conduct a canned food drive, organize food packages and distribute same to needy families who have been identified as Club scholarship recipients. In addition, canned goods are donated to a local food pantry. The Club continued a partnership with C2 Education of Jericho and provided workshops to members on a variety of topics that better prepared them for continuing their education. Some examples of the topics offered included: The Difference Between the ACT and SAT, How to Build a College Resume, and Study Practices for Mid-Term Exams.
Youth of the Year Program: Sponsored by Disney and administered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the national program recognizes exemplary character, superior leadership skills, outstanding service to the Boys & Girls Club and the community, and academic achievement. This is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive! Each year, the Club sends a candidate to Albany, New York, to compete against other Boys & Girls Club youth for the New York State Youth of the Year title. The 2021 Youth of the Year, Evelyn Ortiz, was selected to receive the honor for our organization. Evelyn won the title of New York State Youth of the Year and continued on for the North East Regional Title, but was not selected.
Junior Youth of the Year: In 2021, the Club introduced a new component to its member recognition programs, the Junior Youth of the Year award. This award is presented to one member, ages 10-13, who shows dedication to the Club, commitment to good character and emerging leadership skills. The 2021 Junior Youth of the Year was Sophia Pavlovic.
Safety Driving Initiative: In 2021, the Club facilitated a teen driving safety program, called “UPS Road Code.” The program focuses on different safety principles, from basic instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors, such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. Completion of the program earns participants a certificate for 10% off their car insurance when they start driving. The program was open to youth ages 13-18 and included an interactive driving simulator.
The Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich is a not-for-profit organization that has been reaching out to children and teens in our community for almost 63 years. The Club provides facility-based youth development programs and school-age child care on a daily basis and is supervised by trained professional staff members and dedicated volunteer workers. The Club typically serves more than 700 youngsters annually, of whom more than 300 are members, all of whom benefit from our programs and services.
The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich has a lineup of tested, proven and nationally recognized programs that address the most critical issues affecting today’s youth and provide them with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to pursue their dreams and succeed in life. Our programs are carefully designed to support achievement of the Youth Development Outcomes, which our National Movement has articulated for young people leaving our Clubs at age 18: Positive Self-Identity; Educational, Employment, Social, Emotional and Cultural Competencies; Community and Civic Involvement; Health and Well-Being; and a Moral Compass.
Our Club provides a diverse program in hopes of attracting and retaining boys and girls with a wide variety of interests and needs. This is accomplished partly by offering programs in all five Core Program Areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.
Our 2021 accomplishments at a glance:
- Total Number of Registered Members: 335
- Registered Males: 191
- Registered Females: 144
- Non-Members Served through Community Outreach: 537
- Age Range: 3 years old to 18 years old
- Teen Members: 21%
- 69 teens participated in Club’s community service-based programs. Through the Torch Club (middle school) and Keystone Club (high school), members organized food and supply drives, helped members with their homework, aided staff in facilitating events and acted as mentors.
- Average Daily Attendance: School Year - 70 members, Summer - 60 members.
- The Club provided Latino Outreach efforts to 56 members.
- Transported more than 87 members daily from 3 local schools to our Clubhouse.
- Raised funds thru “Send a Kid to Camp” program, which enabled 34 youngsters to attend Summer Camp on a subsidized tuition.
- Granted scholarships to subsidize before school, after school, and full-day child care tuition to 24 youngsters.
- Provided licensed school-age child care to more than 87 youth daily.
- Offered workshops and programs at no cost to underserved members made possible by a grant from Town of Oyster Bay.
- Provided holiday gifts to more than 45 underserved members and families through our “Secret Snowman” and “Adopt-A-Family” Programs.
- Provided more than 40 underserved members and youth in the community with brand new shoes which were generously donated to the Club by TS Holdings.
- Provided 1,343 healthy meals and 6,212 healthy snacks during 2021.
- 343 donors supported the Club in 2021.
- Continued offering more flexible scheduling options for families and a reduced fee schedule, offered membership perks, renewal rate discounts and sibling discounts.
- Provided affordable and flexible summer camp to 131 youth.
- More than 56 volunteers support our Club members annually.
- The Club provided 524 members (duplicated number) with “Friday Night Fun” experiences.
- Offered a COVID-19 Full-Day Camp for multi-day school closures in response to COVID-19.
- The Club provided 330 members (duplicated number) with Full and Half Day Camp experiences and 53 Mini Members (duplicated number) with “Mini Camp” experiences when school was not in session.
- Provided Club members and youth in the community with more than 100 school supply kits, which were generously donated by Staples of Manhasset
See how the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich has impacted the lives of children, their families, and the community:
Bilingual Outreach Program: This program encouraged Spanish-speaking youngsters and their families to participate in Club activities promoting intercultural understanding. Our Bilingual Outreach Coordinator was available to translate Club literature into Spanish and to assist families with pertinent Club paperwork and registration forms.
Child Care Programs: The Club is extremely proud of our licensed Before and After School Programs. Our Before School Program has an average enrollment of approximately 33 youngsters. Children are dropped off as early as 7:00 a.m., are supervised by caring Club personnel, receive a nutritious breakfast, and take part in age-appropriate educational and recreational activities. Homework help is available each day, as well. Our After School Program, with a 2021 average enrollment of 54 children, is effective, affordable, and popular with parents and children, alike. The tuition for these programs is extremely reasonable, with scholarships available for families who qualify for financial assistance.
Coffee Socials: The Club began offering Coffee Socials periodically to engage parents and obtain feedback about the programs offered. To date, more than 100 parents have participated and provided the Club and its employees with valuable feedback to ensure the programs are meeting the needs of the families it serves.
“Friday Night Fun” Program: Is a fun-filled, age-appropriate program conducted almost every Friday evening that school was in session for Mini Members (3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old, not yet in kindergarten) and members in grades K-6. For a nominal fee, parents enrolled their children for an evening of fun, including planned activities and dinner.
Full and Half-Day Programs during School Holidays and Recesses: Full and Half-day programs were conducted to provide care for youngsters whose parents must work during school recesses and vacations. The program operated from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with scholarships available. Half-day sessions were available in the morning, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and in the afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for members who were not in need of child care all day, but were looking for fun and engaging activities in which to participate. “Mini Members” were offered a half day morning or afternoon program option during school recess from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The flexibility to find something that meets their needs was definitely appreciated by parents and, without a doubt, this was an exciting way for members to spend their school vacations!
COVID-19 Camp: In an effort to remain flexible for the families we serve, in 2020 the Club designed a COVID-19 response camp that would be put in effect on the second day of a multi-day closure to provide child care to working families if the district needed to close as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to planning this program and promoting it to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich community, in 2021, we expanded and arranged to promote this program to other local districts in the event they may experience a closure and need child care.
Member of the Month Program: Each month, the Club nominates one member as its "Member of the Month." This member is chosen by Club staff, based on a member’s character, willingness to help, and positive attitude.
Mini Member Programs: This feeder program serves children, ages 3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old and not yet in kindergarten, and is operated by trained professionals. Mini Members are invited to participate in age-appropriate activities during school recess and summer camp programs where “minis” enjoy a morning session of fun and engaging activities that keep with a weekly theme.
Nutrition Program-Monthly Healthy Meals: During the Club’s Before School Program, a healthy breakfast is served to participants, and a healthy snack is served daily during the After School Program. Throughout the year, cooking classes and workshops are offered where healthy selections and alternatives are discussed and offered. During the summer, the Club offered “Try It Tuesday” opportunities where members got to experience different healthy food options that they might not have tried before.
Summer Camp: Camp is comprised of on-site activities based on weekly themes. Our program for members in grades K-12 operated from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., with the option to add Extended Care, which allowed children to arrive as early as 7:00 a.m. and/or stay as late as 6:00 p.m. Our Mini Member program was available to members, ages 3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old and not yet in kindergarten. Families who demonstrated a need, had the cost of camp (which is already affordable) subsidized from 10 to 90 percent through our scholarship program. Flexible options allowed families the opportunity to sign up day by day, or just for the afternoon to better fulfill their child care needs. The option to purchase lunch was also available.
Torch and Keystone Clubs: Torch and Keystone Clubs are comprised of young members, ages 12–18, who planned and implemented community service projects. In 2021, 69 tween and teen members participated in these Clubs. For example, each year around the holidays, these young adults conduct a canned food drive, organize food packages and distribute same to needy families who have been identified as Club scholarship recipients. In addition, canned goods are donated to a local food pantry. The Club continued a partnership with C2 Education of Jericho and provided workshops to members on a variety of topics that better prepared them for continuing their education. Some examples of the topics offered included: The Difference Between the ACT and SAT, How to Build a College Resume, and Study Practices for Mid-Term Exams.
Youth of the Year Program: Sponsored by Disney and administered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the national program recognizes exemplary character, superior leadership skills, outstanding service to the Boys & Girls Club and the community, and academic achievement. This is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive! Each year, the Club sends a candidate to Albany, New York, to compete against other Boys & Girls Club youth for the New York State Youth of the Year title. The 2021 Youth of the Year, Evelyn Ortiz, was selected to receive the honor for our organization. Evelyn won the title of New York State Youth of the Year and continued on for the North East Regional Title, but was not selected.
Junior Youth of the Year: In 2021, the Club introduced a new component to its member recognition programs, the Junior Youth of the Year award. This award is presented to one member, ages 10-13, who shows dedication to the Club, commitment to good character and emerging leadership skills. The 2021 Junior Youth of the Year was Sophia Pavlovic.
Safety Driving Initiative: In 2021, the Club facilitated a teen driving safety program, called “UPS Road Code.” The program focuses on different safety principles, from basic instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors, such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. Completion of the program earns participants a certificate for 10% off their car insurance when they start driving. The program was open to youth ages 13-18 and included an interactive driving simulator.