Summer at the Boys & Girls Clubs is more than just a season. It is a turning point. Each year, when school doors close, our Club doors open wider. For hundreds of young people across Durham and Orange Counties, summer camp means safe spaces, caring mentors, and opportunities they might not otherwise be able to access. It is where confidence grows, friendships form, and futures continue to take shape.
After wrapping up my junior year at UNC-Chapel Hill, I joined the Club last summer as a Public Fellows Intern sponsored by State Employees Credit Union (SECU). It did not take long before I connected with the kids and saw how special this place is. By the time summer rolled around, I was working with our youngest group (Kindergarten – 2nd grade), and that is where I really witnessed the Clubs’ impact firsthand.
One of my favorite things from my summer with BGCDOC was creating a program called Passport to the World. I love to travel, and I wanted to bring that into the classroom in a way that felt real and exciting for them. So every week, we “visited” a different country. When they walked in, the room would be decorated, music would be playing, and everything we did that day was tied to that country. We made mosaics inspired by French culture, and we practiced yoga when we learned about India. Each of the kids had their own little passports that we stamped every week.
That is what makes summer camp special. It is not just about keeping kids busy. It is about giving them experiences that help them grow. Last summer, I saw kids come in at the beginning of the summer not really sure how to express themselves and struggling to connect with others. And then, over time, I saw them change. They started to open up. They built confidence. They learned how to be part of a group, how to listen, and how to trust.
This is where BGCDOC shines. This is a space where kids are allowed to be kids! They learn to communicate, connect with their peers, and most importantly, have fun. Thank you for investing in our Clubs. Great futures start here!
