KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City are reopening Monday.
For the past 10 weeks, the clubs haven’t had any members inside because of stay-at-home orders in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The organization’s president and CEO said health and education will be the top two priorities when members start entering the club doors.
In terms of education, Boys and Girls Clubs hires certified teachers to lead children through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lessons. The goal is to keep children from losing what they learned last year, something called the “summer slide.”
The CEO, who used to be a classroom teacher, thinks getting face-to-face instruction will have a big impact after the school year ended with distance learning.
“The thing that our members love the most about the clubs is that personal connection they have with a positive mentor, a positive adult figure. And it’s difficult to maintain those connections virtually,” Dr. Dred Scott pointed out.
On the health side of the equation, members and employees will have their temperature taken twice a day and have to answer a series of questions about feeling any COVID-19 symptoms. Teachers will be wearing personal protective equipment. Class sizes are smaller to meet social distancing guidelines, about a third the size of last summer.
The Clubs have prioritized space for children of essential workers. Other parents can place their children on a waiting list for the 10-week long summer program. The organization may add students as cities continue easing stay-at-home restrictions.
Click here for information on how to sign up for the Atomic Blast Summer Enrichment Program.
