Albany Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp

Educational Activities:  

All programs offered throughout the day will include opportunities for high-yield learning.  Due to summer learning loss, many children lose quality educational skills throughout the summer months when they are out of school.  Our goal is to offer a fun-filled environment that allows each child to participate in opportunities where they are practicing reading, comprehension and math every day.  This can be accomplished through reading clubs, project based learning and outdoor activities throughout the summer.  

Fitness Activities:

 All children will participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of fitness each day.  In an effort to ensure children achieve a healthy lifestyle there will be both indoor (on rainy days) and outdoor fitness programs which will include fun games such as kickball, whiffle ball, soccer and tennis along with jump rope challenges, jumping jack competitions and tag.  Daily fishing lessons will also be provided through the DEC and club staff.

Nutrition:

 Adhering to CACFP standards, children will receive a healthy breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack each day.  In an effort to teach children basic life skills, we are offering a gardening/nutrition program called “positive sprouts”, in which children grow their own fruits and vegetables that they can prepare and eat.

Community Service:  

Through our service based Keystone and Torch Clubs, all children will participate in planning and implementing service activities throughout the summer both in the club and throughout the surrounding community.  Neighborhood cleanups, community beautification projects and donation drives will take place throughout the camp program.  In addition, campers may also use some of the summer months to maintain a small garden around the club property.  

Outdoor Education:

 The cornerstone to any summer camp program is to bring children outdoors and give them the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the environment.  Outdoor programs will include hiking, plant identification, animal track identification, fishing in accordance to DEC regulations, animal identification and nature walks.  

Partners:

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany Summer Camp program collaborates with several other organizations to offer an enriching experience for children from a variety of backgrounds.  We collaborate with the Albany Public Library, Siena College, the New York State Museum, the District Attorney’s Office, Albany Barn, The DEC, Crossfit, local theatre groups, Albany County Sheriff's Department