Zachary and Zoe are Taunton Clubhouse members who love participating in all of BGCMS' specialty enrichment programs, from 3D Printing to Young Chefs to Artventures, this sibling duo has tried them all! Zachary and Zoe first got involved with the Club when Zachary was in kindergarten and was gifted a free membership to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, and the rest is history. They both adore coming to the Club and think that the staff at the Taunton Clubhouse are great and that all of the programs are lots of fun to participate in. 

When Zachary grows older he wants to become a YouTuber and Zoe wants to own her own farm and take care of animals. Zachary and Zoe's favorite programs at the Club include 3D Printing, Swimming, and Coding!

Kylie George, our 2022 Youth of the Year! Kiley graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 2022 and is currently in her sophomore year at the University of Rhode Island where she is working towards her bachelor's degree in Marine Affairs. Her studies explore issues confronting policymakers and marine managers at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. 

Kiley was a member of our Tiger Sharks Swim Team throughout her 11-year membership at our Taunton Clubhouse and traveled with the team 9 times to Florida for national competitions! Today, Kiley continues her Club involvement as a lifeguard at our Taunton Clubhouse and Camp Riverside summer day camp.

In February of 2023, Kiley had the opportunity to attend Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Days of Advocacy convening in Washington, DC! There, she joined leaders from across the BGCA Movement in meetings with members from the offices of Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, and Congressman Stephen Lynch to advocate for the needs of our Clubs and members.

"When I first began attending Boys & Girls Club of Metro South’s Taunton Clubhouse, I  was seven years old. I had just started the second grade and joined a swim team the year prior. I always had an affinity for the water while also falling a bit short of my peers on land, something that made me feel occasionally isolated and different. When a family friend of mine joined the Club's Swim Team and told my family all about it, I knew it sounded like a place for me. I don’t think I ever could’ve predicted how true that would become.

As I grew up the Boys & Girls Club’s staff and members became some of the most consistent people in my life. I spent sometimes six or seven days a week at the Club, competing with other members of the swim team. It was through those long and hard work-filled weeks that I learned valuable skills I still use every day. The most notable skill would be using my voice. Through trials and tribulations, cheers and conflict resolution, leading and following, I learned how to self-advocate and to never let my needs be ignored. Joining the Club at such a young age and staying consistent for the entirety of my youth allowed me to both observe leaders and practice my own leadership skills. By attempting, whether or not I failed or succeeded, I became comfortable in my own skin and reliant on my abilities to make decisions.

Without the people I’ve met at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, I would’ve never made it to this stage and had this opportunity. I would’ve never had the ability to speak confidently and proudly, and wouldn’t feel completely confident in my goals and aspirations. I am only one drop in the bucket of influence that the Club has had on our 

youth and our future!"

Shannon first got involved at the Taunton Clubhouse in 2011 when one of her friends joined the swim team and encouraged to join as well. After she aged out of BGCMS' membership in 2018, Shannon returned in 2020 to become the assistant coach for the Tiger Sharks swim team. In 2022, Shannon graduated college with a bachelors degree in Social Work, and she currently works as a teacher’s aide at a behavioral school, and her goal is to get her masters in social work and help at-risk youth.

Shannon describes the Club as " a place where youth can go after school for a variety of programs and make life-long connections with peers and staff, just like I did.I realize that my time at the Club taught me a great deal. I would say that the greatest lesson I learned was how to work well with others, no matter our differences. Being on the swim team for the Club meant that I spent 4 to 5 days a week surrounded by my many teammates. Spending that much time with so many different personalities helped me to better develop empathy and teamwork skills that truly aided me in making connections with my classmates while at school."

JJ & Kizzy, Taunton Clubhouse members and siblings Kizzy (16) and JJ (13) have been coming to the Clubs since 2018, and during their time as members, they have each explored new interests, learned new life skills, and formed lasting friendships. Most importantly, both Kizzy and JJ have experienced the sense of belonging and acceptance that defines our Club community. 

As a neurodivergent youth, JJ has found that the programs and people at BGCMS encourage and embrace his interests, from drawing in the arts room, to creating music, and exploring his favorite subject of science after school. 

For Kizzy, the Club offers a place where both she and her brother can be themselves and pursue their interests in safe, supportive, and welcoming spaces. 

Meet Vic Rodriguez, our 2021 Youth of the Year! Vic is currently a freshman at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Vic has been a member of BGCMS for over 5 years, beginning her time with us as a camper at Camp Riverside. Today, Vic is also a BGCMS employee at our Taunton Clubhouse where she’s been a Group Leader during the Clubhouse’s Learning Pods program, and a summer camp Counselor at Camp Riverside.

Ending the stigma around mental illness is a high priority for Vic in her future endeavors. She hopes to go onto a career in clinical psychology and work with less supported communities to lobby for better treatment of individuals that may be deemed “crazy,” or demonized. Vic has overcome many of her own challenges in life and has learned many lessons, including that nobody can go through anything alone.

Makayla and Mariah Brown happen to be sisters, alumnae, past Youth of the Year's, and Sullivan Tire & Auto Service Scholarship recipients! In 2019, they took the stage and shared their stories of impact of our programs at the Great Futures Gala! To these sisters, the Brockton Club signifies family. They have both gone on to their Great Futures, but the Club is never forgotten for either sister.

Makayla

“Growing up at the Boys and Girls Club with siblings was both interesting and comforting! When Mariah and I attended the club together, the experience offered both benefits and challenges. We had shared experiences such as participating in club activities together and forming friendships with other club members. Our favorite clubs were Keystone, Diploma to Degrees and the Rotary Club. Not to mention there were plenty of community service programs that we joined together!

What we both loved the most is that if one of us was struggling with a particular activity or facing challenges at the club, having each other to lean on offered a sense of comfort and solidarity. Now, sibling rivalry can sometimes arise, but it was always a healthy form of competition that turned into becoming each other's role models.

Being an older sibling you constantly serve as positive role models for younger sibling(s) at the club. For example, after I had become Youth of the Year in both 2014 and 2015, and moved on to college my younger sister Mariah became the Youth of the Year shortly after, in 2017. While growing up together at the Boys and Girls Club can be exciting, it’s also important for each sibling to develop their individual interests and identities. Mariah and I encourage each sibling to pursue their own passions and activities outside of the club, just like we did.”

Makayla and Mariah currently own a 3,000 sqft event venue together known as Upscale Experience Venue located in Peachtree, City GA. Outside of their business venture they are both still pursuing their own career paths. Since her time with our Clubs, Makayla graduated Phi Sigma Alpha from Salem State University and worked as a legal secretary at South Coast Legal Services. She is currently working and plans on attending Georgia State University School of Law in the Fall of 2024.

Mariah

Makayla was a role model to many of our members during her time at the Club. That was especially true for her younger sister Mariah. Following in her sister's footprints, Mariah became our 2017 Youth of the Year, and after graduating from Brockton High School in 2018, she enrolled for undergraduate studies at UMass Lowell. In May of 2022, Mariah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a double minor in both Criminal Justice and Education! During her time at UMass Lowell, Mariah volunteered at her campus COVID testing site and managed their "River Hawk Rising" program, which provided virtual academic services to students throughout the pandemic!

Thanks to the impact of BGCMS and the skills she developed while serving as Youth of the Year, Mariah left UMass Lowell with strong connections to professors, students, directors, and advisors. Those connections allowed Mariah to continue her educational journey at Boston University, where she is currently enrolled in a dual Master's/Ph.D. program studying special education with a focus on moderate disabilities in Pre-K through 8th grade. Mariah also works closely alongside the director of the special education program at Wheelock College in her research while serving as a paraprofessional at a local elementary school.

Mariah's immediate plans are to earn her Master's degree from BU and complete the necessary licenses to become a teacher and eventually a principal or superintendent. Looking ahead, Mariah is determined to realize her dream of earning her PhD and going on to study, create, and implement new programs and policies that will improve the life of young people, just as Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South has for her.

She attributes her desire to give back to the community and help others to her time at the Boys & Girls Club, particularly her time in the Teen Center’s Girls Group.

“Girls Group really did teach us how to love ourselves and I know that for me, at a really young age for someone to tell us to love ourselves and appreciate your race, your color, and I know that not many girls get that. Every week talking about our affirmations, what we can do as women to give back, the group really did give me the confidence and inspire me to give back like I do today.”

You’d be hard pressed to find boys with bigger dreams than brothers Edmilson and Mikael, who have been members at our Taunton Clubhouse for 5 years and hope to some day play in the NBA. 

Edmilson, 11, wants to go to Duke University for engineering and to play Division I basketball. He knows reaching his goals will take hard work, and says that coming to the Club has helped him learn what it will take to get there. “You can get better and better if you practice,” said Edmilson. “The staff here have helped me learn teamwork, dedication, hard work and leadership.”

Like his older brother, Mikael, 9, knows that practicing every day at the Club and doing well in school will help him reach his dream of playing basketball professionally.

Mikael has tried all kinds of sports at the Clubs and Camp Riverside, including baseball, volleyball, and soccer. Yet, his passion for basketball beats them all. 

When Mikael makes it to the NBA, he plans to give back. “I want to make my own shoes someday,” said Mikael. “I want to give them away to as many people as I can.” We know that Mikael will change the game for many kids who come after him.

Mikael and Edmilson's big dreams are at the heart of the work that we do at our Clubs. We know that each and every one of the boys and girls who walk through our doors is full of promise and possibility, and we are determined to do whatever it takes to meet their needs, support their dreams, and set them on the path to success! 

Abiana is currently a freshman at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. In addition to her many contributions to the Taunton Clubhouse as a member, she also works at the Club after school as an Arts Specialist, sharing her passion and creativity with younger Club members, and at Camp Riverside in the summer months as a camp counselor. 

“My number one goal in life is to make sure everyone feels heard,” said Abiana. “Even if I’m starting with little steps, every one counts.”   

Abiana entered Taunton High School as one of the top 5 students graduating from John F. Parker Middle School and has maintained academic honor roll for her entire high school career. She defines herself as dependable, as an advocate and mentor, as a communicator, and as a continuous learner. 

In 2020, Abiana was named our 2020 Youth of the Year!  She has truly been an incredible mentor and example to all of our youth throughout her time at our Clubs. This fall  Abiana, will be starting at Salve Regina University in the fall. We are so proud of Abiana and we can't wait to see where her journey takes her! As a BGCMS member for over 10 years, Abiana is living proof that Great Futures start here!

Christina (pictured on the right) has been an active member of the Brockton Clubhouse Teen Center for over two years. As a Club member, BGCMS has helped Christina make her dream of being the first in her family to attend college a reality. Christina first joined the Brockton Clubhouse because her friend Naviah (pictured on the left), a current BGCMS staff member and former Club member, encouraged her to join. Christina enjoyed the Club because it offered her a safe place to hang out with her friends after school and this past year, Christina learned first-hand just how critical the programs and resources offered at the Teen Center were to building great futures!

Many of our Academic Success programs are designed specifically to service teen members and are implemented in our dedicated Teen Centers which are open to members ages 13-18. As members transition to high school, they receive additional support in researching their options for the future and applying to college or trade schools, and are preparing to enter the workforce. For Christina, these programs provided the support, clarity, and motivation she needed to get through the application process of applying for college, financial aid, and scholarships. 

“Marisa [our College & Career Access Director] helped me a lot when it came to applying for college. As a first-generation college student, Marisa navigated me through the whole process and made sure I wasn’t doing anything wrong like take out too many loans or fill out the wrong paperwork. I was able to stay motivated and focused throughout the whole process thanks to Marisa’s guidance and encouragement.” 

In addition to working one on one with our College and Career Access Director, Christina also attended workshops hosted by the Teen Center that featured guest speakers from colleges, to help her better understand which college would be the best fit for her.  Christina appreciates that the Teen Center makes an effort to invite guest speakers who come from similar backgrounds as they do, and can relate to the decisions many members are struggling with in regards to the future. She remembers one informational workshop she attended that featured speakers from Bridgewater State University who were both from Brockton. Christina felt that these speakers understood where she was coming from, because they had both grown up in Brockton like her.

This year, in addition to exploring her college and career options, Christina joined the Healthy Relationship program. The Healthy Relationship program works to prevent sexual assault and dating violence and promote healthy relationships amongst the youth in Brockton. Christina believes that the peer-led program helped her become more comfortable in large social gatherings, become cognizant of red flags in a relationship, and know when to stick up for herself and leave an unhealthy situation. Programs like Healthy Relationships help our members foster a positive sense of self, develop new ways of communicating their perspectives, increase their capacity to understand the ideas and feelings of others, and explore societal and personal values in a safe environment.

Christina credits the Club for instilling strong character and leadership skills in her and providing critical resources to the youth of Brockton. Christina wants the younger generation of Clubs kids to know “that you never have to be shy about asking for help at the Club.” She is thankful that the Club staff is always willing to provide their fullest support and that the affordability of Club memberships makes it easier for kids to reach out for help.   

Christina’s hard work and dedication paid off as she was one of the recipients of the 2021 Sullivan Tire & Auto Service Club Member Scholarship this past year and is preparing to start college in the fall! We are so proud of all that Christina has accomplished and we can’t wait to see where her future will take her! 

Dominick is a 12 year old member at our Brockton Clubhouse! He met his best friend Iasiah at the Clubhouse and loves playing sports in the gym.

Isaiah and Dominick actually go to different schools, but met each other at the Club and have been best friends ever since! 

They’ve uncovered so many shared interests through programs and activities at the Brockton Clubhouse.

Without BGCMS, Dominick and Isaiah might never have met and this dynamic duo might never have formed. Our Clubs are a place where great futures and great friendships blossom.

Gio is a six year old boy who attends the Taunton Clubhouse’s School Aged Child Care program. 

He can always be picked out of his Group A class because he’s the first to come up to you and smile, even under his mask! When Gio isn’t in his virtual 1st grade classes (which he calls “the meetings”), he’s playing with his friends! 

Gio proudly says that everyone in his group is his friend. In fact, Gio’s favorite thing to do at the Club overall is to play with his friends in the gym, outside, and learn on the computer!

 He absolutely beams when he talks about the staff in his program, and he’s so excited each and every time you might see him. 

BGCMS has helped Gio make so many friends!

James Cordon is an 18 year old Senior in high school, Brockton Clubhouse alumni, and current BGCMS nutrition employee. James first started attending our Clubs in 5th grade, and since then the Brockton Clubhouse has been a safe, second home for James. When he was younger, James loved to play basketball at the Club and participated in the Mayor’s League. He also has very fond memories of attending summer camps at the Club!

James attends Southeastern Regional Vocational Vocational Technical School, which offers their students co-op opportunities- allowing them to work during their vocational shop weeks as long as it’s related to their trade. James knew he wanted to keep working at the Club and saw this as a perfect opportunity to incorporate his culinary learning into his love for the Club.

“Originally I wanted to be a counselor and I was a counselor over the summer in 2019. My school has a Co-Op program, and I’m in culinary arts. So I was trying to figure out what I could do that involves culinary... I asked around to find out how I could still work here and make it so I was still in school, and it still counts as school.”

Now, James works in the kitchen under Nutrition Director Joanne Nixon, who has nothing but praise for this young man and his work ethic. He loves working at the Club, and felt like transitioning from Club kid to Staff was a very easy move to make.

“Working here is pretty fun because I grew up here, I grew up in this building [...] everybody’s friendly, wants to know each other, knows each other’s names… it’s a very family-like environment here. It’s very fun, and it’s not like a job that I don’t want to do. When I come here, I want to go to work.”

James wasn’t always so sure of his place in the community, however. 

“Basically the Club kept me out of trouble too, because I was a little rascal when I was younger, in middle school especially. At one point I wasn’t coming here for 3 months and I was getting in trouble a lot, but coming here kept me away from the bad influences of people on the street and friends that might not necessarily want to succeed. 

When I came here, they helped me do my homework, kept my grades up and helped me out a lot for growth purposes, learning purposes, and just teaching me how to become the person I am today.”

James dedicates much of his success as a young adult to attending the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, and continues to pass on his experience to the younger generation of Club kids through the meals he makes, and the smiles he shares.

Janessa is a member at the Taunton Clubhouse, where she has been enrolled in the licensed After-School Care program for two years now.  Everyday at the Club, she finishes her homework, spends time with her friends, eats dinner, and plays games like chess and manchala— something that she wouldn’t do at home. 

“If I wasn’t at the Club, I would have never played board games,” says Janessa. “I don’t go on computers as much here than when I’m at home.” 

Board games are far from the only thing that Janessa has taken from her time at the Club. Here, she says she’s learned from the staff to be kind and helpful. 

At just 11 years old, Janessa already knows she wants to take those important lessons with her long after she leaves BGCMS. She wants to be a veterinarian or a teacher. 

Why? 

“I want to help, and always learn new things,” she said. “I could help animals, or people with learning issues, and make class fun. The staff members here make me want to be a teacher. Everything I do here could help me be a teacher.” 

At BGCMS, we aim to inspire our members, raise expectations, and help them set long-term goals to channel their interests and talents into meaningful, rewarding careers. We know that education is the key for youth to unlock their full potential and as such, we work to instill a life-long love of learning in our members which will serve as the foundation for their future successes!

Jovan is a pre-teen member at our Taunton Clubhouse. His favorite part of the Club is playing sports like basketball, and football. The sports are great, but the Club has changed his life. 

He has been spending a lot of his time at the Club this year in the gym. Moving up to middle school means that the school teams have tryouts, and they’re competitive. He knows that he needs to put in a lot of hard work if he wants to make the football and basketball teams.

“Football helps me channel my anger,” said Jovan. “Football is always there.”

Football isn’t the only thing that’s always there for him. If he has a problem, he knows he can come to the staff here at the Club. 

“I used to get really mad,” said Jovan. “The staff taught me to talk about it instead, and that even if they don’t agree with me, getting mad doesn’t do anything.” 

The staff haven’t just helped Jovan manage his emotions, they hold him to high standards on the court, and off.  “At the Boys & Girls Clubs, I’ve really learned to have the best sportsmanship.” 

No matter what happens in the game, Jovan always ends by congratulating his opponent and shaking their hand.

When he grows up, Jovan wants to be a doctor, so he can continue to help people. “When someone is hurt I try helping them or I get someone else to help. I want to do that in the future.” 

At BGCMS, we work to support Jovan and his peers so that they can beat the odds and achieve their dreams, whatever they may be. 

Meet Kylie! Kylie is a 13-year-old member at our Brockton Clubhouse, and this year is her first year upstairs in our Teen Center. Our teen programs are focused on setting members up for success in high school and beyond by providing them with the tools and support they need to build skills and foster confidence in their abilities. 

One of Kylie’s favorite programs hosted by the Teen Center is Rock Climbing Night. Every Friday, the Teen Center takes a cohort to a local rock-climbing gym where members get to climb for free and receive instruction and coaching. Having never rock climbed before, Kylie has found it highly engaging and fun to learn about.

“Every time I go climbing, I learn something new and accomplish something I didn’t think I could before.”  

Rock climbing has provided a great opportunity for Kylie to gain more confidence in herself and find the courage to try new things. Climbing has also helped her improve her communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Kylie loves how supportive and welcoming the gym is, and that climbing allows her to apply her leadership skills. 

When Kylie is not climbing, one her favorite hobbies is designing clothing and accessories. Fashion has always been a passion of Kylie’s, and she has dreams of becoming a stylist in the future. 

“I think it’s super fun to put together outfits that utilize items of clothing you don't normally see people wearing.  What I loved about fashion is that no matter who you are or what you do, fashion can make anyone feel good, as long as they have confidence in their style.”  Our Club programs offer our kids a space to foster their curiosity and creativity, and help instill them with the confidence they need to pursue their passion.

Kylie’s many interests don’t stop there. Since joining the Clubs, Kylie has greatly enjoyed attending our STEAM programs after school. STEAM is the fusion of arts into the typical fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Our programs give Kylie the opportunity to learn about the multifaceted components of her favorite hobbies and further foster her interest and skills. Kylie appreciates that our STEAM programs focus on all the different areas of STEAM, and the fun and engaging atmosphere offers the opportunity to explore her passions beyond what is offered at school. 

As she moves up to high school, Kylie is excited to become more involved with the Teen Center and continue attending our after-school programs. For members like Kylie, our Clubs give our kids the chance to explore all their different passions and interests and build up their confidence and leadership skills. Our programs aim to inspire our kids to expand their horizons and make their dreams become a reality. 

Mario C. first joined our Clubs at the age of 12, and during his 6 years as a member, he participated in a wide variety of programs and activities. Mario enjoyed participating in the Debate Team, was a vibrant member of our Dance Team, and served as the Vice President of the Keystone Community Service Club, helping to organize volunteer opportunities around the city for our members.

Mario was also employed at the Brockton Clubhouse for three years through our Youth Jobs program and served as a role model for other youth. He worked as a Youth Development Associate in our Early Education and Childcare program helping to mentor our youngest members, and this past summer he became a Camp Counselor at Camp Riverside to continue implementing critical programs for our youth during the summer months.

When asked how the Clubs impacted his life, Mario said "the Club has always been a support to me. I hope that the Boys & Girls Club can continue to inspire kids just like me. Thank you to every staff [member] at the Boys & Girls Club that’s

inspired me. You’re the reason why I’m standing here today.” 

Mario graduated from Brockton High School in May of 2019. He received a $5,000 scholarship from our Club scholarship program, and is now heading into his second year at Bridgewater State University as a Biology major. He hopes to become an elementary school science teacher so that he can continue molding young minds and fostering a love of learning in the next generation.

Ten years ago, Marisa became a member of our Taunton Clubhouse when she joined the Taunton Tiger Sharks swim team. Marisa believes that being on the swim team has taught her the importance of good sportsmanship and teamwork. “Being on the team taught me that it’s not all about yourself or even about winning or losing, it’s about being a supportive team member and cheering on your teammates no matter what.” 

When Marisa’s not training and competing with the Taunton Tiger Sharks, you can find her staying busy in the Taunton Aquatic’s Center lifeguarding and leading swim lessons for our younger members.

Marisa was inspired to become a swim instructor because of how important the sport was for her growing up. “It made a huge impact on my life, and now that I’m a swim instructor, I want to make the same impact on my kids’ lives.” 

For Marisa, her experiences as a lifeguard and swim instructor have taught her a lot about responsibility. Outside of our Clubs, responsibility plays an important role in Marisa’s life.  During her time as a student at Taunton High School, Marisa participated in the school’s band, Drama, Latin, and Keystone Clubs, and was a captain on the school’s swim team!  

This fall, Marisa began attending UMass Dartmouth to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. She hopes to contribute directly to the efforts being made to combat climate change and encourage more girls to pursue their passion for STEM. 

The memories and lessons Marisa learned as a member will stay with her as she ventures beyond our Clubhouse walls, and she know that BGCMS will continue to provide enriching and life-changing experiences to the kids in her community for generations to come! 

Meet Mya! 

Mya is a 10-year-old fifth grader who has been coming to the Taunton Clubhouse for almost five years. At the Club, Mya loves to go outside and to spend time with her best friends Skye, Sophia, and Lyric. Mya especially loves Power Hour, a program which offers all of our members an hour of quiet homework time. Throughout this hour of quiet time, members are offered tutoring and individualized academic support from staff. In addition to Power Hour, Mya’s also enjoys playing any and all team games in the gym.

During the last program session, Mya tried out our brand-new Aerobic Step Class, an exercise-based dance program for pre-teen girls. She loved it and can't wait to sign up for the next session! Mya also loves learning in our state-of-the-art STEM Lab, and her favorite subject in school is Math. 

One staff member who Mya most enjoys seeing each day is Leanna, our Youth Resource Navigator, who works with all of our members to develop their social-emotional skills and well-being. Mya greatly cherishes the time she spends with her mentors at the Club, especially her favorite staff member Yarelis, who she describes as “nice” and “understanding”.

Mya describes the Club as a great place both for making new friends and for bonding further with existing friends. The friendships that Mya has made and cultivated at the Club are extremely important to her, and she thinks the world of her fellow Club members!

Sabel is a member of our Taunton Clubhouse and at just five years old is one of our youngest members! After only one year Sabel has already had the chance to take part in many of our Clubs high-quality, fun, and safe programming. 

This summer Sabel attended Camp Riverside for the first time. The 45 acre campus provided Sabel with dozens of activities that ensured her summer was filled with fresh air, sunshine, and nonstop fun! 

When asked, Sabel declared that "my favorite part of camp is getting ice cream!” In the afternoon, all the campers get the chance to buy snacks and ice cream at the Snack Shack. Sabel loved eating her favorite ice cream, the Jolly Ranchers Cool Tubes, and getting to play with her fellow campers under the palivan. 

"At camp I got to make new friends and play lots of games!" 

Snack time wasn’t Sabel’s only favorite activity. Camp Riverside gave Sabel the opportunity to try new outdoor activities everyday and bond with other youth during these activities. Daily activities included: going on nature walks, spending time at the playground, and going to archery lessons! Sabel also loved going to the splash park during the hot days at camp and getting to cool off under the tipping buckets and mushroom fountain.

Sabel’s enthusiasm and positive attitude wasn’t lost on the staff as she was awarded “Most Enthusiastic” at the end of the session. After just one summer at Camp Riverside, Sabel proudly proclaimed "I love Camp Riverside and I’m coming back next summer!”  

Our enriching programs help to nurture the natural energy and enthusiasm that we see in Sabel and so many of our promise-filled boys and girls. To that end, a summer spent at camp provides unique opportunities to hone life skills that help kids become more confident, understanding, driven and independent in all areas of their lives!