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Youth - Boys'
& Girls' Club
Boys' & Girls'
Club | Children's
School
| Group
One |
Additional
Activities
The
Boys' and Girls' Club is considered the oldest day camp in the
United States. With most buildings dating from the 1890s and
the turn of the century, the Boys' and Girls' Club grows out
of a Chautauqua tradition of excellence in sports and physical
education.
Seaver Gymnasium (1890) was originally built to house
a gymnastics school and was one of the first gyms to install
a basketball court when that sport was invented over 100 years
ago. Club's newer structures include the Beeson Youth Center
(1968), which replaced the venerable Athletic Club Building (1905),
and the Sharpe Field grandstand, built in 1993 following a fire
on July 5, 1991, which destroyed the previous structure. Extensive
renovations to all Club buildings were completed in 2001 as part
of the "Chautauqua 2000" long range plan.
Click here to see the Boys' Club | Click here to see
the Girls' Club
Philosophy
The purpose
of the Boys' and Girls' Club is to provide an opportunity for
young people ages 7-15 to actively participate in a safe and
supportive recreational day camp on the grounds of the Chautauqua
Institution. The programs and facilities allow for a diverse
set of activities that take full advantage of Chautauqua's natural
and cultural resources. The Boys' and Girls' Club encourages
personal growth for participants and professional growth for
staff. The enjoyment and appreciation of lifelong skills are
emphasized, and the importance of Club as a source of lasting
Chautauqua relationships is recognized and nurtured.
Staffing
The Boys'
and Girls' Club is directed by Greg Prechtl. Mr. Prechtl is the
athletic director at the State University of NY at Fredonia.
An experienced camp administrator, he has served as director
of the Chautauqua Boys' and Girls' Club for the past 21 seasons.
The staff at the Boys' and Girls' Club includes adults (the majority
are teachers), college and high school students. Each camper
group is staffed with a head counselor and one or two assistant
counselors. A counselor-in-training program provides skill-building
and practical experiences for 16 year olds preparing to become
counselors. Waterfront counselors hold current "CPR for
the Professional Rescuer" credentials as well as American
Red Cross Lifeguard certification or equivalent. Many of the
specialty areas are directed by experienced adults (music, arts,
nature and crafts). Sailing experiences are provided by the trained
staff of Chautauqua's Sailing Department. Boys' and Girls' Club
enjoys a high rate of returning staff each year.
Program
Participants
in the Boys' and Girls' Club program are grouped according to
the grade they will be entering in the fall (e.g. Group 4 for
children entering 4th grade). The oldest group at Club is called
SAC (Senior Athletic Club, a traditional name dating to the earliest
days of the program) and serves those youth entering the 9th
and 10th grades. Maximum group size is 36 campers with three
counselors. Typical group size is 25-30 in a given week. Each
day at Boys' and Girls' Club includes four morning activity periods
of 45 minutes each (9 a.m.-noon) and two afternoon sessions of
one hour each (2-4 p.m.). The rotation of various activities
within this schedule is different each day. An example of a typical
day might be: canoes/kayaks, first period; field games, second
period; instructional swim, third period; Seaver gym, fourth
period; music, fifth period; and arts and crafts, sixth period.
Other days could include free swim, nature, sailing, volleyball,
tennis or special events as well. Some activities (e.g. sailing,
swimming) are guided by age and/or skill levels. Older groups
(7, 8 and SAC) may choose "electives" in the afternoon.
In general, Boys' and Girls' Club offers a diverse, recreational,
largely outdoor day camp program combining active play, the arts,
waterfront sports and special enrichment events. The program
stresses the safety and well-being of children and recognizes
the value of building friendships.
Transportation
Young
people enrolled in the Boys' and Girls' Club may make whatever
arrangements are most appropriate for their age and family dynamic.
They may walk, ride a bicycle with a parent, sibling, babysitter
or on their own, or utilize the public bus/tram system that travels
the Chautauqua grounds 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. If you are driving
your child to Club (from outside the grounds), you must enter
via the Bryant Gate. Special arrangements have been made to open
the Bryant Gate for Club participants only and following a schedule
tied to Club's hours of operation. The gate will be open daily
8:40-9:15 a.m., 11:40 a.m.-12:15 p.m., 1:40-2:15 p.m., and 3:40-4:15
p.m. Drive straight down Bryant to the foot of the hill adjacent
to the tennis courts. Youth may be dropped off at that location,
and vehicles can exit by returning directly to the Bryant Gate.
If parents need to accompany their child (e.g. on the first day
of attendance), they may park their car temporarily at the turn-around
area at the foot of Bryant. Vehicle traffic and parking are not
permitted in any other areas at Boys' and Girls' Club.
Frequently Asked
Questions
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Will my child go swimming
each day at Club? |
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With a waterfront
campus, Boys' and Girls' Club places an emphasis on water safety
and water-based activities. Sailing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming
and water games are all part of the weekly schedule. Swimming
instruction is a daily activity for all but the oldest groups,
and is important for maintaining a safe waterfront, building
lifetime skills, and supporting the other water-based programs.
The staff needs the support of families in emphasizing the importance
of swimming at Club. Water shoes are recommended. Parent questions
and input are always welcome. |
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What do the children do
noon-2 p.m? |
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The program is in
recess noon-2 p.m. each day. There are many opportunities for
young people to take advantage of other facilities and programs
at Chautauqua including the beaches, the library, and the Special Studies curriculum. Parents
are encouraged to refer to the babysitting list, available through
the Recreation & Youth Services Office, if they need to make
childcare arrangements. |
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What happens at Club if
it rains? |
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Each group has a
rain schedule in addition to their regular daily schedule. A
variety of indoor activities are provided according to this schedule. |
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What regulations or guidelines
impact the operation of Boys' & Girls' Club? |
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The Boys' and Girls'
Club operates under a day camp permit granted by the New York
State Department of Health. Counselor-to-camper ratios (1:12),
waterfront staff certifications, safety and emergency plans,
water quality, and available medical staff support are all requirements
of the permit-granting procedure. |
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May I register my child
for single days or half days? |
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Registration at
Club (and Children's
School,
Group
One)
is for a minimum of one full week in order for each child to
have access to all elements of the program and to have the opportunity
to build friendships within their group. |
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Will my child need extra
money for Boys' and Girls' Club? |
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Children may need
a small amount of additional money for specific crafts projects.
Off-grounds field trips for the older groups (Darien Lake, Allegheny
River Canoe Trip, etc.) are optional and usually require an additional
fee. |
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If I have children in both
Children's School (or Group One) and Boys' and Girls' Club, how
is the "additional child" fee calculated? |
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The oldest child
at Club or the child having the longest registration will be
considered the first child. All other children in the same family
enrolled in the Children's
School,
Group
One
or Boy's and Girls' Club use the additional child fee. |
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What is the best time to
register for Club? |
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Group size is limited
and preregistration is strongly recommended. Many groups routinely
reach capacity and late registrants are turned away. Minimum
registration is one week. You may register by phone from early
January until late June, by Calling the Ticket Office at (716)
357-6250. Group size is limited, and some groups will reach capacity.
During the season, registration is possible during Club hours
(Monday- Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 2:00-4:00 p.m.) Registration
also takes place on Sunday afternoon (noon-3 p.m.) in the Colonnade
lobby and on Monday mornings beginning at 8:15 a.m. |
Boys' & Girls'
Club/Group One Fees 2008
|
Duration |
First Child |
Additional Child |
|
Season |
$755.00 |
$455.00 |
|
8 weeks |
$705.00 |
$425.00 |
|
7 weeks |
$650.00 |
$390.00 |
|
6 weeks |
$585.00 |
$350.00 |
|
5 weeks |
$515.00 |
$310.00 |
|
4 weeks |
$445.00 |
$270.00 |
|
3 weeks |
$365.00 |
$225.00 |
|
2 weeks |
$270.00 |
$165.00 |
|
1 week |
$160.00 |
$ 95.00 |
Click
here to buy tickets
www.chautauquaclub.com created by Alan Rubin |
