On a typical school day afternoon at around 3pm, a buzz circulates Reading at each of the eight Olivet Boys & Girls Club locations. It’s the buzz of more than 800 students entering the organization’s doors to be encouraged and mentored, or as stated in Olivet’s mission, “to reach their full potential as healthy, productive, caring, responsible citizens.”
What started as only two locations, one in a building on Clinton Street and the other in a Mulberry Street row home, has grown to a total of seven throughout the City of Reading, as well as an additional location in Pottstown.
All eight of these clubhouses operate in a similar way, with half of the programming following that of the national Boys & Girls Club of America. These programs center around three core ideas: good character and citizenship, academic achievement, and a healthy lifestyle.
When members arrive at their club each day, snack time and homework help (christened Power Hour), a SMARTS program (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training), and gym activities are all offered in a supportive, enriching environment. The rest of the time is catered to the attendees within each specific club, according to where their interests lie.
Each club has grown to offer something a bit different from the others, due to the distinct interests of the youths involved. In Pottstown, students participate in a Soccer for Success Program; meanwhile, at the Pendora Club they make use of Pendora Park, while Oakbrook and Glenside students utilize their access to outside garden spaces. Walking Clubs have formed at the Clinton Street location due to their use of the Schuylkill River Pathway System, and the PAL Club takes advantage of its proximity to Gordan Hoodak Stadium. Also notable are the CFA location’s focus on the arts and the club on Mulberry, which specifically helps upper-level high school students transition into college.
While Olivet offers all of these opportunities at their locations, they have also started 21st Century Learning Sites within the Reading School District. Operating at six schools, these sites are a collaborative effort to increase motivation and improve state standardized test scores, while decreasing truancy, negative behaviors, and dropout rates. Students have the opportunity to explore areas such as coding, robotics, clay animation, and science experiments. Participants in the 21st Century Learning Sites are even given a free membership to attend any of the seven clubhouses in Reading.
Seemingly, Olivet Boys & Girls Club has little down time, as the nonprofit additionally runs an eight-week summer camp program for an average 600 members a day and a Toys 4 Tots Drive during the holiday season, which ensures its members will not have to go without gifts at Christmas time.
Interested in learning more about the work of Olivet Boys & Girls Club? Email Executive Assistant Rose Morales at Rose.Morales@olivetbgc.org or call 610.373.1314, ext. 202. For more info on upcoming holiday events, visit their Facebook page under Olivet Boys & Girls Club.
