A Day at Club

What to Bring to Club Each Day

1. Children will need a bathing suit and towel each day. Most groups will swim each morning and afternoon.
2. We strongly advise that parents write the child's name on all articles of clothing and belongings. Even items such as bike helmets and backpacks should be clearly labeled. Every year our lost & found table becomes full of items that cannot be matched up with their owners.
3. Children should not bring valuables or large sums of money to Club, as these can get lost as the child moves from one area to another throughout the day.
4. Water bottles are not necessary as we have water fountains throughout our campus to quench their thirst.
5. Sturdy shoes (sneakers) should be worn at all times, with the exception of when they are on the waterfront.
6. Many children like to bring water shoes to wear when swimming in the lake.
7. Occasionally Chautauqua experiences some cooler days. Therefore, a few warmer items of clothing should be brought to Chautauqua. Boys and Girls Club is located on the waterfront and can be several degrees cooler than elsewhere in Chautauqua on these days.

Typical Day

8:50 - 9:00 Children arrive at Club and "check-in" with their counselors.

• Groups 2-4 meet inside the Girls Club building.
• Groups 5-8 meet on the benches by the waterfront.
• SAC meets on the concrete/brick wall on the road at the base of the ravine.

*On your child's first day, please go to the Beeson Youth Center first and not to the above locations. Please see the Register for Camp page for more information.

9:00 Morning Assembly

• A member of the Club administration begins the day with the assembled groups. Each day is started with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the Club Song. Important announcements are given to children and staff. On Mondays, a general orientation is given. Groups then proceed to their 9:00 activity.

9:00 - 12:00 Each group participates in four 45 minute activities.

• We have nine fields including a baseball/softball field and a soccer field. Boys and Girls Club is also equipped with two gymnasiums, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, canoes, kayaks, sailing, and tennis courts. We also offer an outstanding music, crafts, nature, juggling, and swimming program. A few activities are limited depending on age group.
  
  
  
• Groups 5 - 8 will have instructional swimming during one of their morning periods, while groups 2 -4 will have a recreational(free) swim. All children need to bring a bathing suit and towel each morning. Please see the bottom of the page for more information on our swimming program and philosophy.

12:00 Children are "checked-out" by their counselors and dismissed

• Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:00. If you are meeting your child at noon, decide on a meeting spot with your child, such as certain tree or the front of a certain building. They are dismissed from a different location within Club each morning and afternoon and will not be dismissed at the 9:00 meeting locations. Children arriving by bicycle or others means are free to leave once dismissed.
• No supervision is provided by Club from 12:00 - 2:00 as Club is not in session. After enjoying lunch at home with family, there are many opportunities for young people to take advantage of Chautauqua's other facilities and programs including the beaches, library, and the Special Studies classes. Parents are encouraged to refer to Chautauqua's babysitting list if they need to make childcare arrangements. The list is available from the Office of Youth and Recreation (716) 357-6290 or can be picked up at many locations in Chautauqua.

1:50 - 2:00 Children arrive and "check-in" again with their counselors.

• Groups meet at the same locations as they did at 9:00.
• A Club administrator gives any pertinent announcements to the assembled groups at 2:00 and then groups proceed to their 2:00 activity.

2:00 - 4:00 Each group participates in 2 activities, each one hour in length.

• Please see 9:00 above for the types of activities.
• Groups 2-4 will have instructional swimming during one of their afternoon periods, while groups 5 and 6 will be scheduled for a recreational swim period.
• Groups 7, 8, and SAC participate in an elective program. Each hour the children have a group of activities to choose from and attend the activity in which they are interested. Group 7 only has electives certain afternoons and follows a set schedule the other afternoons.

4:00 Children are "checked out" for the day. See you tomorrow !

Fridays: Those children who have been in attendance for a minimum of one week (5 days) receive a patch on their last day. These CBC/CGC patches have the current year on them and have been given out for decades. One of many Club traditions !

Special Events

• Water Olympics
• Track and Field Day (groups 4 and up)
• Field Day (groups 1 - 3)
• Overnight Canoe/Camping Trip (for SAC, for our oldest group)
• Day trip to Darien Lake Theme Park (groups 8 & SAC)
• Club Carnival
• Old First Night
• Airband
• Visits from various performers (i.e. folksinger, magician, etc)
• Speakers (in recent years these have included an NHL player, NBA player, biotechnology scientist, The Butterfly Man, Peter from Peter, Paul, and Mary, and a well known children's author)

The Swimming Program
Instructional swim is given to the children each day, and a recreational swim period is offered to most groups daily. Our waterfront program is headed up by Chuck Bauer. He and his Red Cross certified staff meet the needs of each swimming level that a child enrolled in Club might have. Learning to swim is an imperative part to being a part of Boys and Girls Club as well as the Chautauqua community. A large part of the Boys and Girls Club involves using the lake or lakefront. It is important that each child learns to swim in a lake for their safety. It is expected that children come to Club each morning and afternoon with a bathing suit and towel and participate in the swimming program. Mr. Bauer and his staff are available to answer any questions that you might have upon your arrival to Club.