Meet the kids and staff who make the Club a truly special place
When you walk into the Boys & Girls Club at CSLA in Westminster, the sense of camp spirit is palpable.
On this summer morning, the sun is shining as Katie, the Club Director, leads Club kids through a stretch outside. After a few minutes, she pulls out a timer and reminds the group, "This is all about what you can do. Do not compare yourself to others, alright?"
This isn't just another Friday at the Club. It's Fun Friday, featuring a new summer tradition: the Friday Run.
Here's how it works:
The Friday Run began after Club kids told staff they wanted "a way to eat more popsicles and earn more prizes." What started as a simple idea has become one of the Club's favorite traditions.
"The group keeps growing," Katie said. "Kids are cheering each other on. Last week, a kid didn't want to run, but he walked alongside his friends and cheered them on. It's only made Fridays more exciting for us and strengthened the camp experience. It creates a completely different atmosphere."
The atmosphere Katie describes is something she calls "unapologetic joy."
"At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, we try our best to create spaces where kids feel welcome. In the summer, it's that times ten," she said. "It can be the highlight of a kid's day, and being a small part of that is incredibly special for me."
Katie worked as a camp counselor in college and says the experience was life-changing. Today, she sees that same impact on the young people she serves.
One Club member who stands out is Riley.
"Last summer, Riley was 5 years old. She was very nervous, very shy, and didn't talk to anybody," Katie recalled.
Then Katie's face lit up.
"This summer, oh man! She came into the Club super excited and very talkative. She's become a good friend to other Club kids and helps show the new kids around.
Later that day, the Friday raffle begins in the CSLA cafeteria.
Katie spins the wheel and calls out name after name. Club kids step up to choose their prizes, carrying with them something even more valuable: confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
For Katie, that's what summer at the Club is all about.
