Boys and Girls Clubs Opens New Home in Live Oak

Five years ago, the Live Oak School District embarked on a collaborative public-private partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County and the County of Santa Cruz to build a Boys and Girls Club in the Live Oak community. I am so pleased to share with the community that the Club opened its doors at 855 17th Avenue on March 30. Over 500 people turned out for the dedication ceremony on March 19. Dignitaries and families were treated to refreshments and the unveiling of the beautiful Mosaic Donor Wall created by local artist Kathleen Croscetti, as well as tours of the over 10,000 square foot facility.

The Live Oak Clubhouse features two floors of education and activity space designed to meet the academic, recreational and social needs of children ages 6-18 including an education center, multi-media arts center, dance studio, creative arts room, computer and technology room, state-of-the-art recording studio, teaching kitchen, and expanded teen center.

The Live Oak Clubhouse offers a safe place for kids, which is supervised by paid, professional staff who offer fun and engaging programs to meet the needs of various ages. Members (ages 6-18) will have opportunities for programs and classes including hip hop and multicultural dance, yoga, homework assistance and tutoring, cooking, food and nutrition, gardening, fine arts, piano, guitar, glee club, internet safety, video editing, fashion and graphic design. Special programs for teens will include medial literacy, bicycle maintenance, and repair, Junior Staff, academic support and tutoring, job coaching, and college readiness.

The annual membership is $60 per year, per child and entitles them to full Afterschool programming, Monday through Friday. During the school year, the Club will be open 2 – 7 p.m. on Mon, Tues & Thurs and 12:30 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. During breaks, the Club is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A “Walking Bus” led by Boys and Girls Club staff members will transport students from Del Mar, Live Oak and Green Acres Elementary Schools to the Clubhouse at a cost of $5.00 per week.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC) is the largest year-round youth engagement organization in Santa Cruz County, serving hundreds of members through academic and recreation programs at clubhouses in Downtown Santa Cruz and Live Oak.

BGCSCC plays a key role in a communitywide effort to make Santa Cruz County more livable for a wide variety of families by offering low-cost memberships. Afterschool and summer programs include arts, music, technology, tutoring, athletics and indoor aquatics. The organization is a leading destination for people with professional and volunteer interests in youth development.

Learn more about BGCSCC at www.boysandgirlsclub.info.