OKLAHOMA CITY (May 23, 2023)— The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County (BGCOKC) is more than an after-school program — activities extend through out-of-school breaks, including summer.

 

Educational and interactive summer programming features art, STEM, recreational and competitive sports, leadership classes, volunteer activities and field trips to places such as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Science Museum of Oklahoma.

 

“Finding a safe place for kids to spend their time during the summer can be near impossible, especially for working parents,” said BGCOKC President and CEO Teena Belcik. “That’s why we invest in summer programs that are fun, informative and available at a low cost. We never want cost to be a barrier for children’s safety.”

 

Teen Club Members can participate in Pathways, a workforce development and college/career prep program that coordinates college visits and job shadowing during the summer.

 

Last summer, students toured the Springlake Fire Station and learned about a fire training program offered at Metro Tech.

 

Other Members went to Eastside Pizza, where they made their own cheesy creations and met with general manager Truc-Ly Blackburn, who provided entrepreneurship and business management tips.

 

“We coordinate job shadowing and college visits to inspire Members to pursue big dreams by exposing them to new opportunities,” said BGCOKC Pathways Director Jerisha Fields. “Often kids only pursue options they’ve been introduced to, which is why we aim to broaden their horizons.”

 

If you are interested in investing in the BGCOKC summer programs, you can donate at bgcokc.org/make-a-gift or contact Carly Johnson at cjohnson@bgcokc.org to set up summer experiences.