KIDSTOP

Summer KIDSTOP

We know there is a lot of uncertainty right now, but we hope that KIDSTOP can provide the consistency your family needs this summer.

COVID-19 has presented unparalleled challenges to every aspect of our previously known way of life. We know families are stressed trying to balance providing distance learning for their children, working from home and maintaining physical and emotional health. That’s why Boys & Girls Club wants to be there for you this summer, by continuing to provide a quality childcare experience for your kids so you can get back to work.

What to expect at KIDSTOP this summer

2020 summer KIDSTOP program model

  • Summer KIDSTOP opens on June 1st in the Sartell and Sauk Rapids school districts and June 2nd in the St. Cloud school district.
  • KIDSTOP will be open from 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Sartell and Sauk Rapids school districts.
  • KIDSTOP will be open from 6:45 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the St. Cloud area school district.
  • We will be practicing social distancing with kids and will maintain smaller program group sizes to ensure that we are meeting CDC guidelines for health and safety throughout the summer. All programming will be in groups of 10 or fewer people and will travel from activity to activity as a group throughout the day.
  • Parent must commit to a weekly schedule this summer, due to these new staffing and programming requirements. The weekly rate options are as follows:
  • 5 days per week: $135 weekly fee
  • 3 days per week: Monday/Wednesday/Friday: $87 weekly fee
  • 2 days per week: Tuesday/Thursday: $60 weekly fee
  • We require a 2-week notice before termination of our summer program
  • KIDSTOP will be closed July 3rd in observance of Independence Day. Parents will not be charged for this day.

Fees

  • We were forced to increase our fees, due to new COVID-19 safety requirements, including: reducing staffing ratios from 1 staff to 15 children to 1 staff to 9 children, increased programmatic supplies to avoid cross contamination, increased sanitization and safety requirements, and more. Our typical flexible schedule had to be modified for this summer because children must travel as a group with their assigned staff to avoid cross contamination.
  • Weekly fees must be paid via Easy Pay, check or credit card payment (by clicking here)
  • You will be reserving a spot for your child throughout the summer and will be charged the weekly rate, whether or not your child attends. You may choose to wait to register your child at a later date, if you do not need the program immediately, but remember that space is limited at each site. You must provide a 2-week notice before discontinuing service.
  • We will not charge fees for any days missed, due to COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Space at each site will be limited, due to smaller program size requirements. We will try our best to provide families with their first choice of site; however, we cannot guarantee sites this year, due to space restrictions. If a site is full, families will have the opportunity go to a different site, or their registration fee will be refunded.

Masks & health screenings

  • All staff and kids will be required to wear masks. Masks should be washed daily after use. Cloth masks should be machine washable, and we recommend using the sanitize setting on your machine, if available. Exceptions will be made only for those who have a diagnosed medical issue that prevents them from wearing a mask. Masks do not need to be worn during outside programming as long as social distancing is taking place. For more information on CDC recommendations, click here:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/protect-children.html
  • Temperature and health screenings will be required at check in and after lunch each day. Please click here for details and a full list of the precautions Boys & Girls Club is taking to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
  • To keep kids safe and healthy and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are suspending all field trips off-site for summer 2020. That being said, we will be working harder than ever to bring exciting, fun and engaging activities and opportunities right to your child’s KIDSTOP site.

Online summer KIDSTOP registration re-opened on June 14th at 8 a.m.; however, the following sites are now full:

  • Oak Ridge
  • Pine Meadow
  • Sartell Community Center
  • Pleasantview
  • Mississippi Heights
  • Westwood

Please consider registering your child for summer KIDSTOP at one of the following open sites:

  • Clearview
  • Kennedy
  • Madison
  • Oak Hill
  • Talahi



Clubs

COVID-19 Summer Club Programming Update

Although Club programs will be re-opening slowly this summer, at this time, the Boys & Girls Club will not be open for drop-in programming until further notice. Please do not send your child to the Club, unless they are registered for the summer pilot program.

The Club will contact families of youth who have made a commitment to specific programs prior to COVID-19 to register them for this summer pilot program under the new safety requirements set by CDC and MDH.

We thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through the challenges of Club programming during the pandemic. We will contact additional Club families as soon as it is safe to add more youth to our programs.

Pilot Summer Club Program Schedule
Boys & Girls Clubs will be open:
Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. for Cadets & Juniors
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m. for Seniors

Youth will be assigned to a specific group and will stay with that group all day, every day. All programming must take place in groups of 10, with 1 staff and 9 children, to ensure that we are meeting CDC guidelines for health and safety.

Health Screenings
Temperature and health screenings will be required at check in each day. Parents/guardians who are dropping their children off by vehicle must escort their children to the building. Parents/guardians will not be allowed into the program area, but must wait until their child(ren) pass the health screening before leaving. A full list of the precautions that Boys & Girls Club is taking to minimize the spread of COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.bgcmn.org/covid-19-childcare/health-and-safety-precautions-during-covid-19/.

Wearing Masks
All staff and kids will be required to wear masks. Exceptions will be made only for those who have a diagnosed medical issue that prevents them from wearing a mask. Each child will receive 1 mask from the Boys & Girls Club. Masks should be washed after each daily use. Staff and youth may remove their masks when they are playing outside, and social distancing will continue to be practiced.

Grab & Go Meal Program
Boys & Girls Club staff are committed to ensuring that all children in need in our community have access to food this summer. Therefore, our Grab & Go meal program will continue throughout the summer. This program is available to all youth, regardless of whether they are attending our summer Club programs.

Every Monday and Thursday throughout the summer (new times starting July 6th)

  • Southside Boys & Girls Club (1205 6th Avenue S) 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Eastside Boys & Girls Club (320 Raymond Avenue NE) 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club (345 30th Ave N) 3 – 4 p.m.

Water Bottles
All children should bring a filled water bottle that is labeled with their name every day throughout the summer. Water fountains will not be used, as germs can easily be carried through the water fountains.

COVID-19 Warning & Waiver
All parents/guardians will be required to sign a COVID-19 warning and waiver upon completion of the Boys & Girls Club summer registration form.

We know these changes will be different and sometimes difficult this summer, but we will do our best to ensure a smooth transition for your family, and to provide a safe and fun environment for your child(ren). We welcome your ideas, suggestions and feedback to help us build strong programs for youth. It is going to take ingenuity and creative solutions from all of us to move beyond the uncertainty of today and to build a better tomorrow.

 

About the Boys & Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe haven for boys and girls when and where they need us most: every day after school and during the summer at three dedicated Club facilities on the North, South and East sides of St. Cloud.

Core Boys & Girls Club programs engage young people in activities with adults, peers and family members that enable them to reach their full potential. Based on the interests and needs of the youth we serve, Clubs offer diverse program activities in five areas:

  • Character & Leadership Development
  • Education & Career Development
  • Health & Life Skills
  • The Arts
  • Sports, Fitness and Recreation

The Boys & Girls Club is committed to filling the basic needs of children and youth, and that’s why we provide a daily snack and meal program at each of the three Clubs. Our participation in the State of Minnesota’s Summer Food Service Program and the CACFP during the school year enables us to serve nutritious snacks and meals five days a week for kids, effectively curbing hunger for Club kids in Central Minnesota. We also thank Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank/Feeding America, Jennie-O, and Pilgrims – Home of Gold’n Plump for their significant contributions to this worthwhile program.

Registration for Club programs is closed at this time. Please check back as soon as you hear that it is safe for us to re-open programming for larger groups of youth. Thank you!



Weather Closing Procedures

Early dismissal: If school is dismissed early due to severe weather, all KIDSTOPs will remain open until 4 p.m. Parents will be asked to pick up their children as soon as safely possible and no later than 4 p.m.

In the event school is dismissed early due to severe weather, please make plans and discuss your emergency plan with your children to:

  • go to KIDSTOP after school
  • to be picked up at school by you or another designated person

Your emergency plan should be indicated on the school’s Emergency School Closing form.

School cancellation (due to snow): If school is canceled for the entire day due to snow, all typical KIDSTOP sites will be closed. The Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club (345 30th Avenue North, St. Cloud) will open for emergency care KIDSTOP programming from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Parents may use the main (East) door to check in their child(ren).

Closed School Snow Day Option requirements

Because KIDSTOP programming will be moving to the Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club without ample notice for closed school snow days, we will not require parents to register in advance for these days; however, parents must bring the following with them in order to ensure a safe program environment for their child(ren):

  • Normal all-day rates apply
  • Parents must send their child with a bag lunch
  • Parents must fill out an allergy action plan
  • Parents must fill out a medication administration form (completed & submitted in advance – talk to your program manager for details) and bring all medication with them that morning before dropping off child(ren)
    *** Please note: this is a pilot program, and we will closely monitor this policy to ensure best practices.

School cancellation (due to extreme cold): If school is canceled for the day due to extreme temperatures, we will open one KIDSTOP site per district from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Madison will be open in the St. Cloud district, Mississippi Heights will be open in the Sauk Rapids-Rice district, and Pine Meadow will be open in the Sartell-St. Stephen district. The Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club will also be open on these days from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

What steps are you taking to help protect Club members and staff? 

We are following the guidelines from Governor Inslee’s office, King County Board of Health, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Public Health Guidance for Childcare under which our Clubs fall.

We instituted additional sanitation and cleaning procedures to address the concern, and are conducting health screenings for everyone entering our Clubs that include: 

  • Temperatures are taken before entry; if it is over 100 degrees, staff or youth will be sent home and encouraged to contact their primary care provider.
  • Families and staff are asked at drop off if they have had contact with anyone who has had a confirmed case of the Coronavirus or is currently awaiting test results in the last 14 days.
  • If the answer is yes, the youth is unable to attend and the staff is unable to return to work until after the quarantine period has elapsed
  • We will continue to require Youth & Staff to wash their hands upon arrival at the club and will wash thoroughly before eating meals or snacks and through the day.
  • If a club experiences a confirmed case of Coronavirus of either a staff member or one of our youth, the Club will close down for at least two days to allow for the disinfection of all surfaces within the Club.
  • All drop/offs and pickups occur outside the Club. 
  • We are instituting additional procedures for our summer programs as well.

How many kids are you seeing at the remaining open Clubs during this health situation? 

Since March, we have seen a steady increase in attendance of youth from essential worker families. We anticipate this increase to continue as our community waits, and then moves through, reopening phases set by Governor Inslee. We have room at all open Clubs for those families that need support.

Our summer programs start June 22, with adjusted programming that takes into account all health and safety guidelines from the county and state. Families and teens can register here.

How many staff do you have at these Clubs?

We have revised our usual kid to staff ratio of 15:1 (and 20:1 for teens), to 9:1 for all members, based on the current recommendations to address the health crisis in the Greater Seattle area. 

How much will this extended program support cost?

We usually charge $50 a day but we are discounting it during this time of uncertainty to make it easier for youth to attend our Clubs. 

  • New Club members are responsible for paying a $50 membership annual enrollment fee, plus $25 a day. 
  • Current members and Essential Workers pay a $25/day for the extended programming.
  • New teen members will only pay an annual; $50 membership enrollment fee.

After-school activities cancellation: If after-school activities are canceled for the day, but school day ends at normally scheduled hours, KIDSTOPs will remain open until 6 p.m. Please make arrangements in order to pick up your children no later than 6 p.m.

We suggest that you watch or listen to weather announcements when severe weather is moving into the Central Minnesota area. Our announcements are typically made on the following media:

  •  NEW! Voice messages & texts from: (202)509-9796 (please add this number to your contacts as Boys & Girls Club/KIDSTOP SMS)
  • Facebook posts to @BGCMN
  • Weather notification at the top of our homepage: www.bgcmn.org
  • Emails sent to all affected sites
  • Emails and communication sent from the schools
  • Regent Broadcasting (WJON & 98 Country)
  • Leighton Broadcasting (KCLD, Wild 98.9 & More FM)
  • Tri-County Broadcasting (Rock’n 101)
  • St. Cloud Times


What steps are you taking to help protect Club members and staff? 

We are following the guidelines from Governor Inslee’s office, King County Board of Health, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Public Health Guidance for Childcare under which our Clubs fall.

We instituted additional sanitation and cleaning procedures to address the concern, and are conducting health screenings for everyone entering our Clubs that include: 

  • Temperatures are taken before entry; if it is over 100 degrees, staff or youth will be sent home and encouraged to contact their primary care provider.
  • Families and staff are asked at drop off if they have had contact with anyone who has had a confirmed case of the Coronavirus or is currently awaiting test results in the last 14 days.
  • If the answer is yes, the youth is unable to attend and the staff is unable to return to work until after the quarantine period has elapsed
  • We will continue to require Youth & Staff to wash their hands upon arrival at the club and will wash thoroughly before eating meals or snacks and through the day.
  • If a club experiences a confirmed case of Coronavirus of either a staff member or one of our youth, the Club will close down for at least two days to allow for the disinfection of all surfaces within the Club.
  • All drop/offs and pickups occur outside the Club. 
  • We are instituting additional procedures for our summer programs as well.

How many kids are you seeing at the remaining open Clubs during this health situation? 

Since March, we have seen a steady increase in attendance of youth from essential worker families. We anticipate this increase to continue as our community waits, and then moves through, reopening phases set by Governor Inslee. We have room at all open Clubs for those families that need support.

Our summer programs start June 22, with adjusted programming that takes into account all health and safety guidelines from the county and state. Families and teens can register here.

How many staff do you have at these Clubs?

We have revised our usual kid to staff ratio of 15:1 (and 20:1 for teens), to 9:1 for all members, based on the current recommendations to address the health crisis in the Greater Seattle area. 

How much will this extended program support cost?

We usually charge $50 a day but we are discounting it during this time of uncertainty to make it easier for youth to attend our Clubs. 

  • New Club members are responsible for paying a $50 membership annual enrollment fee, plus $25 a day. 
  • Current members and Essential Workers pay a $25/day for the extended programming.

New teen members will only pay an annual; $50 membership enrollment fee.



Due to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis, we have closed
our doors to the public and are offering virtual
services until further notice. 

After thoughtful consideration, we regret to announce that we will NOT be hosting a summer program this year at Boys & Girls Club of Norman. Due to multiple health and safety concerns combined with other factors, including a lack of volunteers and part-time staff, we do not feel properly equipped to provide quality programming. We are saddened to come to this conclusion, but the safety and well-being of our Club members, families and staff is our number one priority.


As of now, Boys & Girls Club of Norman plans to be open for the 2020-2021 school year. While we do not have programming details finalized, we are anticipating reduced enrollment numbers. Fall enrollment for currently enrolled members will *tentatively begin in late July.   

*The Club follows the Norman Public School district academic calendar. Please know that these dates, as well as programming, are subject to change depending on final decisions made by the district.   

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