Walter Denney Youth Center Summer Registration
The third Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, the Walter Denney Youth Center, is located in the Harbor Point section of Dorchester and primarily serves the residents of the mixed-income housing community. Registration for the summer program that will take place at the Center will begin on May 11th and will continue until all spots are filled. Please note that the daytime program, which is for members ages 8 to 12, will reserve 80 spots for residents of the Harbor Point community and offer a maximum of 40 spots for non-residents. The Center also houses a licensed, after-school Childcare program for ages 5-12 that includes a before school component and extended hours during the school vacations and summer. This program also accepts vouchers for eligible families. There will also be an evening component for our teen members from 5 – 11 p.m. which does not require pre-registration. Before registering, please be sure you have a current membership, which will require an application, $5 fee and proof of age. For more information on the Summer program taking place at our Denney Center Unit please contact Unit Director, Queenette Santos at (617) 822-3701.
Marr-lins Attend National Championship Meet
Earlier this month four members of the Marr-lin Swim Team headed to St. Petersburg, Florida to take part in the Annual Boys and Girls Club National Swim Championships. These four members posted the necessary qualifying times and practice attendance marks to become eligible for the meet and helped lead the team to a 12th place finish overall. In addition, each swimmer posted new best times in several events such as: Sean O’Donnell – 50 yd. Freestyle (27.49), 100 yd. Freestyle (1:01.51), 200 yd. Freestyle (2:24.54), 500 yd. Freestyle (6:37.44), 100 yd. Backstroke (1:14.33), 100 yd. Breaststroke (1:25.16) and 100 yd. Butterfly (1:19.87); Andy Laforest – 500 yd. Freestyle (5:44.84), 50 yd. Freestyle (23.66), 100 yd. Freestyle (52.84) and 200 yd. Freestyle (1:58.53); Rachel O’Driscoll – 100 yd. Freestyle (1:07.78), 200 yd. Freestyle (2:22.21), 50 yd. Backstroke (36.53) and 100 yd. Backstroke (1:19.66); and Jake MacKinnon – 100 yd. Freestyle (1:05.76), 200 yd. Freestyle (2:20.60), 50 yd. Backstroke (36.55), 100 yd. Backstroke (1:19.34), 100 yd. I.M. (1:19.00) and 200 yd. I.M. (2:43.50). Congratulations to each of these swimmers on their accomplishments.
Next up on the calendar for our swimmers will be the 6-team Intramural League which will begin team practices next week. The league combines members of the Marr-lins with graduates of the swim lesson program and recreational swimmers. Practices are held one night a week and meets are held on Saturdays. The league championship meet will take place on June 6th. For more information please contact Aquatic Director, Aquiles Gomes at ext. 104.
Career Prep Program
Thanks to the support of several collaborating partners the Club is hoping to place over 120 teen members in summer employment positions at all three of our service locations for the summer of 2009. With assistance from the Boston Youth Fund, Private Industry Council, John Hancock Scholars and the Corcoran Jennison “Real World†program to name a few, recommended teen members will be placed in positions of employment within our Boys and Girls Club sites as well as local and downtown office locations. Selected members are currently taking part in the registration process and will attend a pre-summer training in late June. These leadership positions, which assist the Club in operating programs for members 76 hours per week, will also give the participants valuable work experience and a chance to build a positive work history. At the conclusion of the summer program participants will have taken part in a career assessment and completed a resume to seek school-year employment. For more information on the various summer employment programs please contact Teen Director, Xiomara Alicea or Program Director, Mike Joyce at (617) 288-7120, ext. 146.
