A GUIDE TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB & KIDSTOP PROGRAMS
Mission Statement
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota’s mission is to do whatever it takes to empower all youth to reach their full potential.
Role of the Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians play a vital role in the growth and development of each member. The staff at the Boys & Girls Club want to establish clear lines of communication with parents and guardians to provide additional support to families. Please contact your unit director if you have questions or concerns about your child.
Open Door Policy
The Boys & Girls Club has an open door policy. This means it is your responsibility as the parent or guardian to make sure your child remains at the Club, and does not leave the premises when you expect him or her to be there. We urge you to please emphasize this with your child, as the Boys & Girls Club cannot be responsible for your child if he or she is not on the premises.
Once your child is registered as a member, he or she will be issued a membership card. This card will be a requirement for entry into the Club. Senior members will not be allowed into the Club without their membership card.
Membership Fees
Membership is open to youth between the ages of 5-18 years, grades K-12. Membership is open to youth without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. The annual membership dues are $10.00 per child. Parents must fill out a registration form and income data sheet for their child.
The Boys & Girls Club offers specific programming to children and youth based on three age categories:
- Cadets: K – 3rd grade
- Juniors:4th – 6th grade
- Seniors:7th – 12th grade
Member Rights & Responsibilities
- Members have the right to fair and equal treatment.
- Members are responsible for treating others fairly and equally.
- Members have the right to be respected. Members are responsible for respecting others.
- Members have the right to have leaders with appropriate training.
- Members are responsible for participating in training.
- Members have the right to learn and play in a safe and healthy environment.
- Members are responsible for keeping the Club clean and safe.
- Members have the right to safe equipment.
- Members are responsible for care of equipment.
- Members have the right to explore opportunities for growth and development.
- Members are responsible for being on time, preparing for sessions, listening, following directions and goal setting.
- Members have the right to have fun.
- Members are responsible for respecting the fun time of others.
- Members have the right to participate in decision-making and leadership activity.
- Members are responsible for participation in the decision-making process.
The Club will be closed for the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (4th of July)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Friday after Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Clubs are closed the preceding Friday. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the Clubs are closed on the following Monday.
Program Hours
Please check our website: www.bgcmn.org/clubs for the most current program hours at each of our Clubs.
Discipline and Conduct
If members conduct themselves in a disorderly fashion and disregard the rights and responsibilities set forth, they will be disciplined accordingly. Parents or guardians of the member will be notified immediately.
Referrals to outside organizations for assistance may be required. Appropriate disciplinary action will take place for each offense, which may include temporary suspension from the Club.
Safe Haven: Weapons and/or other items which may cause fellow members and/or others harm are not permitted at any time. Everyone is expected to report any weapon or misconduct to a professional staff immediately. We reserve the right to check any bags or other items at any time if we suspect a danger to our members.
Safety
Safety is Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota’s #1 priority. We encourage parents and guardians to view our stance on safety by clicking here. Please contact the administrative office at club@bgcmn.org if you would like to see a copy of our current safety policies.
Health & Emergency Procedures
It is important that parents and guardians cooperate with the health and emergency procedures. Our regulations are designed to protect the well-being of our members.
If your child becomes ill at the Club, parents or guardians will be notified. Do not bring your child to the Club if they are ill before leaving home. This is especially important if their illness is infectious or contagious. Members who come to the Club sick will be sent home.
In case of an accident involving a member that requires medical attention, the staff will make arrangements so that proper aid is provided.
Weather-Related Closings
Please view our most updated weather closing procedures by visiting our Club page and navigating to Weather Closing Procedures.
Dress Code
Members, parents and guardians are expected to follow the Boys & Girls Clubs dress code at all times. Shoes must be worn at all times. Appropriate attire may be required for certain activities. Hats and caps are not worn in the Club.
The following attire may not be worn at the Club:
- See-through or mesh clothing (unless worn over other apparel)
- Garments that expose the midriff
- Halter tops and spaghetti straps
- Biking shorts or short shorts
- Garments or accessories which display emblems relating to gangs, abusive substances, sex or obscenities
- Tight fitting or revealing apparel
- Sagging pants – undergarments should not be visible
Personal Belongings
The Boys & Girls Club is not responsible for any personal belongings that are damaged, lost, left and/or stolen at Club. Pagers, cellular phones, and/or other electronic devices are not allowed in Club programs and must be checked in at the front desk.
Lost and Found
Personal belongings should be properly marked and stored in the checkroom. Articles lost or stolen are not the responsibility of the Club. Members must take home all projects and personal belongings each day. Lost and found items are collected and kept for one week. To claim an item in question, it must be described to a professional staff member at the front desk. After 90 days, all unclaimed items will be donated to a local charitable agency.
Non-Smoking and Drug-Free Environment
All facilities, properties, grounds and events are non-smoking and drug free. Alcohol, prescription, non-prescription drugs and any other substances are prohibited. Everyone is expected to report any smoking or drug use to a staff member immediately.
Telephone Use
A phone is located at the front desk. Members are asked to use the phone only to call parents or guardians. Improper use of the phone could result in a loss of membership privileges.
It is the policy of the Boys & Girls Club to limit prescribed drugs and medications taken by children during Club hours. If a child requires medication during program hours as directed by a physician, staff will administer the prescribed medication only if written instructions and authorization from the parent/guardian are provided on a Request for Staff to Administer medication form.
Prescriptions must be current and properly labeled by the supplying pharmacist with the child’s name, medication, dosage and physician’s name. All medications will be stored in a safe, appropriate place with access available only to a designated staff.
Transportation
Parents or guardians are responsible for the member’s transportation to and from the Club.
Snacks and Meals
We participate in the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program that enables us to serve nutritious snacks and meals five days a week for kids, effectively curbing hunger for Club kids in Central Minnesota. If your child has special dietary needs or restrictions, you should submit a special diet statement to alert the Boys & Girls Club staff of your child’s special needs.
Civil Rights for USDA Programs
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (833)256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.