Reaching full potential

BY LISA SAVAGE

Zach Baker has visited the Boys & Girls Club in Ardmore since he was in first grade. His father worked long hours, and it was a good, safe place to stay. He’s a junior now at Ardmore High School and still goes to the Boys & Girls Club most days. “The Boys & Girls Club has had such a big impact on my life,” he says. “It’s a good place to have fun and learn some things along the way.”

From helping with homework to physical fitness activities, it’s about making a difference in the lives of the children, says Damien Chisholm, unit director of the Boys & Girls Club in Ardmore. “We’re always looking for ways to stimulate the children, both physically and mentally,” he says.

The Ardmore club averages between 30 and 40 members in attendance daily. The goal of the Boys & Girls Club is to make sure each member is on track to make good grades and graduate from high school with a plan for the future. They learn about character, citizenship and living a healthy lifestyle. “We want to make sure success is within reach of every young person who comes through our doors,” Chisholm says.

OPTIONS FOR ALL

Kids ages 8 to 18 can attend, and activities are geared to the different age groups. Older students can participate in the teen club, which opened three years ago. It’s a space next door dedicated to ages 13 to 18. It offers activities like budgeting, ACT preparation and high-speed internet students can access for homework and research projects.

Activities for younger children are suited more to their needs and interests. A designated time for homework begins soon after the school day ends. “When kids first get here, they get a snack, and then we start homework,” Chisholm says. “We call that the Power Hour.”

Kids who need more assistance with homework can continue after that hour, while others can play games and participate in other activities.

Renovations are underway at the club to update the STEM lab to provide more training and experience with science, technology, engineering and math skills. “That’s just another way to enhance what the kids can access, expanding what they’re learning in school,” Chisholm says.

Jennifer King greets students as they arrive.

RECOGNIZING HARD WORK

A student of the month is selected by the club on the basis of willingness to participate and be involved in club activities and help others. A youth of the year is selected from the monthly winners. “This is something that could have an impact on something like a resume or college application,” Chisholm says.

Some events are designed to help students prepare for public speaking, while others focus on a child’s specific talent. For example, an art show set for Jan. 19 is called A Night of Encouragement, focusing on the artistic talents of the students at the Boys & Girls Club, says Faith Tidmore, the club’s art director. Tidmore is coordinating the event, and it will serve as a fundraiser for the art program. Admission is $5 per person, and students will showcase their art, including drawing, painting and photography.

Chisholm says Tidmore had the idea for the event to showcase the students’ artwork, and it fits the mission of the Boys & Girls Club. “We want to make sure these kids have every opportunity to be the best they can be,” he says.

Chisholm also knows firsthand the importance of the Boys & Girls Club. He has served as the unit director in Ardmore for about six months, and he has been active in clubs in Huntsville since he was a child.

He volunteered at a club when he was in high school, and he then took a summer job at the club. He later became a director of health and physical education at three Huntsville area clubs before being named unit director in Ardmore. “The club made a big difference for me when I was a kid,” he says.

It’s through the Boys & Girls Club that he learned he has a heart for helping others. “Somebody took the time to teach me, and I want to pass that along,” he says. “I do love what I do.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Boys & Girls Club of Ardmore is at 29865 Park Ave. The hours typically follow the school schedule. In summer and on holidays, the club is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. When school is in session, the club is open from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. For more information, call the Boys & Girls Club at 256-423-8570.