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Club Membership FAQ

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Spanish Version of FAQ

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How do I register my child(ren)?

You can register your child(ren) for a Club membership online. Click here to find a Club near you.

Are there any membership requirements?

Club memberships are available for youth between the ages of 6 and 18. Memberships are open to all youth regardless of gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity or income.

What is the age range?

Our Clubs located in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties are open for youth between the ages of 6 and 18. Refer to the specific Club page for more details. https://bgcsdc.org/our-clubs

How much does a Club membership cost?

The cost of a Club membership varies among Club locations. Scholarships for Club memberships are also available. Contact the Club of your interest to learn more about membership fees or scholarship opportunities.

6-12 Year-Old Fees

Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club: $100 One Time Registration Fee and $50 monthly for the School-Year Program; $250 for the Summer Program

Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club: $125 One Time Registration Fee and $50 monthly for the School-Year Program; $350 for the Summer Program

Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club: There is no Club membership fee thanks to grant support from the Florida Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Newtown Estates Park Boys & Girls Club: There is no Club membership fee thanks to grant support from the Florida Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club: $125 One Time Registration Fee and $50 monthly for the School-Year Program; $350 for the Summer Program

Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club: $50 for the entire School-Year Program; $55 for the Summer Program

Teen Program Fees
Please visit https://theclubsdc.org/school-year-program-for-teens-13-plus for more details.

What are the Club hours?

Clubs located in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties are generally open Monday through Friday, after school until 6 p.m. and during the summer from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. pm.  Program Calendar can be accessed here.

Select Teen Programs operate at varying times during the week, including Saturdays. Contact your local Club for the exact operating schedule. Please note, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties observe the following minimum closures for staff training, Club maintenance and/or staff holidays:

One week between the end of the Summer Program and the beginning of the School-Year Program.

Two weeks during winter break.

The first week of July.

All major US holidays.

Clubs may close for additional reasons, such as weather emergencies, as needed. Clubs will post all closures and notify families in advance.

Do Clubs have a summer program?

Yes. When school’s out, our Clubs are in. Our Summer Program provides thousands of children and teens with enriching educational, developmental and recreational programs each year. Clubs located in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties are generally open Monday through Friday during the summer from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Programs vary by Club. Contact your Club for more information.

How long does a Club membership last?

There are two different Club memberships – one for the Summer Program and one for the School-Year Program. Club members will have complete access to the Club and its programs for the full duration of the program in which they are registered. Children must register or reregister as a Club member to participate in the Summer and School-Year Program.

Do you provide scholarships for Club memberships?

Yes. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties does offer scholarship assistance for children on free or reduced-price lunch to obtain a Club membership depending on availability and household income. Contact your Club to learn more about our fee assistance program.

Are there any attendance requirements?

Generally, no, Club members are not required to attend the Club; however, we recommend that Club members come to the Club at least twice a week in order to provide consistency and maximize the positive impacts of programming. Select Teen Programs, such as the STAR Leadership Training Program and Perlman Price Young Entrepreneurs Program, may require participants to attend particular sessions to earn credit. Contact your Club to learn more.

Do memberships transfer between Clubs?

No, memberships cannot be transferred between different Club locations.

Do you provide meals/snacks?

Yes, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties provides healthy snacks and/or meals each day at no additional cost. In general, our organization does not accommodate food restrictions, and Clubs are not nut, gluten or dairy-free facilities. Members are responsible for monitoring their own meals and snacks; however, please notify Club staff if the member has any food or other allergies. The Meal/Snack Program varies among Clubs. Please contact your Club location for specific details.

Do you provide transportation?

Sarasota County provides bus transportation from select schools to four of our Club locations during the School-Year Program including Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club and Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club. The organization also provides transportation for field trips during the Summer Program. All Club members who utilize the Club transportation must have a permission slip signed by a parent/guardian before transportation can be provided. Bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. This privilege can be denied for unacceptable behavior on a bus. Contact your Club to learn more about specific transportation opportunities.

Are you open during school breaks or holidays?

Clubs are open during Spring Break and school in-service/professional days during the School-Year Program. Clubs are closed for all major US holidays. Operating days and hours vary between Clubs. Contact your Club to find out more information about hours and closures.

Please note, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties observe the following minimum closures for staff training, Club maintenance and/or staff holidays:

All major US holidays.

The first week of July.

One week between the end of the Summer Program and the beginning of the School-Year Program.

Two weeks during winter break.

Clubs may close for additional dates, as needed. Clubs will post all closures and notify families in advance.

What programs do you offer?

Each Club offers a variety of programs in key focus areas including Academic Success, Character & Leadership, Healthy Lifestyles and College/Career Readiness. Contact your Club to learn about specific program opportunities for children and teens.

Key programs and services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Learn, which consists of educational enhancement through high-yield learning activities such as reading groups, book clubs, educational games, math exercises, tutoring, and homework materials

SMART Moves, which teaches children how to avoid drugs, alcohol, and tobacco through age-appropriate group activities and teaching materials

Triple Play, which encourages wellness of the mind, body, and soul through fitness activities;

My.Future Essentials, which teaches children computer literacy and Internet skills

TREK (Tech Readers Enrich Kids), which is an effective reading program that gives youth access to educational electronics and a teacher each week for high-yield learning activities using technology from educational enrichment games in a group setting to more individualized reading instruction

National Fine Arts, which provides children with an outlet to creatively express themselves through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, mixed media, and traditional crafts

Culinary Arts, which teaches children how to plan and prepare nutritious, cost-effective meals and snacks

Please visit https://theclubsdc.org/opportunities for a comprehensive list of our teen programs.

What should my child bring with them?

Club members are encouraged to bring homework, sports clothing and any other necessary items for programmatic participation. Youth should not bring personal belongings of value and money into the Club. If it is a special circumstance, they can ask Club staff to stow away the item while they are at the Club and then collect the item upon departure. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties is not responsible or liable for lost, misplaced, stolen or missing items.

What is your closure policy?

If an unexpected Club closure occurs (due to weather, facilities, emergency, etc.), Clubs will notify all parents/guardians via an automated email and text notification system, signs on the building doors, facebook.com/BGCSDC and twitter.com/bgcsdc. Please be sure to inform Club staff of any change in emergency contact or cell phone information to ensure that you receive these notifications.

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A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. For more information, call 1-800-help-fla (435-7352) or visit www.floridaconsumerhelp.com. Registration#: CH1668
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