The Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is giving the kids what they want by introducing a new element into their programming, known as The Club.

The Club will focus primarily on ages 13-15, but has the opportunity to expand all the way up to age 18.

BGC plans on doing a trial run, which will begin Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and run until the end of the school year, May 19. During this time, The Club is free of charge.

In the future, BGC plans on charging the same BGC annual fees – Southern Ute tribal members and fist descendants $5; and $15 for non-tribal.

“We want to make sure we are reaching those older kids because they come to BGC and grow out of it and leave, “Augusta Burch, program specialist said. “We want them to stay and transition to The Club because we have so much to offer.”

The Club is a part of the Boys and Girls Club of America’s Keystone Program. Keystone is one of Boys and Girls Club of America’s premier teen leadership programs that focuses on effective leadership, good character and being a productive, responsible and caring citizen, Burch said.

For the youth, Keystoning, with the help of the BGC staff, will give the teens opportunities to make leadership decisions. Help them make academic and career choices but also help serve our community.

“One of our goals is to get kids familiar with us and our program so that we can help them whether it be finding a good college or getting them involved in the work place,” she said. “Help support them from being in BGC to being in The Club and then staying up with them until they’re 18.”

The Club along with being the premiere “chill zone”, has some fun activities planned for the kids such as, a glow in the dark movie, dodge ball tournament, video game tournament, and pudding Pictionary just to name a few.

These and other events will take place in our community with the main hub being SunUte Community Center.

“Our main goal right now is getting the youth involved and then being able to create opportunities for them” said Casandra Sanchez, program coordinator for BGC.

For more information please contact The Boys and Girls Club of The Southern Ute Indian Tribe at 970-563-4753 or visit their website at www.bgcsu.org.