Boys & Girls Club to open Marshfield summer site June 16; council hears plans for school-year expansion

The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County will open a Marshfield summer site June 16, the organization told the Common Council at its May 13 meeting, and leaders outlined plans to expand into a school‑year program next fall and ultimately establish a standalone facility.

Danielle Belsky, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County, and Katie Zaleski, an advisory‑board member for Marshfield, told the council the summer site will be hosted at Grant Elementary and will offer a flat fee of $100 for the entire summer; children eligible for free or reduced‑price school lunch pay $10. Registration was open at the time of the presentation and organizers reported about 51 of a target 100 summer spots had enrolled.

Why it matters: Marshfield faces a shortage of affordable after‑school care, council members were told. The presenters cited local demand — the YMCA programs fill quickly — and a local statistic that 40.1 percent of working families fall into the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) category, arguing the club’s fee structure will expand affordable options for families.

Programs and goals: Belsky described the Club’s “fun with a purpose” model: arts, STEAM, homework help, healthy meals, workforce‑readiness activities and teen leadership (Keystone) programs. Zaleski said the immediate plan is a summer launch at Grant Elementary, a transition to Lincoln Elementary for the coming school year, and a longer‑term goal of a standalone site to serve more teens and tweens. She said the advisory board is pursuing community outreach and fundraising and has opened a $1 million operational campaign for two years; a $500,000 gift from John and Annette Van de Hay brings the campaign to about 85% of its goal.

Operational details: Belsky said the model uses school sites to start for sustainability and staffing; the club will coordinate with the school district on transportation and will expand hours to 5:30 p.m. for families in summer school. Zaleski said the club aims to serve a wide age range and to provide social‑emotional support and mentoring.

Council response and next steps: Alderman Tompkins thanked the presenters and called affordable, quality childcare “almost impossible to find,” saying the program is important to employers and workers. The presenters asked the council to help spread awareness; they left informational materials and a donation link for the community campaign.

The club will start the Marshfield summer program June 16 and continue enrollment and outreach for the school‑year transition and standalone facility fundraising.