Boys & Girls Club reports summer surge, outlines after‑school plans and transport from three schools

My name is Jose Rojo, and he told the Recreation and Parks Commission that the Boys & Girls Club in Guadalupe enrolled more than 200 children in its summer program and averaged about 130 children a day.

The club ran summer hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., provided breakfast, lunch and snacks in partnership with Guadalupe Unified School District, offered weekly swim lessons and field trips, and held a teen-focused “Adult‑Teen Day” with workshops on auto repair, first aid, healthy lifestyles and resume building. Rojo said the club plans to resume regular after‑school programming on Aug. 14 and that this school year the program will provide transportation from all three Guadalupe schools to the club.

The club also reported a high‑profile visit during the summer: “Congressman Carbajal came and visit[ed] the club,” Rojo said, describing a brief tour and photos with students and staff.

Why it matters: the club is a key out‑of‑school provider in Guadalupe and its summer and after‑school capacity affects families’ childcare and enrichment options. Commission members pressed staff for details about attendance trends and transportation because changes affect staffing, facility use and partnerships with the school district.

Rojo described programming highlights and challenges. The club held a community open house and a back‑to‑youth night with community partners, raffles and mentorship pairings. Summer field trips included visits to the movies and an outing to Boomers; one planned trip was postponed after a bus company miscommunication. Rojo said the program bought goggles and T‑shirts for participants and raffled donated prizes during teen events.

Rojo said the club offered a financial‑literacy curriculum (“Money Matters”) and a savings program for younger children called “Sammy Rabbit,” partnered with CoastHills Credit Union; CoastHills matched savings and the club worked to open matched parent accounts for participating children, though only two parents completed the paperwork during the pilot.

Staff described membership and attendance swing: during the prior school year the club enrolled about 160 members and averaged roughly 145 children a day; after some parents began picking up children early the daily average dropped to about 110–115 at one point, staff said. Over the summer enrollment exceeded 200 with the daily average near 130; staff said they expected some fluctuation as school resumes.

On funding and fees, staff said the district’s contract structure changed from last year: the school district paid for all Boys & Girls Club sites last year but this year would pay for only three sites. Rojo said the club anticipated a fee around $60 for the full school year (August–June) for some sites, with scholarships and payment plans available for families who cannot pay up front.

The club also is expanding youth opportunities, including a winter basketball league and volunteer recruitment for coaches. Rojo asked the commission for help recruiting coaches and publicizing programs.

The commission and staff emphasized collaboration: Parks staff said they plan to coordinate more closely with the Boys & Girls Club rather than creating duplicate programs, and they described efforts to align facilities, transportation and outreach.

Looking ahead, staff said after‑school operations will begin Aug. 14 with bus transport from the three local schools, winter league signups will open later, and the club will continue to refine its financial‑literacy and teen workforce offerings.

Ending: Commissioners thanked club staff for the report and encouraged continued coordination with the school district and Parks & Rec to sustain attendance and recruit volunteers.