Summer is in full swing and children all over Cartersville are enjoying pool parties and vacation Bible schools, cookouts and days at the lake.

Kids seem to have a boundless energy and an appetite for fun that only grows in the summertime.

The Boys and Girls Club of Bartow County’s summer program is a fun and safe outlet for all that boundless energy and a perfect place to meet new friends.

The summer program began in May and runs through July 15 for children ages 6 to 18. It is not required that kids have participated in the whole program and they can be signed up at any time for a $45 summer fee in addition to the $25 Boys and Girls Club annual membership fee.

Kids are free to play all day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and breakfast and lunch are provided.  

Each morning when the kids arrive, they are separated into groups by age. Each group has a group leader who comes up with activities and games for the kids to play. In addition to group play, there is a game room, basketball tournaments, pool tournaments and gym games such as dodge ball.

Other organizations sponsor events for the kids to participate in as well, such as Trinity United Methodist Church which sponsors a VBS program on Wednesdays and the local health department which sponsors a walking day for the girls. The Bartow County Library also sponsors a read-a-thon for the kids.

Boys and Girls Club Director Dustin Garnigan feels that the club plays an important role within Cartersville.

“It’s a place other than daycare that kids can attend to interact with other kids and it’s a great way to keep kids off the streets,” said Garnigan. “The kids end up making friends and having a great time. They have a choice to come here, they want to be here. It’s fun. We have about 130 members signed up this summer and between 90 and 100 attend on any given day.”

After the last day of the summer program on July 15, there is a 2-week break before the club opens back up the day the city schools open. During the school year, the Boys and Girls Club offers a wide range of curriculum and homework programs in addition to play time.

“I was a club kid myself. I’ve been here since the age of 5,” said Garnigan. “I think it’s one of the best things going on in Bartow County, and for me to be here 20 years, that’s an awesome thing.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Bartow County call 770-382-2552, e-mail bgclubs@aol.com or visit it on Facebook.