New Season at the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club

With the new school year comes another session for the Positive Place For Kids and teens - Great Futures start here. The Rooseveltown Road facility has been operating since 2002 and is busier than ever.

Traditionally the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club's operating hours were from after school until 8:00 pm. Two years ago that changed to 6:00 pm, which meant more activities must be crammed into a shorter period of time. But the decrease in hours doesn't take away the fun and learning.

The club also features teen nights every Friday from 6pm to 10pm for ages 13 and over to accommodate more youth.

With the ever increasing programming, the Rooseveltown site is getting too small, so they are trying to build a new facility to help meet the increasing needs for safe after-school options for children.

As soon as the kids arrive at the club, usually directly off the school bus, they are served a hot supper and then have to do their homework during "Power Hour" which is everyday from 4:00 to 4:30pm.

The Club quiets down and everyone is expected to get out their homework or read.

After, unless there is a specific event happening the members can play basketball outside, ballgames inside, arts and crafts or get some computer time in. One of the upcoming events is for October Anti-Bullying month and one night a Martial Arts Instructor from Patenaude Martial Arts in Cornwall will be showing the members some self-defense moves which the members should find interesting and useful.

This year the club is bulging at the seams from members and the atmosphere inside - after "Power Hour" - at its peak, resembles Mardi Gras. But this year funding was cut while membership is at its highest. Rather than cut services the club decided to implement a newly added monthly after-school program fee to help make up some of the loss.

The club does not want to see needy children go without quality after-school programming, so if a family is unable to pay, there is an application for a fee waiver based on need. Also parents are reminded that the club is not a drop off point for people who have never been to the club.

There are security protocols to be followed where parents must sign their kids in and out and those kids must obey the rules of the club at all times.

It is very important for emergency information to be up-to-date and accurate.

This past summer the ABGC held their summer session at the St. Regis Mohawk School to take advantage of their larger facilities and that session was a huge success.