The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is excited to announce a new leadership development opportunity for high school members at the Club! Our Youth of the Year program will prepared members in a variety of important leadership skills and culminate in the naming of our 2021 Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year.

In a year where Club programming and offerings have never looked so different, the Club is adapting our annual Youth of the Year competition. All interested high school members are eligible and encouraged to participate in our 10 week leadership course. This program will feature 10 workshops to develop youth’s public speaking, interview skills and other important 21st Century Learning skills. Youth will complete the 2021 National Youth of the Year application throughout this program and be eligible to be a finalist for our local Youth of the Year award. Finalists will then go on to compete via an interview process for the title of 2021 Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year.

If you have an questions about our program or this process, please email Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org. Keep an eye out on our website for updates from this program and our teens as we move forward!

Due to the winter storm, the Clubhouse will be closed on Thursday, December 17, 2020. LEAP Childcare, Supervised Learning and swim team are all canceled.

School is canceled again on Friday, December 18, 2020.  Therefore, LEAP Childcare and the Supervised Learning Center will also be closed as we continue our snow removal.

Stay safe and help somebody if you are able.

At its annual celebration on November 18, 2020, the Woburn Chamber of Commerce (formerly Woburn Business Association) named the Club as its Business of the Year! All of us at the Club could not be more proud and are thankful to the team at the Chamber for this great honor.

“In a year full of unprecedented challenges, The Club responded with grace to continue their important work of supporting the youth of the city.

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has been serving youth and families in Woburn and the surrounding communities for more than 55 years. Typically, the Club offers recreational, character building, and educational opportunities for kids & teens afterschool. In March, the COVID-19 public health crisis forced the closure of their facility and programs. Quickly, the organization pivoted to provide critical support for families. They created a virtual Clubhouse where kids could socialize with their friends and mentors, delivered food and other necessities to doorsteps of those in need, and made weekly phone calls to others to make sure that all of their ‘Club kids’ were safe and healthy.

Currently, the Club has partnered with Woburn Public Schools and Mayor Scott Galvin to provide a supervised learning environment for students on their remote learning days. The Clubhouse serves as a safe haven for youth who might otherwise be home alone or disengaged from their education. James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has always been committed to doing ‘whatever it takes’ to help the kids & teens in our community.”

Medeiros Crew Recycling will once again be holding appliance, Freon, CRT, and electronics recycling drives. We’ll start back on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 9 to 1 at the Spence Farm property located at 41 Wyman Street in Woburn. 

For the health and safety of all, masks will be required to be worn by both customers and volunteers during the collection. Thank you!

This is an excellent opportunity to recycle these items at a minimal cost while supporting a local group or organization each month. There is a significant cost saving compared to the higher cost associated with curbside appliance recycling programs.  In Woburn, the cost for curbside pick-up of many of these items has increased once again in 2020.

The drop-off recycling drives at Spence Farm are open to residents and businesses from all communities, not just Woburn.

With your support, over the years these collections have raised over $150,000 for local non-profit organizations, as well as donations to the Woburn Memorial High School Scholarship Fund.  So, clean out those basements, attics, garages, and warehouses and bring your items to the next drive on October 17th!

Check out the full announcement for the item pricing!

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn seeks qualified, responsible candidates to provide guidance and supervision to children participating in its 2020-2021 Supervised Learning Center.

Supervised Learning Center staff team members will supervise remote learning at the organization’s Main Clubhouse location.  The position will provide guidance to elementary students while they remote learn through Woburn Public Schools.

Staff members will work with the same cohort of a children, in the same program room, for the duration of the session. This position is strictly supervisory and will assist students with simple tasks as they maneuver through their school day. The position is not expected to tutor.

Supervised Learning Center staff members will also plan and provide activities during breaks and down time, that will require instruction and supervision.

This program runs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Applicants should be available to work at least two days per week, and the opportunity for partial days also exists.

The ideal applicant should enjoy working with children, be comfortable with Chromebooks and willing to learn the basics of Google Classroom, Seesaw and other programs used by the schools.

All those with experience working with children and who are willing to join a great team to help fill a community need are encouraged to apply!  This would be a wonderful position for college students who are studying education, who have taken a gap year, or are learning remotely.

To be considered for one of these positions, please complete the survey at: http://bit.ly/bgcwoburnjobs

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace and is dedicated to hiring employees who reflect the communities we serve, including women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We can’t believe we are typing this … but it is time to register for the last two weeks of Camp in a Box for this summer! We have traveled the globe, designed structures and board games, explored the Earth and put on an amazing play. It has been so much fun engaging with members virtually and learning new things together. You do not want to miss our last two weeks of this awesome summer program!

All youth, ages 8 and up, are welcome to participate but programs are designed with ages 8 – 12 in mind. The group meets via Zoom, Monday-Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Options for our upcoming weeks are:
Week 7, August 17th – August 21st:
Write On!: Join us as we learn the basics of creative writing. Build your own stories and characters this week and make your way to becoming an author.
Art 101: Club members will spend the week exploring the elements of art! We will learn about famous art pieces and artists before we try our hand at using new elements.
Week 8, August 24th – August 28th:
The Show Must Go Online!: Back by popular demand! We will be hosting another opportunity for members to sharpen our acting skills and practice a script for a small virtual performance. 
Space Invaders: Launch into space with us as we explore the solar system and spend the week among the stars! From building rockets to learning about moon rocks, you’ll be on your way to astronaut status in no time.

Camp in a Box, offers online meetings each afternoon accompanied by a box full of all the supplies you’ll need. There is a one time $30 registration fee and then a weekly $25 program fee.

Members meet with Club staff and their peers to play games and dive into a Club program. This is a great opportunity for members to learn new concepts, get creative and socialize online with friends with a trusted adult mentor. We hope to see you in an upcoming week.

To register, email info@bgcwoburn.org beginning Monday, July 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Space is limited and fill on a first come, first serve basis. Include the following information:

• Your Name
• Child’s Name
• Child’s Age
• Preferred Email
• Program Choice
• Is your child a Club member?

If you have any questions please reach out to Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org!

We’re excited to announce our next two weeks of Camp in a Box virtual programming! Camp in a Box, offers online meetings each afternoon accompanied by a box full of all the supplies you’ll need. There is a one time $30 registration fee and then a weekly $25 program fee.

Members meet with Club staff and their peers to play games and dive into a Club program. This is a great opportunity for members to learn new concepts, get creative and socialize online with friends with a trusted adult mentor. We hope to see you in an upcoming week.

Youth, ages 8 and up, are welcome to participate but programs are designed with ages 8 – 12 in mind. The group meets via Zoom, Monday-Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Options for our upcoming weeks are:
Week 5, August 3rd – August 7th:
Extreme Earth: Learn about nature, extreme weather, and ways to problem-solve towards a healthier environment in this earth STEM program!
Time Travelers: Explore different periods of history in this STEAM program and participate in art-focused daily activities.
Week 6, August 10th – August 14th:
Animal Kingdom: Join us for this animal focused STEAM program to learn about animals from around the world through science & art activities.
Gamers Gonna Game: Become a board game designer as we learn what makes a game and end the week creating our own!

To register, email info@bgcwoburn.org beginning Monday, July 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Space is limited and fill on a first come, first serve basis. Include the following information:

• Your Name
• Child’s Name
• Child’s Age
• Preferred Email
• Program Choice
• Is your child a Club member?

If you have any questions please reach out to Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org!

We have been having a blast in our new virtual camp experience this week! Members are artists exploring new cultures and game designers developing games around projectiles. We are excited to release information for Week 3 & 4 of Camp in the Box! Check out the information below, including how to register. Registration opens Monday at 9:00 a.m.

Q: Can you tell me more about the program choices?
A: Sure! We tried to pick well rounded options to appeal to all members.
Week 3 Options:
LEGO Science: We will explore some science concepts & participate in daily challenges using LEGOs! Having your some of your own LEGOs will help this week!
The Show Must Go Online!: Work together to learn how to put on a production. Those interested should feel comfortable having their camera on, performing & reading from a script!
Week 4 Options:
Rise or Fall? Tower Challenge: Explore the engineering behind towers! From learning about famous ones to daily challenges to create the tallest, strongest, sturdiest towers, this will be a fun week of STEM.
Science of Senses: Explore your 5 senses and participate in daily experiments to learn more about sight, sound, smell and touch!

Q: How do I register?
A: Registration opens Monday, July 13th at 9:00 a.m. and will be done via email. Space is limited and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.

To register, email info@bgcwoburn.org at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 7/13/2020 with the following information. Please complete this information once for each of your children.

• Your Name
• Child’s Name
• Child’s Age
• Preferred Email
• Program Choice
• Is your child a Club member?

Q: What can I expect with a week of Camp in a Box?
A: Families will pick up a box of supplies to compliment the activities & programs in your chosen breakout session. Almost all needed supplies will be provided!

Q: What ages can participate?
A: All youth 8 and older are welcome to sign up, but programs may be more enjoyable for those ages 8-12.

Q: Can I register for all 4 program choices?
A: Unfortunately no, the two program choices each week happen simultaneously so you can only sign up for one program per week.

Q: How do I pay my fees?
A: Once you send your registration you will receive confirmation email with instructions on how to pay online.

Q: Who can I contact with more questions?
A: Please email Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org with further questions.

We are excited to announce our virtual camp experience, Camp in a Box!

Q: What can I expect with a week of Camp in a Box?
A: Families will pick up a box of supplies to compliment the activities & programs in your chosen breakout session. Almost all needed supplies will be provided!

Q: What ages can participate?
A: All members 8 and older are welcome to sign up, but these programs are best suited for our 8-12 year olds.

Q: Can you tell me more about the program choices?
A: Sure! We tried to pick well rounded options to appeal to all members.
Art Adventures: Daily art projects designed to explore new parts of the world! SOLD OUT!
Finger Flickers: Learn about projectiles and complete daily STEM challenges.
Boot Camp: Specialized daily workouts & fitness challenges!
Photography: You’ll need a device that takes pictures & we’ll teach the basics.

Q: How do I register?
A: Registration opens Monday, June 22, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. and will be done via email. Space is limited and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.

To register, email info@bgcwoburn.org at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, 6/22/2020 with the following information. Please complete this information once for each of your child.

• Your Name
• Member’s Name
• Member’s Age
• Preferred Email
• Program Choice
• Is your child a Club member?

Q: Can I register for all 4 program choices?
A: Unfortunately no, the two program choices each week happen simultaneously so you can only sign up for one program per week.

Q: How do I pay my fees?
A: Once you send your registration you will receive confirmation email with instructions on how to pay your fee online. If fees are a barrier for your participation, please email Meg!

Q: Who can I contact with more questions?
A: Please email Meg at m.gambale@bgcwoburn.org with further questions.

After careful consideration and a full review of Massachusetts’ new Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety for Child and Youth Serving Programs which was released on June 1, 2020, James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn has decided not to open our traditional summer camp program in 2020.

The safety of our youth, their families and our staff were at the center of this decision, as it is our priority in everything we do at the Club. Health and safety will continue to be our priority as we move forward through this “new normal.”

We understand this is incredibly difficult for our families who have come to rely on our programs for childcare and enrichment. We know that kids need socialization and the support that our camp offers, but it has become obvious that the new guidelines would not allow us to provide the experience that our community has come to expect.

For those of you who have paid deposits for summer camp, you will receive an e-mail today laying out refund, rollover, or gifting options.

We are carefully looking at ways we might be able to welcome very small groups of children and teenagers into the Club soon, but the capacity and hours will be extremely limited.

All of us at the Club cannot wait until we can all be together again, and we wish you well during these difficult times. Thank you for your understanding.

Julie Gage, Executive Director