Clubhouse 36: Giving Children the Chance to Achieve Endless Possibilities

The Surrey School District is the largest of 60 school districts in BC, with 126 schools and 70,000 students. Out of these 70,000 students, 6,000 are taught in portable classrooms. Currently, there are not a sufficient number of opportunities for vulnerable students to participate in safe, meaningful, engaging out-of-school activities.

In an effort to fill a need for more consistent, connected and professional out of school programming to kids, the Surrey School District and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver are launching Clubhouse 36 – a program that creates a safe and nurturing gathering place for kids aged 6-12.

The program is supported by local families, businesses and foundations, with a passion for community, learning and health, and is offered at no cost to participating students and their families. The main objectives of the Clubhouse 36 program are:

• To give vulnerable children who rarely have the chance to participate in structured out of school activities, a chance to try and work in a variety of areas, discovering new passions and abilities.
• To give vulnerable students who often feel isolated a safe and nurturing environment in which to spend out of 
school time.
• To connect vulnerable children to positive and consistent adult and youth mentors that may inspire, encourage and motivate them in new ways.
• To develop confidence, self-esteem and a sense of self worth among at risk and vulnerable students.

During the pilot year of 2015-2016, Clubhouse 36 will aim to serve 150 students during spring and summer, and 80 during the school year.

This year at the Robert L. Conconi Foundation, through our annual legacy grants, we have put a focus helping serve children and families living in poverty. We want to continue to alleviate this issue and we are proud to be a founding sponsor of this program along side the Sedin Family Foundation, Westland Insurance, the Bosa Properties Foundation.

Created for at-risk and vulnerable children, Clubhouse 36 aims to build the confidence, self-esteem and sense of worth of students, increase leadership and peer mediation skills, nurture connections to school and provide students with skills that can be transferred into academic success.

We’re excited to be a part of this great program and help reach more children and families that need the extra support. To read more about Clubhouse 36, click here