The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale McKee Branch has implemented some big changes in its summer program, changes that Branch Director Justin Duran said empower local youths to have a hand in creating their own schedule on a weekly basis.

Duran said that this year’s summer program has drawn even more kids to the local branch and, due to its success, a variation of the new programming schedule will become a part of regular operations as the 2015-16 academic year begins.

Before the end of the most recent school year, many local parents received a Boys & Girls catalog in the mail highlighting this summer’s program changes.

In particular, the catalog explained the implementation of Specialized Camps, geared at letting members customize their summer experience.

In short, members had a rotating selection of enrichment courses to choose from on a weekly basis, with some of the more popular programs repeating throughout the summer.

Club members were able to take part in the programs at no additional cost to their regular membership, while non-members wanting to enjoy some of the activities could pick classes on an a la carte basis.

Enrichment courses ranged the spectrum, including activities focused on Legos and reading, as well as the study of rockets, a “Chopped” cooking competition, digital art, fort construction, fingerpainting, board games, acting and various crafts, just to name a few.

According to Duran, this new format was created to give members an active role in determining what they would learn and how they would play.

“Each class, in itself, is its own little camp,” Duran explained.

“I grew up in the Boys & Girls Club as a kid and have been involved with this organization since I was five. Since I’ve been coming to the club, all the way up to me moving into this position, the summer program has always been the same.”

Duran said that, similar to the local school district, the McKee Branch was seeing a drop in enrollment over the past few years.

“It was important to me that we change that dynamic and bring the numbers back up,” he added.

“Last summer we averaged 100 to 105 kids per day. This year we’re up to about 135 to 140 youths per day. I feel that’s a direct result of these enrichment camps.”

Duran said the camps give participants an opportunity to pick their daily routines.

“Keeping them involved in something they picked, for the most part, has eliminated any behavioral issues we’ve had here,” Duran continued.

“When I was a kid, I would have loved to have the power to choose what I was going to do every day instead of having someone constantly tell me ‘this is what you’re going to do.’

“So the kids dictate what kind of summer camp they’re going to have and they take ownership of it.”

That ownership carries over to the club employees, Duran added, as they get to craft programs based on their own interests and what they would enjoy teaching students.

“It started off real well and has continued to do so,” Duran continued.

“What I’m most proud of is, usually around the Fourth of July holiday, we lose kids for the rest of the summer. This year we’ve had more kids come back than in past summers.”

The success of this summer’s program means that Duran and staff will continue using a modified version in the club’s after- school activities.

Students will have mandatory homework time each afternoon and an opportunity to continue working on course work if it’s needed.

Otherwise, afternoons will host two sets of rotating activities that students will be able to pick from on a regular basis.

Moving forward, Duran said that he hopes these types of evolutions for the local club will help draw and maintain more members, as well as remind the community of the opportunities afforded by the Boys and Girls Club.

“I know that the reputation of the McKee Branch, out in the community, hasn’t always been the best,” Duran added.

“When I started in this position, that was the first thing I wanted to address. I’ve been going out into the community and getting involved. We’re with Kiwanis, some of our members are with Rotary, I’ve gone to Town Council meetings and School Board meetings.

“I want to get our name out there. We’re here to serve the community and we want to be the premiere youth development organization for this town.

“I feel that the programs and quality we offer here, you won’t get anywhere else.”