Robin Rovenstine, a staff member at Baker Youth Club, hands out some extra treats in the kindergarten through second-grade reading room.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — It’s 4:15 p.m. on a typical weekday. School is out and members of the Baker Youth Club are settling in for a few hours of fun.

The Baker Youth Club is the second oldest nonprofit organization in Kosciusko County, the oldest being the Salvation Army, opening its doors in 1926.

Over the years, the club as demonstrated the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” by partnering with other organizations throughout the community.

As children get off their busses and head into the club, they stop off to the cafeteria for a snack. Through a partnership with Warsaw Community Schools, Warsaw school busses pick club members up from the club and take them to school and pick them up after school and take them to the club.

The school corporation also provides club members with a free snack and juice box. On this day, the snack was baked cheese puffs. Club members may also purchase candy and chips if they want something different.

Children in kindergarten through second grade start in the reading room for 15 minutes of reading Monday through Thursday. Friday is considered a free day, but if the children want to go read, they can earn “Baker Bucks” for Baker’s store.

Older kids spend time reading or working on homework. Club members can then rotate through  alternating between different activities. Each day, club members have a choice of hanging out in three different areas, such as the art room, computer room, gym, all purpose room or the STEM room.
In the art room, club members can do a variety of art projects.

“The fun thing about that is they can take their art home with them,” said J.R. Gray, director of operations.
In the game room, children will find extra game equipment for interactive games and games that stimulate creative play along with favorites, such as board and card games.

The STEM room focuses on science and math. One entire room is magnetic, while another is a Lego wall.
In the gym, children can play pickup basketball or just congregate with friends. “It’s a nice space for kids to run around and be a kid,” Gray said. “We have enough space to run around. My 5 year old will be utilizing the club when he’s a kindergartener.”

“I just love Baker Youth Club because it’s fun for everyone,” said Ronnie Shoemaker, club member.
The facility also has a quiet room for club members, who may become overwhelmed with all the activity at the club.

Dinner is served at 5 p.m. to club members. After dinner, a walking track and Gaga pit, located on the upper level of the basketball courts, are open for children.

Middle and high school club members have their own space and a café that is separate from the younger kids. There, the older kids can play ping pong, foosball or a game on the Wii.
“It just gives them a little extra space,” said Gray.

BYC is housed in the former YMCA building, located on East Smith Street. Along with Warsaw Community Schools, the club also partners with Grace College, which has helped develop and provide 250 “discovery totes” for club members to use.

The club also partners with the education and psychology departments of Grace College.
Each container has a science-based project club program staff can do with the children. “They’re ever changing,” Gray said. “They’re always creating different things to teach science and math.”

The club’s morning program starts at 6:30 a.m. The club closes at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 p.m. Friday. The club also offers a summer program with themed weeks, such as dance, superheros and dinosaurs. The summer program also provides opportunities for club members to go on field trips.

“You get to see them in that learning element,”Gray said. “We’re given them that experience for the first time.”

But while the club members are on their way home in the early evening, the clubhouse is still a busy place.
Gray explained the facility is also rented out to a variety of local organizations. It is home of the Kosciusko County Homeschool Eagles, a local volleyball team. A Youth for Christ group also meets at the club as do Zimmer Biomet employees, who come to play basketball on their lunch breaks. Gray said in the winter time, indoor soccer rentals are also popular.

For more information about Baker Youth Club, visit bakeryouthclub.com.