Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club is a drop-in youth service organization where members have opportunities for recreation, healthy competition and new friendships, all in a safe, well-supervised environment.

The summer session runs June 2-Aug 1. Hours are 9am - 5pm weekdays and a $10 annual membership card is required, although the clubs will not allow cost to prevent membership. The fee includes breakfast and lunch. The summer activity fee is $18. Some special events may require additional, small fees. Visitor passes are available.

Outings to Devil's Den State Park, Lake Fort Smith State Park, Alma Aquatic Center, Muskogee River Country, Lokomotion Family Fun Park and Clayton House are planned, as well as bowling and skating adventures.
Poets and photographers can enter the Marilyn Foster Contest with cash prizes for first, second and third places. Arts and crafts are taught two days a week.

The Fort Smith fire and police departments will make presentations, teach fire and bicycle safety tips. Emergency Medical Services will also visit.

First Tee will teach the basics of golf and although baseball will be winding down, sign-ups for ages 6-12 for football, cheerleading and soccer begin July 21.

Jeffery Unit
4905 North O Street - 479-782-8126
Evans Unit
6015 Boys Club Lane - 479-646-9519
Stephens Unit
3101 North 6th Street - 479-782-6392
Goldtrap-Gardner Unit
8800 Dallas - 479-452-5779

www.fsbgc.org

Girls Inc. summer program, June 2 - Aug 1, cost $100. Girls must be a member adn memberships are $20. Breakfast and lunch are included in the cost. The center is open weekdays 7:30am - 6pm.

Arts & crafts, Operation SMART (Science, Math, and Related Technology), swimming, cooperative games, jewelry-making and gardening are all part of the curriculum.

A new GSE (Girls Striving for Excellence) class teaches girls about community service and fund-raising. Participants can earn a free trip at the end of the summer.

Their media literacy class gives girls a way to look at media, studying how it affects themselves and other people.

Sporting Chance teaches motor skills development and movement basics and the Economic Literacy shows wise ways to spend and save money.

A Youth Leadership Program, for sixth-graders and older, gives girls the chance to develop the skills they will need their entire lives. Girls earn hours through classes and are rewarded for reaching certain goals. Special outings to Magic Springs, Alma Aquatic Center and the Jones Center for Families are some of the prizes.

For a $10 fee, The First Tee of Fort Smith will offer a six-week golf clinic for the first 26 who sign up and First Serve will teach the basics of tennis through a program at Creekmore Park for $27.50. Also, Western Arkansas Ballet will conduct a week of dance lessons.

The Nancy Orr Center is located at 1415 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith. 479-782-0375. www.girlsincftsmith.org.