Lake Chelan Boys & Girls Club sees major growth in second summer

CHELAN — One year after opening its doors, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lake Chelan Valley is serving four to five times as many children as it did during its first summer and is now working toward state licensing for school-age childcare.

Representatives of the club gave the Chelan City Council an update Sept. 8, highlighting a summer that brought roughly 125 to 150 children through its programs, up from what club leaders described as only a sprinkling of participants during the organization’s first summer in 2025.

Marci Volmer, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, the partner organization for the Lake Chelan Valley club, said the local program has grown rapidly since opening at the Chelan Community Center.

Rather than focus solely on numbers, Volmer and Lake Chelan Valley Boys & Girls Club Director Angela Collins showed council members a slideshow of children participating in activities throughout the year.

Collins said the club offered themed camps throughout the summer, with weekly programs including sports, water safety, STEM/STEAM activities, soccer skills, nature exploration and cooking.

The club also expanded its ability to take children into the community after receiving a grant for a van from Link Transit. Field trips included Rocky Reach Dam, the Lake Chelan Museum, Riverwalk Park, Chelan Fish Hatchery, Chelan Falls Park, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, Town Toyota Center, Manson Bay Park and Slidewaters, among other destinations.

Collins said the growth follows a first year spent largely making families aware that the club existed and was operating from the community center.

The club is now working through the process of becoming licensed by Washington state to provide official school-age childcare.

Collins said the organization has already satisfied most of the requirements and is preparing to install a fence around an outdoor play area. Once that work is completed, she said the club should be well on its way toward completing the licensing process.

The organization is also continuing to expand its youth athletics. After offering flag football during the past two springs, the club is adding the sport to its fall lineup alongside its second annual youth golf program. Both programs are co-ed.

Club leaders said community support has also helped make programming available regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Volmer singled out volunteer Kevin Erickson for his work supporting the club and organizing its golf tournament, saying funds generated through the event have helped the organization continue welcoming children regardless of their financial circumstances.

The club has also worked with local businesses, recruited volunteers and participated in community events while continuing to build its presence in the valley.

Council members praised the organization’s growth and the number of children now using the facility.

The club’s expansion will continue into the fall, with athletics, community partnerships and the effort to become a fully licensed school-age childcare provider all moving forward as the organization enters its second full year in Chelan.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media