Engagement and adventure are at the heart of Boothbay Region YMCA’s Fit Kids after-school program. Held at Camp K year-round, local youth glean inspiration from the natural setting to make up games, connect with friends, unwind and decompress…all before ramping up again. The program, led by program director Lindsey Senecal, provides youth participants with hands-on opportunities to extend their learning, engage their senses, and develop strong relationships with peers and adult mentors. “Kids look forward to having some free time with their friends after a long day in school,” Senecal said. Students are provided a healthy snack and use the time to talk about their adventures before they even begin. “As soon as some of the students climb off the bus, they ask what options they have for the day,” Senecal added. “We recognize that children may not always want to participate in sports or crafts, so we provide a variety of options for them to actively engage in.” The sense of adventure is palpable at Fit Kids, and so is the overwhelming feeling of autonomy and pride kids have about directing their energy in the after-school hours.

And there’s a lot to choose from! Activities range from swimming to science-and-engineering. Fort building to open playground time. Fishing and Ice Fishing. Hiking and Nature Exploration. Arts and Crafts. Building Snow People (and Mermaids!). The program even provides field trips to local land trusts and other destinations so kids can be exposed to a variety of settings and experiences. Kids often suggest activities that can be crafted into vibrant programs by Senecal and her staff team. There’s no end to creativity and adventure in the after-school program and Senecal would like to make it possible for more kids to enjoy a safe, exploratory journey into experiential learning as part of an extended day of learning.” When asked how to make that a reality, Senecal shared that the program is currently full—based on staffing—and has a waitlist. She’d like to hire two additional part-time staff to work as mentors to meet local demand. The program serves children in kindergarten through 5th grade in the Boothbay Region, which includes Boothbay Region Elementary School, Southport Central School, Edgecomb Eddy Elementary School, as well as home-schooled students. The McEvoy Lodge renovations will house after-school programming for Senecal and enrolled students. “We can’t wait to see the new and exciting programming the new lodge will allow us to offer,” Senecal said. For now, Senecal and her team are dedicated to keeping kids engaged after school. For more information on the program or how to help the initiative expand, contact Lindsay directly at lsenecal@brymca.org.