Southwest youth get ready for a bike ride in the neighborhood. Bicycles and helmets are brought over by Gearin’ Up, a local non-profit that teaches bike repair to teen-agers. Adults in the back row are program aides and staff of Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club, which, for the summer, started up a clubhouse at 205 L St. SW, the resident council office building for Greenleaf Extension housing. (Photo by Marcellus Watson)

There’s good news for youth and families in Southwest. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, which a few years ago operated Boys & Girls Club #4 in the gym at Bowen School, started Club #4 up again at a smaller location. This summer they operated a summer camp at 205 L St. SW for ages 5-11 from 8 am 5 pm Mon.-Fri.

In the afternoon and evening teen activities were from 5 pm to 11 pm. Game rooms and computers are on the second floor. In the L St. SW courtyard in front of 205 L St. SW a pair of basketball hoops form a court for practice and for games. Trips, such as for bowling and movies, were held.

The day camp director was Sterling Stone. His email address is sstone@bgcgw.org. The branch director has been Ray Long. Ray’s contact info is cell: 240-676-1910; email: rlong@bgcgw.org. Program aides were Robert Lumpkins, Mykia McNair, Johnathan McNair and Aliyyah Blake.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington abandoned Club #4 a few years after Bowen moved in with Amidon Elementary School at 4th and I St. SW and the MPD took over the Bowen School building as District One Headquarters.

Although activities for the fall are uncertain, Teen Director Domonique Cherry can be emailed at dcherry@bgcgw.org. The club phone number is 240-676-1877.

(To support BGCGW, use United Way #8047 or CFC #44919).

By Marcellus Watson

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