09/03/2026
WHAT A GREAT SUMMER!
As May turned to June, our team was nervous but excited about the Club’s very first full-day summer program. They put their heart into preparing what they hoped would be great experience for the Club members, and they were ready to see it work. Fast forward to the end of August, and I am pleased to report the 2026 Summer Program exceeded our expectations!
The Program
Summer at the Club is about a fun, diverse, engaging experience that keeps kids and teens excited about coming back the next day. Building a summer experience takes a ton of creativity, planning, and organization, and I am so proud and grateful for the effort Renee, Olivia, Raegan, and the rest of the Carbon County Team put into their first full-day summer. By every metric we use, which includes parent feedback, participation data, and observing the kids and staff throughout the summer, the summer program was a hit!
The Field Trips
Field trips are a big part of the Club’s summer program, and in the spring, we purchased a second Ford Transit Van to increase our field trip capacity to help more members explore and enjoy our community and region. The vans were busy, and some popular field trips included:
Making arrow heads, along with building bows and arrows with Mr. Sager,
A full day in Bozeman and an interactive visit to the Museum of the Rockies,
Numerous hikes and adventures in the forests around Red Lodge, and
A big trip to Zoo Montana!
The Growth
The Boys & Girls Club of Carbon County strives to maximize the resources we are given for the greatest benefit of the children and families we serve as well as Red Lodge and the surrounding area. The 2026 Summer Program made a difference for all concerned.
Participation: This summer 117 members attended the Club, and we had a 42% increase in kids attending 75% of the days we were open each month!
Reach: The Club serves kids and teens from beyond just Red Lodge, and this summer we had members from Absarokee, Belfry, Bridger, Joliet, and Roberts. We even had out of state members who visit Red Lodge for the summer and a family from South Africa!
Food Service: A full summer means a lot of food each day and thanks to our partnership with the Beartooth Billings Clinic, Club Members received 4,271 healthy snacks and meals to power their engagement!
Time at the Club: When you add up the amount of time each member spent engaged in activities and field trips at the Club this summer you get a total of 14,685 hours, which means on average members were at the Club for 6 hours and 51 minutes per visit!
It was a GREAT summer and while our team put a lot of effort into making it a success, we also want to thank our community and foundation partners who stepped forward to provide the financial support that made it possible and very affordable for the children and family who need us most!
Brian Dennis
Chief Executive Officer
