Nine months into a three-year partnership with the Mahomet-Seymour School District, the Mahomet Area Youth Club can see the rippling effects of the club’s after school B.L.A.S.T. (Bulldogs Learning and Succeeding Together) programming.
Before the 2013-2014 school year, MAYC served approximately 25 children, ages 6 through 17, on the MAYC campus.
As the MAYC board analyzed data in 2012, they realized their attendance numbers were at an all-time low as they served an average of 13 kids a day. At that point, the club spent more on after school care for one student than the Mahomet-Seymour School District spent to educate one student during one day.
“We really looked at our data,” MAYC Board President Margaret White said. “What can we do to help all kids in our community? How can we make sure all kids are interacting together? How can we ask people for funding for a program where we aren’t serving a lot of kids in the community?”
As the board began to research after school care options, they were drawn to Urbana School District’s S.P.L.A.S.H. program, which extends the students’ learning day with enrichment and creative activities.
The MAYC board realized a similar program would not only serve more students in the Mahomet community, but would also give inclusive opportunities to students in the free and reduced lunch program while fulfilling a need for enrichment opportunities within the school district.
“We know the kids are all together, not segregated,” White said. “And nobody knows it. You don’t know it in the classroom. You just know they are all kids.”
Over 25 percent of the students enrolled in B.LA.S.T. programming receive free or reduced lunches. Twenty-six percent of B.L.A.S.T. participants at Sangamon received MAYC scholarships, and 21 percent of B.L.A.S.T. students received MAYC scholarships at Lincoln Trail.
After three sessions of B.L.A.S.T. programming, MAYC increased student participation in their programming, reaching 464 students with 51 enrichment opportunities. Data from the fourth session of B.L.A.S.T. is not available yet.
B.L.A.S.T. programming allowed MAYC to move away from their traditional on-site after school care into a model where students stay at their school to learn and play with their peers.
Through partnerships with Mahomet-Seymour teachers and organizations, such as the University of Illinois, the Champaign County Forest Preserve and the Mahomet Public Library, MAYC has been able to offer math, science, history and language arts courses.
“All of the things we need for our employers of the future, we’re doing those things in mini lessons,” White said. “It’s hard to measure that now, but just giving kids those experiences will benefit them later.”
Both teachers and principals have approached MAYC board members to share the excitement students feel before the go to B.L.A.S.T. White said she’s heard numerous stories of children who dread going to school, but love to attend B.L.A.S.T.
“The anecdotal data is amazing, but it’s also hard to measure,” White said.
MAYC has also grown programming at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School and Mahomet-Seymour High School. MAYC Executive Director Marcius Moore helps MAYC participants with homework at MSJHS after school. During second semester, junior high students had the opportunity to participate in academic, character and professional development B.L.A.S.T. classes.
Mahomet-Seymour High School has also seen significant growth in their after school homework club with MAYC support.
Within the three-year agreement, MAYC also provided an after school bus so older students can participate in traditional after school activities, and still get home.
As the school year ends, MAYC prepares to transition into traditional MAYC summer programming, with the addition of new activities for students who attend.
White said while summer programming will continue to provide all day care for children ages 6 to 17, students will also take trips to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and Chicago.
The Lutheran Church of Mahomet has agreed to let MAYC use their kitchen to provide cooking lessons. Students will also take swimming lessons at Candlewood, and participate in academic enrichment opportunities on MAYC campus.
“Our summer program will be much more structured,” White said.
MAYC will also open its doors to the Young Adult program at Mahomet-Seymour High School during the 2014-2015 school year, giving students ages 18 to 22 an opportunity to learn functional life skills in a natural environment.
As MAYC continues to develop and restructure their programming, the club is looking for financial and word-of-mouth support from the community.
Pre-sale tickets from MAYC’S Boot Scootin’ Auction and Barn Dance on June 13 at Schroeder Farms are now available for purchase online.
MAYC will also host their annual Mahomet Half Marathon, 5K and Youth Run on August 16 before they begin their annual fundraising campaign in the fall.
White said the MAYC board members have enjoyed listening to and reading teacher and parent letters that describe the impact B.L.A.S.T. has had on children in the Mahomet community.
