For more than two decades, the Boys & Girls Club has been an important resource for Chaffee County families, providing a safe place for children while supporting working parents throughout the year.
Last year, the organization served more than 920 children through its clubs in Salida and Buena Vista, offering far more than traditional child care through leadership development, educational programming, and recreational activities.
Executive Director Brian Beaulieu said the organization’s year-round schedule and community partnerships have helped make it one of the county’s largest youth development organizations, with plans to grow even further once a permanent Buena Vista facility opens.
“When school is out, Boys & Girls Club is in,” said Beaulieu in an interview with Ark Valley Voice.
With 255 open days a year, and nine-hour summer days, the Boys & Girls Club provides working families with consistent care throughout the year.
Supporting Working Parents
For many working parents, those extended hours provide reliable care before and after school, during school breaks and throughout the summer. Beaulieu said the organization takes pride in being available whenever local families need it, allowing parents to work while knowing their children have a safe place to spend the day.
Unlike many childcare programs, the Boys & Girls Club does not currently have a waitlist. Beaulieu said the organization welcomes new members throughout the year and is prepared to hire additional staff if enrollment increases.
“We’d still like more kids,” said Beaulieu. “We will always make room and hire more staff if we need to.”
Beaulieu said the organization’s year-round schedule fills a role that few other youth programs in the county can provide. While many activities are seasonal or meet only once a week, the Boys & Girls Club remains open throughout the school year and summer.
The Boys & Girls Club provides far more than childcare. When kids attend the clubs, they also get access to multiple programs to further their education and build life skills.
Programs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and leadership development. Activities range from STEM and reading clubs to music, cooking, and career-readiness programs, giving children opportunities to explore interests they may not otherwise have.
“One of the things that Boys & Girls Club is so good at is putting kids behind a microphone,” said Beaulieu. “Getting kids chances for things they just wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen made a stop at the Boys & Girls Club in Salida on Friday, August 7, showing her support for addressing the nation’s childcare needs. Photo by Jan Wondra.
Rather than focusing solely on after-school supervision, the club aims to help young people develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Leadership opportunities, educational programming, and hands-on activities are designed to prepare members for school, work, and community involvement.
Those opportunities continue throughout the summer. The Boys & Girls Club’s summer camp operates Monday through Friday from late May through mid-August, giving children ages five and up a safe place to spend their summer while participating in themed weeks, educational activities, and field trips.
Weekly themes this summer include Water Week, Mad Science, BGC’s Got Talent, Superheroes and BGC Rocks, each designed to keep campers engaged through hands-on activities and special programming.
Families can enroll children for the entire summer or choose individual weeks based on their schedules, giving parents flexibility throughout the school break.
Community support has been “foundational” for the Boys & Girls Club, according to Beaulieu. Local businesses and volunteers run many programs for the organization, lending their expertise to build up the next generation.
Instead of relying solely on its own staff, the organization draws on the experience of local businesses, retirees, and community members to broaden what it can offer. Those partnerships allow children to learn directly from people who have spent years building careers and skills within Chaffee County.
Those partnerships take many forms. Collegiate Peaks Bank sponsors and helps lead a financial literacy program, while a retired science teacher volunteers to teach STEM activities. Other volunteers lead cooking, music, and fitness programs, bringing their own backgrounds and expertise into the club.
Beaulieu believes that level of involvement reflects the character of the community.
“Chaffee County is a place that cares about kids and families,” Beaulieu said.
Making a New Facility in BV a Reality
The new facility will give the organization its first permanent home in Buena Vista after two decades of operating from Avery Parsons Elementary School. Beaulieu said owning a dedicated space will allow the club to expand programming, strengthen community partnerships, and provide more opportunities for local youth.
Designed specifically for youth programming, the new facility will include spaces that the current location cannot offer. Beaulieu said having a permanent home will make it easier to expand activities, host community partners, and create new opportunities for children of all ages.
As the organization prepares for its next chapter, Beaulieu said the mission remains the same: providing Chaffee County children with a safe place to learn, grow, and discover opportunities they might not otherwise have.
“We’d still like more kids,” said Beaulieu. “We will always make room and hire more staff if we need to.”
Beaulieu said the organization’s year-round schedule fills a role that few other youth programs in the county can provide. While many activities are seasonal or meet only once a week, the Boys & Girls Club remains open throughout the school year and summer.
The Boys & Girls Club provides far more than childcare. When kids attend the clubs, they also get access to multiple programs to further their education and build life skills.
Programs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and leadership development. Activities range from STEM and reading clubs to music, cooking, and career-readiness programs, giving children opportunities to explore interests they may not otherwise have.
“One of the things that Boys & Girls Club is so good at is putting kids behind a microphone,” said Beaulieu. “Getting kids chances for things they just wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen made a stop at the Boys & Girls Club in Salida on Friday, August 7, showing her support for addressing the nation’s childcare needs. Photo by Jan Wondra.
Rather than focusing solely on after-school supervision, the club aims to help young people develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Leadership opportunities, educational programming, and hands-on activities are designed to prepare members for school, work, and community involvement.
Those opportunities continue throughout the summer. The Boys & Girls Club’s summer camp operates Monday through Friday from late May through mid-August, giving children ages five and up a safe place to spend their summer while participating in themed weeks, educational activities, and field trips.
Weekly themes this summer include Water Week, Mad Science, BGC’s Got Talent, Superheroes and BGC Rocks, each designed to keep campers engaged through hands-on activities and special programming.
Families can enroll children for the entire summer or choose individual weeks based on their schedules, giving parents flexibility throughout the school break.
Community support has been “foundational” for the Boys & Girls Club, according to Beaulieu. Local businesses and volunteers run many programs for the organization, lending their expertise to build up the next generation.
Instead of relying solely on its own staff, the organization draws on the experience of local businesses, retirees, and community members to broaden what it can offer. Those partnerships allow children to learn directly from people who have spent years building careers and skills within Chaffee County.
Those partnerships take many forms. Collegiate Peaks Bank sponsors and helps lead a financial literacy program, while a retired science teacher volunteers to teach STEM activities. Other volunteers lead cooking, music, and fitness programs, bringing their own backgrounds and expertise into the club.
Beaulieu believes that level of involvement reflects the character of the community.
A rendering of the Boys and Girls Club of Chaffee County (BGCCC) facility proposed on land leased from the town of Buena Vista. Screenshot from page 78 of the January 13, 2026, trustee meeting packet.
“Chaffee County is a place that cares about kids and families,” Beaulieu said.
Making a New Facility in BV a Reality
The new facility will give the organization its first permanent home in Buena Vista after two decades of operating from Avery Parsons Elementary School. Beaulieu said owning a dedicated space will allow the club to expand programming, strengthen community partnerships, and provide more opportunities for local youth.
Designed specifically for youth programming, the new facility will include spaces that the current location cannot offer. Beaulieu said having a permanent home will make it easier to expand activities, host community partners, and create new opportunities for children of all ages.
As the organization prepares for its next chapter, Beaulieu said the mission remains the same: providing Chaffee County children with a safe place to learn, grow, and discover opportunities they might not otherwise have.
“We’d still like more kids,” said Beaulieu. “We will always make room and hire more staff if we need to.”
Beaulieu said the organization’s year-round schedule fills a role that few other youth programs in the county can provide. While many activities are seasonal or meet only once a week, the Boys & Girls Club remains open throughout the school year and summer.
The Boys & Girls Club provides far more than childcare. When kids attend the clubs, they also get access to multiple programs to further their education and build life skills.
Programs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and leadership development. Activities range from STEM and reading clubs to music, cooking, and career-readiness programs, giving children opportunities to explore interests they may not otherwise have.
“One of the things that Boys & Girls Club is so good at is putting kids behind a microphone,” said Beaulieu. “Getting kids chances for things they just wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen made a stop at the Boys & Girls Club in Salida on Friday, August 7, showing her support for addressing the nation’s childcare needs. Photo by Jan Wondra.
Rather than focusing solely on after-school supervision, the club aims to help young people develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Leadership opportunities, educational programming, and hands-on activities are designed to prepare members for school, work, and community involvement.
Those opportunities continue throughout the summer. The Boys & Girls Club’s summer camp operates Monday through Friday from late May through mid-August, giving children ages five and up a safe place to spend their summer while participating in themed weeks, educational activities, and field trips.
Weekly themes this summer include Water Week, Mad Science, BGC’s Got Talent, Superheroes and BGC Rocks, each designed to keep campers engaged through hands-on activities and special programming.
Families can enroll children for the entire summer or choose individual weeks based on their schedules, giving parents flexibility throughout the school break.
Community support has been “foundational” for the Boys & Girls Club, according to Beaulieu. Local businesses and volunteers run many programs for the organization, lending their expertise to build up the next generation.
Instead of relying solely on its own staff, the organization draws on the experience of local businesses, retirees, and community members to broaden what it can offer. Those partnerships allow children to learn directly from people who have spent years building careers and skills within Chaffee County.
Those partnerships take many forms. Collegiate Peaks Bank sponsors and helps lead a financial literacy program, while a retired science teacher volunteers to teach STEM activities. Other volunteers lead cooking, music, and fitness programs, bringing their own backgrounds and expertise into the club.
Beaulieu believes that level of involvement reflects the character of the community.
A rendering of the Boys and Girls Club of Chaffee County (BGCCC) facility proposed on land leased from the town of Buena Vista. Screenshot from page 78 of the January 13, 2026, trustee meeting packet.
“Chaffee County is a place that cares about kids and families,” Beaulieu said.
Making a New Facility in BV a Reality
The new facility will give the organization its first permanent home in Buena Vista after two decades of operating from Avery Parsons Elementary School. Beaulieu said owning a dedicated space will allow the club to expand programming, strengthen community partnerships, and provide more opportunities for local youth.
Designed specifically for youth programming, the new facility will include spaces that the current location cannot offer. Beaulieu said having a permanent home will make it easier to expand activities, host community partners, and create new opportunities for children of all ages.
As the organization prepares for its next chapter, Beaulieu said the mission remains the same: providing Chaffee County children with a safe place to learn, grow, and discover opportunities they might not otherwise have.
