Suzie Harrison
Kids were laughing and running around, playing games in the autumn
air at Bluebird Park. They were there that afternoon and every
afternoon after school during the week enjoying the planned
activities, recreation and play time at Laguna Club for Kids.
Laguna Club for Kids -- often called "TLC" -- celebrated its
30-year anniversary with a fund-raising party that netted $8,000.
The program offers after-school care for children from 5 to 12,
but it has more of a camp-like atmosphere. The children participate
in arts and crafts, sports, safety programs, nature activities and
computer skills.
"We're open basically when the schools are closed Monday through
Friday," said Shelley Cox, executive director. "A very high
percentage of our children are from single-parent families --
definitely a gap that needs to be filled."
The club, a United Way partner, originally started as the Laguna
Girls Club. It was incorporated as Laguna Club for Kids in 1972.
"I was a member of the Laguna Beach Girls Club," Cox said. "I
never dreamed that some day I would be the director. It's very
special, I take it very personally. I live in this community, and
these are our children."
Back then, there was a separate club for boys and for girls, Cox
said, and the girls club originated in the basement of a church in
town. The same year the club was incorporated, the building at 1470
Temple Terrace was donated by Herb Nolan and Bill Toomey.
"They were in school with my parents in Laguna Beach," Cox said.
They moved the building from Catalina and Thalia to this location."
Mayor Wayne Baglin was influential in getting the building moved
to its current site, which is city-owned property.
"We are on city property and work closely with the city," Cox
said. "But the city doesn't charge any rent, which helps keep costs
down."
The club has an annual registration fee of $75 for one child; the
fee is less for each additional child in the family. There's a
monthly fee of $170 for kids that come four to five days per week,
and a cost of $125 for kids who come two to three days per week.
Scholarships are available through grants.
"It's nice to be in a safe, fun environment," parent Andy Hauer
said. "It's nice to see locals working here."
Their program is structured with a 3 p.m. snack and a 3:30 p.m.
break for homework or crafts. At 4:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., there are
two different organized games, with the kids splitting up by age
group. At 6 p.m., they go home.
