Mars Hill KIDZ transitions to Boys & Girls Club
In less than a year, an after-school program for youngsters in Mars Hill has changed names three times. But the mission remains much the same: helping the next generation get active and be healthy and happy.
The Mars Hill KIDZ Club, started to continue the After the Bell program that ended last summer, is now the Mars Hill Boys & Girls Club, situated under the organizational umbrella of the Penobscot Boys & Girls Club, which also oversees clubs in Presque Isle and Downeast.
The Mars Hill club will be able to have 501c3 nonprofit status and receive support via the national Boys & Girls Club network, said Nichole Francis, CEO of the Penobscot Boys and Girls Club.
“The Mars Hill Club has the opportunity to make a huge impact the community on all levels, academic, social, health and fitness,” said Francis said.
The Mars Hill Boys and Girls Club will be housed at the Mars Hill Community Center and offer a range of year-round programs, with activities three days a week after school.
The activities are mostly centered around promoting fun exercise, at a time when more than 35 percent of Aroostook County high schoolers struggle with obesity and excess weight. They are also varied to offer kids different options and experiences and let them find what they like, with activities including soccer, bicycling and canoeing, Francis said.
