Birthday Time

Birthday Time

Picture it: 1999. Y2K fever is at a high. The hottest toy for kids are Pokémon cards. The Euro was introduced. Boy bands were in full force with the Backstreet Boys releasing their 4^th album, Millennium. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace hit theaters. The world was introduced to SpongeBob Squarepants. Gene Siskel of famed film critic duo, Siskel & Ebert, passed away. During the year 1999, I was a young 11 year old just in the beginnings of middle school and decided to attend a new program starting up in the community called the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC).

BCBGC’s first days of programming were in December 1999 and began in response to a lack of structured yet fun after-school and summer activities for youth in Montrose. The first Club Unit was opened in Montrose, with the actual location of the Unit moving from (at the time) the Columbine Middle School cafeteria to the Montrose High School cafeteria to (then) Centennial Junior High School, and then to the United Church of Christ. The Montrose Unit now resides at 2900 Sunnyside Rd in Montrose inside of Celebration Church. As you probably know, the Club started a capital campaign in May of this year to build its own permanent facility in Montrose at the corner of 6700 Rd and E. Niagara.

In 2002, the BCBGC opened its Olathe Unit. Housed initially at Olathe Elementary School, the Unit moved to the Olathe Middle/High School for a time before moving into a building on the Colorow Care Center property (which is where our partnership with Colorow began as noted in a previous article). Its current location is at 300 Hap Court. Despite all the movement and changes over the last 20 years, one thing has not changed; the BCBGC’s continued efforts to be at the forefront of youth development. This youth development is fostered through programming that focuses on: social and emotional development; educational enhancement and leadership skills; and healthy lifestyles. The BCBGC has been and will continue to work hard to be a pillar in the Montrose and Olathe communities for our youth and be part of the community for another 20 years and beyond.

In honor of the BCBGC’s 20^th birthday, please join us for an Under the Sea themed breakfast birthday bash (while supplies last), Friday October 18, 2019 from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at 2900 Sunnyside Rd in Montrose. There will be games, cake, and tasty breakfast food. No RSVP required but contact 970-249-5168 with any questions.

Bud Taylor is the Executive Director of the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) and has been for the past three years. Prior to that he was a Club kid, Junior Staff Member, and Board Director of the BCBGC. For more information on the Club, please visit www.bcbgc.org.