TLC celebrates 30 years

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.

“I get to do a craft -- I like that,” said Makena Collins, 5. “We

get to make like little puppets, and I like to play in the park with

my friends.”

Ceramics, painting, ornaments and seasonal crafts are some of the

projects.

Tori Jones, 6, attends Laguna Club for Kids -- her father is a

firefighter at the Agate Station.

“I like to make crafts because you get do anything you want,” Tori

said. “Well, not all the time, but sometimes. I like playing and

going to the park.”

They work closely with the police and offer safety and awareness

programs. They have also partnered with the Senior Center where they

take field trips.

“There’s really nothing like working with kids,” program

coordinator Geri Lawson said. “My favorite part is the interaction

with the kids, working hard with them on crafts, creativity and

games. They really enjoy it.”

Besides after school, there are programs for the holidays and

during the summer. In the summer, the program is more extensive. It

requires more staff, involves more activities and field trips and

draws kids from across the country and around the world. During the

school year, the kids are Laguna locals.

“Our goal is to continue our program offering a home-like

atmosphere and quality,” Cox said. “It’s a quality program, obviously

quality.”

Information: 494-7630.