Back in November the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley announced that it was buying the former First Lutheran Church and turning it into a newer, larger location for its Eau Claire branch. Now, those plans have come to fruition. The place has been renovated and repurposed, and the staff and kids have moved in just in time for all the fun summer programs. Excitement is high for this new change. “What is there not to be excited about?” says Executive Director Sara Antonson. “Not only does everybody have dedicated classrooms, we have a real gymnasium and an 80-seat auditorium.” The new location also has an on-site playground (something missing from the former Lake Street location) and a large parking lot to make drop-offs and pick-ups easier for parents. All in all, the new site is a whopping 55,000 square feet, a huge increase in size compared to the old 16,000-square-foot venue. The new spot will help the club continue to grow and thrive, but you can expect the same quality programs as before. As for the future? “Possibilities are endless in this building,” Antonson says. “The Boys & Girls Club works hard to offer new and innovative programs for the kids; there are always new possibilities.”

Check out the Boys & Girls Club at the following locations:

• Eau Claire, 1005 Oxford Ave.
• Black River Falls, 125 Fillmore St.
• Chippewa Falls, 21 E. Grand Ave.
• Menomonie, 615 24th Ave. W.
• Online at cvclubs.org