The Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln County’s summer program will shut down for the summer in two weeks due to earlier start times for the 2017-2018 school year.

“We’re ending the summer program on July 14 because school starts back earlier this year,” said program director Melanie Lewis. “I need to give my staff a break before we start back our after school program.”

Lewis has been director for 27 years. “I just love working with the children,” Lewis said.

Summer hours for the club are from 12 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s been a busy, fun summer for the kids. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the club participates in the summer library program.

“The library will put on several different things to entertain the kids,” Lewis said. “Recently they had a juggler there that was just fantastic.”

The club also does social events such as going to the skating rink or to the movies. Every Friday they will have a picnic in the park. Parents donate the snacks and the kids will have a picnic at the Brookhaven City Park located by Lipsey School.

Aside from going to the park, kids get exposed to cooking as well.

“We participate with the extension office with kids in the kitchen,” Lewis said. “We have different groups that will go to the courthouse, to the extension office. They talk to them about things in the kitchen, such as utensils. The kids learn about kitchen safety and also get a chance to make a few dishes.”

The club also provides indoor and outdoor games.They also have an educational hour where they will keep up with school work, such as math and reading.

“We want to keep that brain going throughout the summer,” Lewis said.

They also participate in Bible study every day. The kids are learning the books of the Bible and also learning different Bible stories and about different people in the Bible.

One goal for Lewis is that the summer program will eventually last all summer. Funding has been an issue for the club; as funding decreases, the programs and availability has as well. One thing it has cut out is the trip that they used to go on every summer.

“I just like to expose children to different things,” Lewis said. “We have been to Disney World, Six Flags in Atlanta, Houston and Dallas. I just want to expose them to the outside world. Funds are low, so until we get back on our feet, hopefully we can start back summer trips soon.”

Lewis is trying to plan a trip to the zoo at the end of the summer program but it’s still early in the process.

To join the Boys and Girls Club, stop by their office located at 213 South Second Street located in downtown Brookhaven. Applications can be filled out there. It’s $30 a year. The after school program will start up in August and will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.