Kids vote with their feet. If they like something then they will go or in some cases, pedal. Recently, I was visiting our Duneland Boys & Girls club on a summer afternoon and noticed about 30 bicycles of assorted shapes, colors and sizes in a horrendous pile by the club's front door. The bike rack next to it was already filled beyond capacity.

It was obvious to see that these kids were in a hurry to get inside and have some fun! Like most kids, they were too hurried and excited to bother parking any bike neatly for a fast escape later.

What is the most influential time in a child's life? Age 6, age 8, 12? Actually, it's between 3 and 8 p.m. every afternoon. That is the time a kid is most likely to get into trouble or worse. Which is exactly why the Boys & Girls Club opens their doors and their arms to kids all over Porter County every afternoon.

The U.S. Department of Education reports that at least 7 million children are left alone after school each day. The hours between 3 and 8 p.m. are the most critical and dangerous to child. It is the time young children are susceptible to both positive and negative influences.

Over 60% of our club members come from homes wehre both parents work or have just a single parent to support them. Like most communities a large number of Porter County's children are going home to empty houses after school, just when they need supervision the most.

Our clubhouse doors are open as much as six hours a day to provide youth with a safe haven and positive environment. We provide children with alternatives to being alone. The reality is parents have to work; gas, food, rent and mortgage bills must be paid. Some children are lucky enough to get rides to the club, others ride the school bus (Portage Township has all their school buses stop at the Portage club), and some kids walk or ride their own bikes.

What ever way they can kids have been coming to clubs for 38 years. And they do this year round, in the rain, sleet and snow. Some kids walk over a half-mile or even more to get to the club because their parents are working or not at home. What makes a child get up out of bed early on a summer day? Or put on an extra jacket and march outside during a freezing Indiana winter's day and walk to building full of adults? It must be a pretty special place.

The clubs have what is known as an "Open Door Policy." We are open to any child who is interested. All members are asked to sign in and out daily using a computerized tracking system located at each club's front desk. This allows us to keep detailed records of a child's time spent at the club and participation in particular activities.

Call (219) 464-7282 for more information.