At 24, Trevin Taber has found work he loves. Taber, unit director for the Boys and Girls Club at O.P. Earle Elementary School,

enjoys helping area children stay active and safe after school and through the summer. His program serves 115 to 125 children every day.

“We’ve grown every year,” Taber said. “Our community support is the best it ever has been, and I’d like to build on that, strengthening partnerships and doing more programs. Mr. (Brian) Murray, principal at O.P. Earle, has been amazing. He provides materials and classroom space, and he really supports us.”

The club schedule stays with the school calendar, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the school year, and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the summer.

“We have snack, then a Power Hour for doing homework, and then we do activities in our basic areas, which are arts, sports, fitness and recreation; healthy lifestyle; character and leadership; and education.”

Registration for this school year will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Boys and Girls Club at O.P. Earle Elementary School serves students from first grade to fifth grade.

“When the bell rings at the end of school days, a lot of kids start walking home. I like to know that they’re safe, and I like them to know that whatever happens, they can come to me and my staff for help and support in anything,” Taber said. “Growing up, I was fortunate to be able to do a lot of fun things, like go bowling or skating. Every month, we do a field trip for each grade, so the kids in the club can experience a lot of fun things. The kids really enjoy it.”

Last year, students from the Boys and Girls Club rode on a float in a Landrum parade, and they’ve taken historical field trips to the Walnut Grove Plantation. They participate in wildlife programs at Three Sisters Gardens and Linville Caverns, and they’ve taken digital cameras to Pearson Falls to learn elements of photography. They create bonds with each other as they learn new ways to have healthy fun in their lives.

“The coolest thing might be taking the fifth graders, our oldest kids, to Camp Greenville for a weekend. They do a ropes course and team building, and it’s like a weekend summer camp, with good bonding for them,” Taber said. “It’s like a graduation from the club, in a way, and a celebration of them moving into middle school.”

Families pay a one-time registration fee of $5 for program participation, and then parents volunteer one hour a week rather than pay money for the Club. The volunteer hour can take many forms, including going to a parent-teacher organization meeting, participating in a school function, donating canned goods to service projects, or paying $10 if a parent’s schedule doesn’t allow for any volunteer time.

“Every family situation is different, and as long as a family supports the program, we do what we can to make sure we support the family’s involvement,” Taber said.