Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region expands afterschool access

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region is launching this fall with programs at Woodfin Elementary, a planned site at Pisgah View Apartments and a permanent youth center in West Asheville. The rollout targets North Carolina’s shortage of afterschool options and aims to remove barriers for families facing cost, transportation and access gaps.

Why it matters: - North Carolina has a major afterschool access gap, and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region is opening new options for families who need safe, low-cost care after school. - The launch could help working parents keep jobs or work more hours, while giving children more consistent academic and social support.

What happened: - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region launched operations this fall in Asheville. - The first program began Sept. 8 at Woodfin Elementary through a partnership with Buncombe County Schools. - The organization plans to add programming at Pisgah View Apartments in early 2027. - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region also bought 150 Westwood Place in West Asheville for a future flagship Clubhouse.

The details: - The launch comes as nearly four in five North Carolina children who could benefit from afterschool programming still lack access, according to the 2025 America After 3PM report. - The report estimates that gap affects about 664,000 children statewide. - Families cite cost, transportation and limited availability as the biggest barriers. - Woodfin Elementary serves students in grades K-4 and offers academic support, recreation, creative activities, leadership development and mentorship after school. - The school-based club is designed to cover the gap between the end of the school day and the end of parents’ workday. - The 2025 America After 3PM report found that 92% of North Carolina parents with a child in an afterschool program say the program helps them keep their jobs or work more hours. - The same report found 96% say they feel less stressed knowing their child is safe after school. - Pisgah View Apartments programming will be built with the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville and other groups already serving families there. - BGCAR is seeking resident input on the ages it should serve and the types of programs the community wants. - The Westwood Place property is about 36,000 square feet and sits on 2.66 acres. - The site includes classrooms, gathering spaces, a commercial kitchen and other areas that BGCAR plans to adapt for youth programming. - Planning and renovations at Westwood are expected to take several years. - The Westwood site is intended to serve as a dedicated youth center with expanded afterschool and summer programming. - Planned Westwood programs include academic support, sports and recreation, arts, and leadership and workforce development. - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region joins a national network of more than 5,500 Clubs serving over 4 million young people each year through membership and community outreach. - The organization hopes to expand north and west of Asheville over time, complementing Clubs in Hendersonville, Brevard, Cashiers and Forest City. - Community members can support the expansion through donations, partnerships and volunteer involvement, with more information at bgcar.org.

Between the lines: - The strategy pairs immediate, school-based access with longer-term neighborhood and facility-based growth. - That mix suggests BGCAR is trying to solve both short-term child care pressure and the deeper infrastructure shortage behind it. - The organization is also positioning itself as a community partner rather than a standalone provider by working with schools, housing officials and existing local groups. - Founding CEO Gretchen Miller said the goal is to fill gaps where they exist and build on work already happening for young people in the region.

What's next: - BGCAR will continue operating at Woodfin Elementary this school year. - The organization will gather resident feedback before launching at Pisgah View Apartments in early 2027. - Planning and renovations at 150 Westwood Place will unfold over the next several years before the site opens as the flagship Clubhouse. - BGCAR is expected to keep building partnerships, fundraising and volunteer support as it expands.

The bottom line: - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region is building a three-part footprint designed to make afterschool care more accessible across Asheville, from school campus to neighborhood to permanent youth center.