Love Beyond the Classroom with Royal Oak Corps Community Center
Today, we’ll be highlighting the amazing after school program at the Royal Oak Corps Community Center! We recently interviewed some of the kids and the staff who care for them, and how we Love Beyond the Classroom shone through more with every person we talked to.
Our Program Is Provided By Dedicated Staff
Up first is Ellie Yerke, one of our after-school program aids and a church member at the Royal Oak Corps Community Center.
Q: How long have you been working here?
A: This is my first year at the after-school program, but I have worked day camp over the summer as well.
Q: How long have you been a member of the church?
My whole life, so this was a significant job to get! I felt it was important for me to work here.
Q: What drew you to this position and doing what you do here?
A: I already knew my boss and most of my coworkers from being a part of the congregation, so I know the building and the people, and it felt like a good first job to gain experience.
Q: What does it mean to you be able to provide so much for the kids that come here?
A: It is important to me. I try to help the kids with their homework when they ask for it and make sure they get it done. That way, they can go home and enjoy that. My goal is to make sure that after being at school all day and sitting at a desk, they can come here and get their homework done but also having the time to hang out with their friends, relax, run around in the gym, and sometimes get a little noisy before going home to spend time with their family.
Q: What do you think makes this after school program different compared to others?
A: After snack, we do a devotion time where we’ll read directly from the Bible, not just reading it off the worksheet, and we then have questions that we ask. A lot of kids are interested when we have our devotion time and ask their own questions. It allows the kids to think more seriously about what they are reading and have a thoughtful discussion about Bible passages.
Q: Is there anything you’d like people to know about the after-school programs that they may not realize?
A: I guess about the church in general. We offer so many other programs for both kids and adults in addition to church services. There are so many different opportunities for kids to get involved here.
Next is Josh Morton, who has been an after-school program aid for us for six and a half years.
Q: How long have you been a member of the church?
A: Since I was about 6, so about 19 years.
Q: What made you want to participate in the after-school program?
A: I was involved in the day camp program, so helping out while I was in high school allowed me to build my skills for this position.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to teach children here?
A: I’m definitely more academically focused. I like helping kids with their homework because it helps relieve some stress for their parents. Getting home in the evening with all homework already done is a big load off everyone’s shoulders. I like being helpful to families in that way.
Q: What do you think makes this after school program different compared to others?
A: Our spiritual foundation. It gives us the chance to spread the gospel and then offer other programs to teens and young adults, and kids can get involved in other church programs easily. Everyone feels a sense of community here. It’s fun being around the church and getting to see everyone. It makes you feel like family.
Tutor Levi Mowers, age 17, feels similarly.
"I was in the after school program from 6th to 8th grade," says Mowers. "My friends and I always felt like we could be ourselves here. It's a safe, fun environment for the kids, and I love working with them."
Kids Love Our Program!
We asked kids in the after school program about their thoughts, and they share some heartwarming answers:
"It’s really fun to play with friends and learn more about the gospel! The adults are really funny, too," says Amelia, in the third grade.
"I’ve made a lot of new friends here. The adults are really nice." from Delilah, a fourth grader who has been coming to the program for almost 3 years.
“I like coming here because I like reading and doing my homework here,” says Lucas, a third grader.
“When I'm here, I get to learn more about God,” from Karson, in the fourth grade.
“I like coming here because I get to spend time with my friends,” says Israel, a fifth grader.
Meeting a Community Need
“One of the biggest challenges our community faces is no busing for kids,” says Lt. Heidi Strand, who pastors the Royal Oak Corps Community Center with her husband, Kory. “So we have a bus that picks up the kids from school, brings them to the building, and parents pick them up in the evening. We have about 50 children here on any given day. We give them a place to be safe, secure, have a snack, and connect. I love that we can meet this need. Childcare is the hardest thing for a parent – I know from personal experience that it is such a relief to know that your child is being taken care of and brought to where they need to be.”
Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade are eligible for the after school program, which runs daily through the entire school year. Registration starts in August.
Call to action with donation link: Help provide Metro Detroit youth with fun, friendship, and educational resources through our after school programs through our Love Beyond the Classroom campaign.