Where Fun Has a
Purpose
Boys & Girls Clubs help kids achieve great futures by providing a safe and fun space, an engaging Club Experience and caring professionals to guide them along the way.
our
mission
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
our vision
Provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Our Commitment to
inclusion
We believe every kid has what it takes. The mission and core beliefs of Boys & Girls Clubs fuel our commitment to promoting safe, positive and inclusive environments for all. Boys & Girls Clubs of America supports all youth and teens — of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, and religion — in reaching their full potential.
our
history
Boys & Girls Club of South Park was founded in Fairplay, after operating as an after school drug prevention program for kids for a couple of years.
The Teen center in Bailey launched to serve Middle School students after school at Fitzsimmons Middle School.
The BOP became an official charted Club through Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and became the Platte Canyon Club.
To better reflect the populations being served and the vision to serve more rural communities across Colorado’s high country, the organization’s name changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of the High Rockies.
The teen center at Fitzsimmons Middle School Closed, and the Platte Canyon Club only operates out of Deer Creek Elementary, serving K-5th grade.
The program space at the Platte Canyon Club triples, to meet the demand of serving more youth. With this expansion, the Platte Canyon Club re-opens for middle schoolers out of Deer Creek Elementary.
The Platte Canyon Club expands program hours to offer a fifth day program on Fridays, when Platte Canyon School District transitions to a four-day school week.
Our Commitment to
safety
Boys & Girls Clubs of the High Rockies’ #1 priority is the protection of the children we serve at our Clubs. Any one incident is one too many. We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and protection of the youth we serve and continue to improve our policies that protect young people.
We require every allegation to be reported both to law enforcement and to our national organization. We treat all these allegations as criminal matters first, which ensures that any harm to a child is investigated and handled by law enforcement. Our organization provides resources to first support potential victims and their families.
We will continue to evaluate and improve our safety policies, programs, and training for our Club staff and volunteers to protect young people from threats that are present in our society. Our ongoing goal is to implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe, including:
our team
meet our
CEO
jessica bartak
Chief Executive Officer
jessica bartak
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica previously served as the Unit Director for the Platte Canyon Club from 2018 to 2023. She holds a Master of Science in Leadership Education with a minor in Youth Development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. When she’s not working, Jessica enjoys spending time outdoors, going on hikes, and working on various house projects.
- ceo@bgchr.co
club
staff
Jess Ornelas
Platte Canyon Unit Director
Chris Garris
Platte Canyon Program Leader
Cricket Webb
Platte Canyon Program Lead
Gavin Salee
South Park Unit Director
Jo Ames
South Park Assistant Unit Director
Jess Ornelas
Platte Canyon Unit Director
Jess has worked as a summer camp director at Beaver Ranch and also led a before and after care program as a director and coordinator. Additionally, she has taught music and helped students in small groups with math, reading, and writing. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Music Education. In her free time, Jess enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, camping, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her family, often enjoying a peaceful morning coffee on her deck.
Chris Garris
Platte Canyon Program Leader
Christopher has many years of experience as an educator, teaching at various institutions across two countries. He holds degrees in psychology and psychological science from the University of Kentucky. Outside of work, Christopher enjoys hiking, playing frisbee with his dog, volunteering, and creating artwork.
Cricket Webb
Platte Canyon Program Lead
Gavin Salee
South Park Unit Director
Gavin spent five years working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lincoln/Lancaster County while attending the University of Nebraska. He also served 11 years in the Nebraska National Guard, where he took on roles such as platoon leader and squadron plans officer. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies with minors in math and energy science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his downtime, Gavin enjoys outdoor activities, fantasy football, running, and engaging with sci-fi and fantasy content. He’s also an avid Seahawks fan.
Jo Ames
South Park Assistant Unit Director
Jo brings over a decade of experience in youth development and education, having worked in summer camps, after-school programs, and classroom teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Champlain College in Vermont. Outside of work, Jo likes to spend time with friends, practice yoga and meditation, play video games, and relax.
Kai
our board of
directors
Morti Longsdorf
Board President
Emmy Glancy West
Board Vice President
Trish Cox
Board Memeber
Britney Schroeder
Board Member
Stephanie Kreutz-Roman
Board Member
Nicol Randolph
Board Member
Morti Longsdorf
Board President
Morti Longsdorf is a native of Brooklyn, New York and moved to Denver in 2000. Morti obtained her Bachelors at SUNY-at-Oswego, NY and her Master’s in Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. In 2000, Morti moved to Denver where she has worked in the Information Technology sector in the Denver Metro area, and currently works for Kaiser Permanente as a Business Analyst. Coming from a family that values the importance of giving back to one’s community, Morti has volunteered for local non-profits such as the Gathering Place, Catholic Charities, the Diane Price Fish Foundation (defunct), and Swedish Medical Center. Morti is an active volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of the High Rockies (BGCHR) where she is the acting Board President. To ensure a balance life, Morti has a keen interest in the arts—whether it’s dragging friends and family to see exhibits at galleries on First Fridays in Denver or experiencing wonderful productions at the local play houses in Conifer and Denver. Morti currently lives in Bailey and has a daughter that attends Fitzsimmons Middle School.
Emmy Glancy West
Board Vice President
Trish Cox
Board Memeber
Trish Cox, originally from New York, moved to Bailey 2 years ago with her husband Gabe and jumped into volunteering. Giving back and being a part of something greater than herself is a huge mission for her. She is a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club, Board Member of the Platte Canyon Community Partnership and Conifer Rotarian. Her day job is helping others create memories and build wealth through buying and selling real estate. Trish is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Evergreen and serves the Denver Metro Area and of course our Mountain Community. As a way to give back even through her work, a portion of her commission goes to a charity of your choice.
Britney Schroeder
Board Member
Stephanie Kreutz-Roman
Board Member
Nicol Randolph
Board Member
Please contact any one of us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety of our Clubs and kids.
It is our top priority and we welcome any feedback, comments, or recommendations.
Jessica Ornelas
Unit Director
Platte Canyon Club,
Bailey, CO
303-679-7546
plattecanyon@bgchr.co
Gavin Salee
Unit Director
South Park Club,
Fairplay, CO
719-836-9019
southpark@bgchr.co
