| Last updated on August 9, 2007 |
SquashBusters is a fun and intensive after-school program which immerses 6th-12th grade urban students from Boston in a regimen of squash instruction, academic tutoring, community service, and mentoring. Our mission is to challenge and nurture urban youth to recognize and fulfill their potential by insisting upon best effort, respect, and integrity on the squash court, in the classroom, and throughout the community.
Description:
SquashBusters currently serves more than 90 Boston Public School students on three teams--two middle school teams and a high school team. Students attend squash and academic practices three days each week where they hone their squash games and work on their math and English skills. The three hour practices are comprised of two hours of academic help and one hour of squash/fitness. Academic sessions include homework help and skill building for the MCAS, SAT, or college application process. Their squash skills are tested during weekend squash tournaments throughout New England, and team matches against local private schools. In addition, students venture outside of the classroom and squash court once each month for community service projects. Past partnerships have included the Greater Boston Food Bank, Community Servings, Charles River Association for Retarded Citizens, Mount Pleasant Home, and The Food Project. All court time, squash instruction, academic tutors, athletic equipment, transportation, and field trips are provided to SquashBusters students free of charge. In return, the program requires regular attendance at practice and a commitment from the kids to try hard at all times, to respect their fellow team members, and to take their school work as seriously as their sports. Importantly, SquashBusters isn't about creating the best athletes or finding the smartest students. It's about helping young people develop confidence, motivation, and a positive self-identity.
History:
SquashBusters was first conceived in March 1995 at a lunch between Molly Downer, then president of the Massachusetts Squash Racquets Association, and Greg Zaff, former top-ranked squash professional from Boston, who wanted to see the sport grow and contribute more to the lives of less-advantaged kids. The challenge of translating the concept for SquashBusters into an actual program took place over the next 18-month period. From its inception, the primary goal of SquashBusters was to use squash as the means for enriching the kids' lives. Zaff felt strongly that SquashBusters needed to be demanding and intensive in order for the experience to truly impact the participants. SquashBusters was, therefore, set up as a 20-week-per-year, three-year program with additional educational, squash-playing and social-learning opportunities available for the kids who wanted even more. Such an arrangement translated into nearly 200 athletic, academic, and social learning experiences for each of the team members. Since March of 1995, SquashBusters has grown to reach over 90 kids each school year and now resides in a state-of-the-art squash and academic facility on the campus of Northeastern University.
Contact person: C.J. Crowder, Director Of Middle School Programs, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (617) 373-7370
Address:
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795 Columbus Avenue
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.squashbusters.org
Directions:
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From the north (via Route I-93 or Route 1)
Take the Storrow Drive exit, and proceed to the Fenway exit. Follow signs for Boylston Street inbound,
and bear right onto Westland Avenue. Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue, proceed to the third. . . (more)
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Ruggles,
Walk distance (in minutes): 5
Nearest Bus Stop: Massachusetts Avenue, 5 minute walk
For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com/schedmaps/index.cfm |
Volunteer Reflections
Post Your Own!
Overall Experience 
I feel that the service-learning experience was a very positive experience and I recommend everyone be required to do this at least once.
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The agency I was at was called SquashBusters. This agency was well organized and was commited to helping children gain a better education. They made learning fun by allowing the children to play squash for half the time and the other half they did homework. Making learning fun is important because children have a hard time finding school work fun. I feel that I have learned the correct way to teach my children how to learn. I want to teach them that learning can fun and teach them the rewards of learning.
posted on May 15, 2001 |
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