Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens

“Variety has been a part of our family for generations. My granddaughter is in their summer day camp and she loves it. Sadly, there are spoiled parents complaining about the programs and facilities who think everything needs to be to their way. The leadership works hard and are also planning on building a brand new facility for the community. We need to support this organization that fights for kids and families. Anyone trying to speak bad about such a great organization is not a good person. We love you Variety and all your hardworking staff.”

“I go here for lap swim, so I'm writing this from that perspective. I am glad we have a pool in the area that I can do laps in, the pool itself is fine, but... the locker rooms are absolutely filthy. Honestly I feel bad that children use these spaces- can't we do better? I get the faciltiies are old, that can't be helped-- but the girls locker room is DIRTY to the point of being unsanitary. They're so bad that I dry off on the pool deck and walk home wet rather than go in there to change. I am fairly certain nobody cleans or maybe even checks on them, because I refuse to believe that someone could see what it's like in there and not try to clean it up. Using this week as an example, I went Monday for lap swim and saw a dead cockroach in the shower and piece of weave stuck to the shower wall, and when I returned Thursday the same piece of weave was stuck to the same place on the wall-- except now there was a dirty toilet brush in the shower area, orange goo all over one shower knob, and the floors were slimy from stagnant water so I almost slipped-- not just in the shower area, but leading to the toilets, where rolls of wet, soggy toilet paper were sitting in it-- and back to the lockers. The week before I went and there was damp trash all over and two toilet bowls were brimming with feces that had clearly been sitting there for an unspecified amount of time. Again, I am happy there is any pool in the area that I can lap swim in, but it takes serious neglect for a facility to get this unsanitary. Once the weather is too cold to walk home wet, my lap swim time here will be done.”

“I was genuinely hoping for a better experience, but it quickly became clear that the biggest issue here is the management. Many of the positive reviews are from nearly a decade ago and unfortunately don’t reflect the current reality. The environment now feels disorganized, inconsistent, and frustrating especially when trying to get clarity or support. Maria, who appears to be in a leadership role, often comes across as dismissive or overwhelmed, which sets the tone for the rest of the team. Concerns are more often brushed off than addressed, and there's very little accountability when problems arise. This place has potential, but it’s being held back by a lack of strong, responsive leadership. If those at the top were more invested in supporting their staff and maintaining basic standards, things could be different. As it stands, I can’t recommend it. I also hope the other locations under this organization operate better because if this is the standard, the future doesn’t look promising. On top of everything else, the building itself is dirty and poorly maintained. The air conditioning barely works throughout the space, and at times it honestly feels like walking into a sauna. It’s not acceptable, especially in a space meant to care for children and staff.”

“-0 My daughter takes swimming lessons. Before, the teachers were very good, but now it seems like the children are alone. The teachers are the worst. They never pay attention to the children. It seems like they are always in a bad mood and don't even want to go into the water. The facilities are the worst. The bathrooms and showers are NEVER CLEANED and the lockers are full of COCKROACHES. And when it's cold, they don't tell you that the water is too cold, and the children go in like that, and the director says that the water is fine, that afterward the children don't feel cold. Honestly, the worst. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PROGRAM, IT'S NOT WORTH IT. They only care about each other's money.”