KINGSTON — It’s been two months since the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club officially started up at Kingston Junior High and well, things have been challenging.

The club’s director Nicole Settelmeyer has found working with a limited amount of funding to support activities for 20 kids a day — Monday through Thursday — to be a struggle. At the same time, she still works as the after school program coordinator at Fairview Junior High in Central Kitsap. Despite such difficulties, Settelmeyer said she feels there has been progress in terms of getting the Kingston club on its feet with projects and activities.

“I feel like we’re starting it on track,” she said, noting the kids are entering their first four-week session of consistent activities this week.

The NKB&GC offers drawing and painting on Mondays, scrapbooking on Tuesdays, hip hop dance lessons on Wednesdays and horseback riding lessons on Thursdays.

Those who aren’t interested in the activities or didn’t register can participate in alternative exercises, typically sports like basketball, flickerball or dodgeball. Another project that kids have been interested in participating in is “Operation Iraqi Children,” in which they figured out ways to collect school supplies and ship them overseas, Settelmeyer said. Students are also hoping to establish creative writing classes, a book club and science lab-type activities.

For now, it’s just a matter of getting through the first four-week session, she said. The period will be followed by another five-week session of different activities that will take the program to the end of the school year. While she’s trying to balance time between both Fairview and Kingston, Settelmeyer said she feels she is making an impact at the latter.

“I’m starting to build relationships and repertoire with kids here,” she said.

Thirty kids have registered so far and an average of about 20 show up each day after school.

“For this time of year with spring and spring sports, that’s pretty good,” she said.

While the club is in competition with other activities that take place on the West Kingston Road campus, such as drama, aviation and the Builder’s Club, “we’re holding our own,” she added.

The hip hop session Wednesday afternoon turned out to be a success, as 11 kids (the most to turn out for one activity, Settelmeyer explained) were hot, sweaty and out of breath after learning a dance routine from instructor Ashia Mills of Liberty Dance Works of Poulsbo.

Leslie Jurgens, 13 and Ariana Fielding 13, who both quickly picked up the dance moves, found they prefer coming to the after school club rather than going home.

“We’re bored after school,” Jurgens said about why she attends.

“I want to do sports and dance,” Fielding added. “Just stuff you don’t normally do.”

Josh Gilman, 13, who was participating in flickerball on Wednesday, said he likes all the variety of activities offered.

“There is always something to do, you don’t feel left out,” he said. “Plus, you learn things here, like the hip hop.”

Cory Stevens, 15, was participating for the first time and was looking forward to the horseback riding class on Thursday.

“I didn’t want to do anything else,” he said about getting involved with other after school programs. “I figured going home and sitting around wasn’t healthy.”

While the program is up and running, funds are still needed to ensure the club can continue next school year. More than $20,000 has been raised to date, said NKB&G committee co-chair Dan Price, but the ultimate goal is $50,000. While fund-raising efforts have been light recently, the group is preparing for summer events, which include a community barbecue at Central Market. Members are also awaiting status reports on various grants they applied for earlier this year.