In 2002, Bob and Ellen Nichols saw a need to reach children with the message of Jesus Christ in a small Hispanic neighborhood in Bonita Springs. Ellen had been teaching in a local public school and Bob was a professional boat captain. They began their ministry by going door to door and inviting kids to come to the “Super Kids Church,” which would meet every Sunday morning at Manna Christian RV Park. This kids-only church became a huge success!

The Nichols family began praying together for God’s direction on how to reach more children. Seeing the problems in the neighborhoods, and recognizing the tremendous need to help the children from non-English speaking homes with their schoolwork, Bob and Ellen were led to find a place to provide free after school tutoring.

In January 2003, they opened the first Super Kids Club in Rosemary Park and also founded New Horizons of Southwest Florida. From its first day with 20 children meeting on Wednesday afternoons, New Horizons’ Super Kids Club has expanded to multiple locations with a range of programs offered throughout the school year and summer. The Super Teens Club was opened in 2006 in order to continue meeting the needs of students through high school graduation.

By God’s amazing grace, New Horizons now includes seven programs that operate throughout the year, providing tutoring, mentoring and faith-building experiences to hundreds of our Southwest Florida’s most vulnerable youth.