Editor’s note: This is the first of a weekly series of activities happening at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula. For more information, see positiveplaceforkids.net or call 683-8095. — MD
Brain Gain
Summer Brain Gain is comprised of interactive themed activities that brings elementary and middle school students together, allowing these children to share their unique abilities with one another.
This week, everyone participating in Brain Gain became inventors. Using their creative imaginations and problem-solving skills, these children invented new products that could solve an environmental or societal problem. With these supplies available to them (tin foil, cardboard, straws, cups, etc.), they were able to invent many new tools such as a lunchbox that cooks your food!
It was particularly exciting when Thomas and Eli presented their invention, which was a model showing how Washington could transport water to Africa. Eli caught everyone’s attention when he said, “How can we live in a country with so much water and Africa has so little?”
In addition to themed activities, Brain Gain also focuses on learning about different cultures through books as well as enhancing children’s math skills with fun number patterns.
This week’s number pattern was particularly challenging: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21. Can you see the pattern?
Junior Rangers
The Active Trails Program is a community engagement program designed to positively impact parks, partners and participants.
The Olympic National Park was awarded funding to engage youth from the Sequim and Port Angeles Clubs in a series of recreational adventures in the park. Each week, the Junior Rangers go on a field trip led by park rangers. Last week, young boys and girls visited Rialto Beach hiked three miles over sand, rock and driftwood to famous “Hole-in-the-Wall.” Along the way, members learned the importance of barnacles to the food chain, spotted a river otter and learned features to determine why it was a river otter and not a sea otter.
They learned river otters fish in the sea and often eat on land unlike sea otters, which don’t come ashore.
At Hole-in-the-Wall, Junior Rangers divided into three groups to study different tide pools. One boy noticed the presence of more seaweed in the lower tide pools.
On the journey back to the club, members were treated to an ice cream at Granny’s Café — a favorite destination of most locals heading west.
Morning Camp
Tour the Spectacular Sites of Europe … the morning camper’s activities were based on a European theme. They ran with the bulls throughout Spain, grabbed a bratwurst in Germany, gazed upon the stone idols of Russia, made their own Faberge eggs and ‘fika’ (had a break) with friends in Sweden. A visitor from England told the members about a typical day in London and some fun slang … everyone was cracking up that to “spend a penny” meant use the bathroom.
What a week
There was a lot going on at the club this week. Our young kinders could be found out on the playground picking up litter, and the teens went to Lake Crescent for a day in the sun and water.
Our staff had birthdays and one — Ludah Rodes — gave birth to a future Club kid.
The popular tennis camp kicked off Monday, engaging kids in fitness and sports activity.
Keeping their brains sharp is important this summer and with an introduction to robotics via a Frisbee demonstration by Mike Becker. We hope the fun assembly will generate interest and participation in the weekly sessions (Tuesday and Thursday) of “Makers Camp.”
Happy Little Chefs” got cooking Friday with the first session exploring culinary arts. Club members took to their kitchen and made a perfect Waldorf Salad.
Summer Lunch Program
We had a successful launch to our summer lunch program and have just completed two weeks serving USDA approved meals to all children under age 18.
In Sequim, we serve lunch from noon-1 p.m., not only at the Boys & Girls Club but at Elk Creek Apartments, Mountain View Court Apartments and at Carrie Blake Park.
The last two years, the program not only won the USDA’s Western Region Sunshine Award for community involvement, but also received national recognition for the innovative model of using faith communities and civic organizations to help keep costs low.
Children are enjoying the lunches served and continue to come out for tasty wraps, sandwiches, chicken legs and this week a special barbecue at Mountain View Court.
