PROGRAMS
Project Learn: This is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America's educational enhancement program. Project Learn is not a curriculum. It is a strategy - an approach to designing a program schedule that benefits members academically. Project Learn has five components:
- Homework Help and Tutoring
- High-yield Learning Activities
- Parent and Community Involvement
- Collaboration with Schools
- Incentives
Smart Moves: Individual group meetings for guys and girls discussing issues and the decision-making process.
Power Hour: Every day, time will be allocated to assist members with homework, provide tutoring or to just perform activities that will assist them in the learning process. We also have a computer specifically for proficiency help.
Art Club: Members will make projects for the club, to take home or just to share with others.
Photo Club: Members will take digital photographs in a variety of settings and learn to manipulate them on the computer.
Geocaching: Members go out into the community seeking caches using hand-held GPS units and information derived from the international Geocaching internet site.
Cooking Club: Younger members learn how to prepare some simple dishes while learning manners.
Club Tech: Members of all ages learn the basics of computer use in our state-of-the-art computer lab, using specially-designed Microsoft programs.
Kids Care: Members work on community service projects with the Volunteer Center staff.
Torch Club: Leadership activities for middle-school members, stressing fellowship and community service, with field trips.
Keystone Club: Leadership activities for high-school members, offering special activities and trips.
Martial Arts: Members learn basic karate for discipline and self-defense from Kurt Hess.
Music Club: Members of all ages enjoy singing together, and perform for selected community events.
Kids Cafe® A healthy meal is served daily to members and guests who come to the club. The meal is free of charge.
(Kids Cafe® is a registered trademark of America's Second Harvest and is used under license. For further information, see Second Harvest website. This meal is provided through a grant from Con Agra Foods and the Second Harvest Food Bank.)
TRANSPORTATION - Please call the Main Club at (419) 624-9250 for details of our Transportation Program, funded by a grant from the Murray & Murray Foundation. Members must be signed up in advance in order to use this service.
REMEMBER: Community Supper is on Wednesdays. Parents and other family members are welcome to share in this meal, which begins when the Club closes. Community Supper is supported by First Congregational United Church of Christ.
PACKING LUNCH
By LAURA COLLINS | Friday March 09 2007, 8:39am
Above: Register photo/ JASON WERLING Boys and Girls Club Director Gil Vaughn assembles the kids at the club to receive their backpacks Friday afternoon
Below: Register photo/ JASON WERLING Gil Vaughn, director of the Boys and Girls Club holds one of the backpacks and shows the food contained inside for the the kids at the club. The backpacks were given to the kids Friday afternoon at the club.
Boxes of cereal and cans of chili replaced textbooks and pencils in backpacks Friday at the Boys & Girls Club. The organization began a new initiative, The Backpack Program, that sends members of the Boys & Girls Club home with a backpack of food and snacks. Gil Vaughn, Boys & Girls Club executive director, said they recognized a need for students to have healthy food on the weekend, too. "We have talked to kids and we also recognized that we have a large free and reduced meals population at the school," Vaughn said. "The kids don't stop eating just because it's Friday."
The bags, which were donated by Wal-Mart to the Second Harvest Food Bank, were each filled with a box of cereal, a large can of chili, two packs of macaroni and cheese or Ramen noodles and juices and snacks, including fruit cups, granola bars and apple chips, among other things.
"We wanted to give them enough food for at least two meals, for at least two or three kids, for two days -- and some snacks," Vaughn said. "We want to make sure that the kids that lean on the free and reduced meals are being taken care of Saturday and Sunday also." Because the amount of food is expected to feed more than one child, only one is sent home per family.
"The kids are excited," Vaughn said. "They are really pumped about the backpacks."
The students are expected to return the backpacks after each weekend so they can be filled again.
The food for the bags is provided by Second Harvest Food Bank and the program is funded by the Murray and Murray Charitable Foundation. The Sandusky branch of the organization gave away 41-filled backpacks Friday, including five at the Remington Avenue location. The club intends to distribute backpacks at Sandusky Central Catholic School Sts. Peter and Paul Campus as well. "We're in the process of hunting for some more backpacks," Vaughn said. "We could use up to 60."
Raeshun, 12, and Unique Adcock, 9, brother and sister, were already making plans for their snacks.
"It might just be eaten," Raeshun said. "Cereal I can use in the morning when I wake up and mac and cheese I can use for dinner. The rest I can use for snacks." Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, Skylar Pitts, 13, said the backpacks are needed. "I think it's really cool," Pitts said. "A lot of kids don't have this stuff at home."
The Boys & Girls Club provides life-enhancing programs and character development experiences for students after school. A free healthy meal is served Monday through Friday. To participate in the backpack program, volunteer or to donate call 419-624-9250.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
431 Columbus Avenue
P.O. Box 626
Sandusky, OH 44871-0626
Phone (419) 624-9250
Fax (419) 624-9724