Program Highlights – Springin’ for Joy!
We have officially reached the 2-year mark of the beginning of the COVID pandemic and through it all, our community partners have continued to strongly believe in our mission and vision for youth. We couldn’t be more grateful for their generosity and support, but what’s even more inspiring and really has us “springin’ for joy” is when they have the desire to further make a difference by spending time at our Club sites participating in various program activities that directly impact the kids we serve. These interactions are priceless and mean the world to every single child who gets to experience them. Here are a few examples:
Our good friends from Grande Cheese volunteered their time helping out at all of our afterschool program sites on March 15. There were so many volunteers that they were able to spread out and assist with serving supper, help with reading and homework, play games, and get some fresh air by doing activities with the kids outside. Everyone had so much fun and we can’t wait for the next opportunity to reunite with them!
Just one week later, the City of Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue‘s Community Risk Reduction Specialist, Calie Tasch, put together an incredible Family Night event at both our Johnsonville and Chegwin sites. Club members and their families were able to enjoy some quality time together learning about fire safety and prevention, snacking and winning fun prizes. Baker Cheese also contributed by donating string cheese, and Jessica Figlio and her friends donated DIY cookie jars for families to take home and enjoy. What a wonderful evening at both Boys & Girls Club sites. A special “thank you” goes out to Calie for making it a great time for all who participated!
Some other favorite March activities included celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by making leprechaun traps and holding a Shamrock Shake sale, creating “Thank You” cards for National Doctors Day, learning all about how to be a good friend by participating in Miss Aly’s “Best Game Ever!” for SEL Week, and testing each other’s basketball skills in honor of March Madness. Our Club members’ favorite activity of this month, however, was celebrating the completion of their *NYOI surveys. Our elementary sites held parties, and a few lucky kiddos were chosen to throw a pie in the face of the staff members with the most votes! The teens celebrated by taking a trip to Oshkosh to enjoy a Wisconsin Herd basketball game…SO MUCH FUN!
*NYOI, short for National Youth Outcomes Initiative, is a Boys & Girls Club nationwide yearly survey that our Club kids participate in every spring. The results from this survey help measure just how impactful the Club has been to each individual member’s life the previous year. We utilize these results to implement programs to meet their needs and also improve on our current programming.
For more information about our Club programs or to sign up, visit our Become a Member page! To stay up to date with our latest activities and to view program photos, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.