Some program highlights…
DRAMA CLUB- Year after year we have a very successful Drama program for our members. We are fortunate to have staff member Lito Franco be able to serve as the leader to this program for several years now. Members ages 8 and up meet twice a week to learn the fundamentals of acting. The program concludes with a performance of a play that all other members are invited to enjoy.
LOCAL FIELD TRIPS- In addition to our field trips taken in the summer, our members go on several local field trips throughout the school year. Sometimes these trips are to places around town, other times we are able to go out of town to Douglas or Sierra Vista. This year we have gone to watch the Cochise College Apaches Basketball teams, to watch a movie at the Mall of Sierra Vista, and to participate in the Cochise College Pit Fire Celebration, among others.
BOOKWORMS- Youth Development Leader Angeline Carbajal leads this program that teaches our members a love of literacy. Each week Angeline chooses a book to read aloud to the members and then follows up the reading with a creative activity or project that incorporates the theme of the book. Members look forward to this program and helping Angeline choose future books. This program not only helps our members appreciate books, but also keeps them reading outside of an academic setting.
CULTURE CLUB/THEME WEEKS- Once a month a culture or a theme is chosen for our staff members to plan activities and programs around for the entire week. Staff members take the time to research the given culture or theme and then plan and implement their various activities. These activities take place in all areas of the clubhouse, from the gym to the tech lab. Cultures this year have included Swedish, Mexican, and Greek. Themes have included African Adventure, Over the Rainbow, and Court of Dreams.
NACO ART PROGRAM- This Fall we were able to partner with Naco Elementary School to provide them with an Art class as part of their afterschool program. Monday through Thursday two of our staff members travel to Naco to conduct art projects with the students there. This has been a great way to expand our club family, members who generally would not be able to participate at the actual club for whatever reason, are able to enjoy the same benefits as our regular members.
JR. NBA PROGRAM- This is one of our most popular annual programs. Boys and girls who sign up for this program are taught the basics of the game of basketball, sportsmanship, and what it takes to be on a team. The teams practice every week and then are put on teams to play against one another. At the end of the season an awards ceremony is held, with trophies given to the champions of the league, medals given to all participants, and awards given to most valuable and most improved players.
COCHISE COUNTY CHOPPERS TOY RUN- CCC teamed up with the Club, and Toys for Tots to hold another toy drive to benefit our club kids this year. The run began at the CCC shop in Warren and ended at the La Ramada on Naco Highway. This year the event included entertainment such as a bouncy castle for the kids and a live DJ playing music all day. Over 300 toys were collected at this event.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY- Approximately 200 members/family members attended the party this year and enjoyed another wonderful Christmas meal together. Each staff member and had his or her own booth where the families were able to make take home Christmas crafts. Mrs. Delgado’s third grade class entertained the crowd with their Christmas caroling. Each child who attended this event went home with a toy collected from the CCC toy drive.
PROJECT LEARN- Project Learn takes place twice a week. This program integrates learning with fun activities. Some of the activities members have partook in as part as Project Learn are writing letters to veterans in the games room, playing addition baseball in the gym, taking a music quiz in the tech lab, replicating famous works of art in the art room, etc. We hope this program teaches our members that learning can be fun and learning does not have to end when you step out of the classroom.
FAMILY FUN NIGHTS- Once a month the club holds Family Fun Nights for our members and their families. Each month has a different theme that the activities for the night are planned around. For example, we have had a family game night where members competed against other families in several different games and challenges. We also had a fall themed night where families enjoyed making pumpkin pie dough, tree poems, and thankful turkeys. Every family fun night includes giveaways and a good meal or snack for our families to enjoy together.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN- Every week a different staff member is placed in the kitchen to carry out a fun cooking project with our members. Although the snacks are not always healthy they are always fun. The members like to be involved in the measuring, stirring, or timing of the items they are creating.
CCAH CAKE AUCTION- The Bisbee Community gets together every year to raise money for this special event. At the club we try to teach our members the importance of getting involved and helping in the community, and part of how we do this is participating in this event. This year our members submitted 2 cakes, a Batman Cake and a Polar Icecap Cake to the event. They were very proud to participate, and probably even more proud when their cake won Most Artistic in the children’s category.
NACO SCHOOL REWARDS DAY- Again partnering with Naco School, we are able to hold reward days for their students once a semester. Students who have maintained good grades and have not gotten in any trouble are invited to come to the club for an afternoon of fun. On these days extra special games are planned for the students and they are also always given a yummy snack, such as ice cream sundaes or snow cones. These reward days are an incentive for the students all semester and also expand the amount of kids we are able to serve in our community.
HALLOWEEN FUN- Although we did not hold a Halloween party for the community this year, we did have an afterschool Halloween party for our members. Our members enjoyed Halloween themed games such as Musical Witch Hat, Eyeball Relays, Candy Corn Races, and Mummy Wraps. We also had a costume parade around the club and prizes were awarded in several categories. Each member enjoyed a spooky snack of mummy pizzas, finger rolls, and bubbling punch. The highlight of the day was a tour through our mad scientist, staff member Lito Franco’s haunted laboratory.
WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY- This is an annual National Boys and Girls Club event that encourages children to get off the couch and go play. Our members participated by going on a 2 mile walk to the Dairy Queen and back, voting on and playing their favorite gym activities, and enjoying a hotdog bbq. This event took place on a Friday, and 28 members attended!
BASEBALL PROGRAM- This was the first year of our baseball program, introduced by Ron Ingram. Ron, together with staff members Raul Hidalgo and Manny Flores began a new clinic type baseball program to teach male and female members the fundamentals of baseball. Members really enjoyed learning new techniques and having the opportunity to practice before their Little League season began.
DAILY AREAS/ ACTIVITIES- On a daily basis at the Club, our five core areas are open and ready for use by our members. These areas include the gym, games room, tech lab, art room, and library. Staff members work hard on a daily basis to plan and implement activities for our members of all ages to enjoy. We also have Mr. Delgado’s tutoring room that offers homework help and skill building to all of our members. Other areas that are frequented are the outside court/cage area, nearby Vista Park and tennis courts, our Teen Room, and board room.
MEMBER RECOGNITON- Each week staff members pick one member each who they think has exemplified a model member by either their achievements or behaviors. These members are recognized at our Monday Clubhouse meeting in front of their peers and given a certificate. Each month the staff members also vote on Member of the Month. The member of the month receives a club shirt and certificate and is also showcased on the club wall for the duration of the month.
SNACK- Everyday we provide our members with a nutritional afterschool snack. These snacks are always accompanied by either milk or 100% fruit juice. While enjoying snack we also instill in the members the importance of hand washing, good table manners, and eating healthy.
SUMMER
FIELD TRIPS- All youth members are divided into three age groups in the summer. Every age group is able to go on two field trips in the summer. Trips this year included Skate Country, Reid Park Zoo, Cinemark 10 Theaters, and the Cove in Sierra Vista. Members really look forward to the trips and it is a great opportunity for some of them to get out of town for the summer.
SWIM DAYS- Twice a week members ages 9 and up may go to the Bisbee Pool and take pleasure in the cool water.
HEALTHY HABITS- Staff member Angeline Carbajal implemented this program that teaches the members the importance of an active lifestyle and healthy eating. The program would meet twice a week and included activities such as making healthy snacks, stretching and trying new exercises and learning the benefits of good nutrition. About 20 members, ages 6-9 participated in the program.
SMART MOVES- This program was implemented by staff member Manny Flores. The Smart Moves program teaches members how to deal with tough situations they are faced with in everyday life. Twice a week the program would meet and discuss what positive steps to take in the face of peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, and maintaining a healthy self image.
SUMMER OF SERVICE- Staff member Lito Franco led this new program introduced in the Summer of 2010. The program would meet twice a week, the first meeting of the week the members would discuss ways to make their community or country better and the second meeting they would take steps to carry out their plans. Some activities the program carried out were sending a care package to Marine overseas, sending cards to patients at the local hospital, and performing community cleanups in the area surrounding the club.
SUMMER BAND PROGRAM- We were fortunate at the club to have Mr. Hirales and his assistant Joey Valencia return for the second summer to conduct our Summer Band. Members are given instruction on either how to learn to play and instrument for the first time or how to perfect an instrument they have been playing for years. The highlight of this program is watching the members march and play their instruments in the 4th of July parade.
Summer of Academic Success- Teri Olander returned for the second summer to implement her summer learning program. Mrs. Olander works with members in the areas of math and reading to help prepare them for the upcoming school year. Some concepts that are taught are reading fluency and comprehension, basic math operations, fractions, money, and telling time. This program has been very successful and is open to members in grades 1st-4th.
