Another busy week for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula campers

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Kids are certainly staying busy this summer. If they aren’t in morning camp or doing Junior Rangers they still have lots of fun things to do.

Drama Club went through a group improvised story exercise understanding all the elements of a plot from beginning to end. They eventually recognized it, followed the plot of Jack and the Bean Stalk, and off the story went!

Thirty-three kids were able to go to a Seattle Storm game over on the other side of the water. After walking on the ferry they traveled on foot to the always popular gum wall at Pike Place and then caught the monorail over to Seattle Center for lunch and the ladies’ basketball game. The game was an intense back and forth competition and unfortunately the Storm came up four points short. Kids’ favorite part of the game was watching mascots celebrate “Doppler’s” Birthday with kid’s competitions on the court. They all loved seeing the Club name on the jumbo screen.

Thanks to a volunteer Fiber Arts community club, kids have been given the opportunity to spin fiber and practice on the looms. The talent and treasure bestowed on the members is really something special, and they are really taking an interest in fiber.

Morning Camp

Monday kicked off with a field trip that couldn’t fit into the action packed Sequim Week, with a tour of the Dungeness Schoolhouse constructed in 1892. Members strolled through the dedicated classroom space on the second story for a look at life in the early 1900s including an original chalkboard and an expansive collection of old books.

Then it was off to Forks to explore the West End and a stop at Lake Pleasant for lunch and play time. The morning campers took a tour lead by a volunteer through the Timber Museum. The grounds were set up with a replica fire outlook and looping trail with label guides to the surrounding ferns, and trees. Crafts and fun games are always a part of morning camp, and this week the participants made their own paddles from sticks and paper plates and engaged in balloon volley competitions in the gym.

Brain Gain

This week in Brain Gain, the members learned the significance of collaboration through team building exercises, understanding what it takes to form, manage, and evaluate effective teams. Members started off by creating self-portraits and describing their skills, unique styles and features they have. They were then given the chance to get to know their peers by breaking up into groups and answering questions about each other. Members learned about various teams and not only what makes them great but how they are managed. The group shared their opinions and observations of team work. They discussed what makes an effective team and shared with everyone their own self-portraits and what makes them special.

Junior Rangers

Our members learned how to become Ocean Stewards this week on their trip out to Rialto Beach. Park Rangers provided each of the rangers with a workbook to guide them through a few lessons on how to take care of the beautiful place they live. Before embarking on the 1 mile journey to Hole in the Wall rangers pointed out to our members they were standing on the oldest rock in the park. Along the way the kids explored tide pools seeing sea stars and anemones. They stopped and built forts, and made sand castles enjoying the beach time. Before leaving they destroyed both learning the importance of leaving no trace.