Schools Out, We’re In — Week 8

Can you believe it is almost time to go back to school for our kids?

We have seen some incredible generosity by our community to help prepare not only our members but all kids for the upcoming school year. The Sequim School District, Parenting Matters Foundation, Kiwanis, Sequim Community Helping Kids, United Way and the club have teamed up to produce for the seventh year the Back to School Fair, set for Saturday, Aug. 24, at the club. This highly successful event gives out supplies to more than 400 kids and sees 800 people at the fair.

Castell Insurance hosts a shred event fundraiser that drives over half the income for the purchase of supplies. Held also on Aug. 24, the business invites community members and business to drop off their confidential documents for shredding by making a contribution to the Boys & Girls Club for the fair and school supplies.

Last week the Sequim Realtor’s Association invited the club to share all about the fair at their weekly meeting and presented organizers with more than $1,800 in supplies with funds and goods collected by area agents – wow!

If you’d like to donate supplies or make a contribution, that can be done at the Boys & Girls Club 400 W. Fir St. We will be opening doors at 10 a.m. on Saturday (through 1 p.m.) to distribute the backpacks, markers, pencils, binders and so much more to students.

We invite anyone with a financial need to come and get supplies. All are welcome to attend the fair and visit our vendor tables and receive loads of information on youth centered activities as well as basic need services. The fair runs until 1 p.m. and is the only opportunity to receive supplies.

Junior Rangers

Our junior rangers worked on their Ocean Steward badges this week with a visit out to Ruby Beach. Once they arrived out west they hit the sandy Pacific Ocean beach.

Our kids partook in a game of Bingo as they combed the beach working on their badge they kept an eye out for sea anemones, eagles, trash and commonly found coastal items.

Before the trip was over the kids were given some free time and they had a blast playing in the mud and dirt. They day was rather bittersweet. Molly Sullivan, our leader for the last three summers, is parting ways with a move to the East Coast. There was a mutually fond relationship between Molly and the Junior Rangers and a few tears were shed. We thank Molly and all the park employees for their time and dedication to this program.

Despite the common practice of “Leave no trace” in the national parks, these folks are leaving their mark on our kids! Thank you Molly, and good luck!

Positive action

We moved our focus to a core group of kids that use the gym at the club. We spent a session talking with the more active sports loving kids. The session was a collaborative conversation about bullying and “trash-talking” commonly seen on a sports court/field.

We compared good and bad behaviors and realized that professional athletes or any with television for a platform are modeling behavior we don’t necessarily want our youth emulating. While they might be superstars at their game, the way they treat others when faced with wins and losses is picked up on by young athletes.

America Ninja Warrior was brought up as an example of how these everyday people, with exceptional athleticism and strength, are cheering on their competitors and foster an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and quality character where we uplift those not succeeding.

Morning Camp

Our morning group of kids spend the week analyzing ecosystems and nature. They created art using things from nature, dissected lima beans, and made bird feeders from ice cream cones rolled in peanut butter and birdseed.

The campers made their own “bug hotels” from water bottles and scoured outside for insects and took home ladybugs, ants, grasshoppers, pincher bugs and even a snail-likely not to their parents delight.

The week closed with a trip to Salt Creek for club members to explore the tidepools.

Members of the Sequim Boys & Girls Club visit with the Seattle Storm basketball team earlier this month at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, playing games and hanging out with the WNBA players. Submitted photo