The Jefferson County Club wrapped up a summer that included a very important component: an opportunity for the youth to provide input into daily activities.
Engaging young people in decision-making is an important part of youth development because it helps them develop confidence (when children have input into minor decisions, they can begin to feel important and have confidence in their abilities to do so). It also makes them feel like they are valued.
In addition to asking the youth for input into programming, the Jefferson County Club also did "pulse checks" at the end of each day so the youth could provide feedback. The result was a summer filled with art, dance parties, scavenger hunts, poetry, cooking, gardening, building stations, pool days, and much more. During the last week of the summer program, the Audubon Society joined the club to teach about pollinators, birds, dirt, and insects.
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The kids also went on several field trips. These included a visit to Leesburg Animal Park, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, and the Air and Space Museum. Their favorite field trip was one they helped plan: the "all clubs water wars."
The Jefferson County Club staff is grateful for all of the community members who ensured the kids had a great summer, including everyone who read with the kids on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as part of the "Today a Reader Tomorrow a Leader" program. This included Dr. Gibson-Learn, Mrs. Corbett, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Bullett, Dr Joy, Mayor Pierson, Sheriff Hansen, Ms. Kern and Ms Howard. They are also appreciative of the meals provided by Pizza City, Roy Rogers, Dominos in Ranson, Circle K in Kearneysville, and Food by Fire.
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Behind the Blue Doors:
Meet Our Alumni
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Daniel Price says he has fond memories of his time at the Martinsburg Boys & Girls Club. "The staff always recognized our emerging talents and pushed us to do more," he said. "They also encouraged us to go outside our comfort zone. I remember one summer we did a fashion show, and I was really shy and didn't want to participate. I did it anyway, and it really helped build my confidence."
Daniel, who graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology, says that confidence has literally taken him to places he never thought possible. "I was fortunate to get an internship on a sea exploration resource vessel. We got to take samples from the ocean floor for research. His education also provided him with opportunities to work in the Colorado Rockies, Yellowstone, and Bryce Canyon (pictured below).
Daniel is now a park ranger in Maryland and says that his time at the club helped him build a sense of community. "The Club provided me with mentors who believed in me. I believe in the Boys & Girls Club and how it taught me to give back to my community."
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The Link Between Youth Gaming and Problem Gambling |
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Did you know issues with youth gambling are growing and that youth are two to four times more likely to develop problem gambling symptoms than adults?
Children can begin gambling as early as 10, and 80% of adolescents have reported gambling in the past. If your child plays video games, they may be gambling without realizing it.
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While video games used to be one-time purchase, many now rely on “loot boxes” or similiar methods to make money. According to a Federal Trade Commission report, loot boxes have raised concern that they encourage gambling-like behavior and use tactics that can encourage addictive consumer spending, even in games targeting young children.
Loot boxes usually hide random contents to help with game play. The players spend real currency or in-game currency to receive one of these random items. According to addictions researchers, getting access to loot boxes is similar to gambling behavior. In a recent survey of adolescents by these Central Queensland University researchers, found that almost all adolescents aged 12-17 or 18-24 had played a game with loot boxes, and that the average 12- to 17-year-old spent on average $50 per month on loot boxes. The average 18- to 24-year-old spent on average $72 per month on loot boxes. This research also showed that loot box purchases significantly increased the odds of problem gambling later.
To educate both our kids and their families about the issue, the Boys & Girls Club received a grant from the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia. Club staff will be providing activites that raise awareness of the issue as well as provide information and resources for how to address it.
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Our Club is also in Schools! |
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In addition to providing services onsite at the Martinsburg Club, the Boys & Girls Club also provides afterschool tutoring, academic enrichment, and homework help for students at Burke Street Elementary, Hedgesville Elementary, Orchard View Intermediate, South Middle, and Winchester Avenue Elementary.
Students who participate in the school-based program, which starts Ocotober 10, must be registered with the Club: Register Here.
The program, which is grant-funded, is run by teachers who are trained to provide the academic assistance that students need. Participants have the option of being bussed to the Martinsburg Club for fun activities once the school-based program concludes each day.
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Sponsorship Opportunities |
The Boys & Girls Club depends on sponsorships to fill our funding gap. We have numerous sponsorship opportunities that allow businesses to show how much they care about our children's future. Please review and share those opportunities to help us keep smiles on kids faces!
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Round Up For the Boys & Girls Club |
Please remember there is another easy way to give to the Boys & Girls Club: round up!
A "Round-Up" is the term to describe the spare change captured by automatically rounding up your transactions to the next dollar when making a purchase with your bank card. Your bank account probably won't even notice the difference - but our club will!
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The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle relies on donors to help us keep our doors open. |
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Our Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
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