streetalk ...................... 4 Holiday Happenings ... 5 Arts & Culture.............. 6 Opinion........................ 8 Music Beat ................... 9 Feature story ............. 11
Kids News & Review
summer Programs .... 12 Film ............................ 14 My winter window .. 15 Food Finds ................. 17 Kids voice.................. 18 15 Minutes ................ 19
GIRLS IN
ATHLETICS see Opinion, page 8
music
BeAt
WITH MonICA oKoPAL see Music, page 9
Zoe Jones, Age 14
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Welcome to the 2016
Kids news & review t
his is one of the Reno News & Review’s most important and unique projects, for it touches many people in the community while helping to create better awareness and understanding of one of the Reno area’s most valued organizations: The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. The “Kids N&R” has received 1st Place honors in its category for 7 years as “Best Special Section” in the Nevada Press Association’s Better Newspaper Awards – a statewide competition judged each year by an out-of-state panel. Most of the stories and ads were created by kids from various locations of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, so what you’ll see and read on the following pages is truly “through the eyes of children”.
About the boys & Girls Club HisTORY This is our 41st year of “Proudly Serving Kids in Northern Nevada.” 1976 marked the beginning of operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. The Club was formed and financed by local business men and women and many concerned citizens. In late 1981, the Club’s main facility opened at its current location on E. 9th St. in Reno – the Club now has a total of 22 locations throughout Reno, Sparks and Fernley. The Club is open to any youth age 6-18. Membership to the Club is an affordable $20 annually. Additional site fees do apply for before & after school programming and for the full-day school break programs including WCSD summer, fall, winter and spring break. Please click here for membership information or contact the membership office at (775) 331-KIDS (5437). The Club provides transportation from select Washoe County schools, and nutritious meals are served daily at various sites. No child is ever turned away due to the inability to pay. Financial assistance is available.
MissiON
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
PROGRAMs The Boys & Girls Club offers nearly 130 different programs, events and activities to meet the diverse needs and interests of their members. Core programming areas include: Character & leadership Development education & Career Development health & life skills the Arts sports, Fitness & recreation
iNTeResTed iN BeCOMiNG A MeMBeR? Visit our “Join” page on our website – www. bgtcm.org - for membership information or contact a membership coordinator: Kayla Moynahan, Membership Coordinator at (775) 360-2410 sarah odom, Membership Coordinator at (775) 360-2471
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wAYs TO Give From humble beginnings in 1976, the Boys & Girls Club has grown into the premier agency serving youth in the Truckee Meadows, with more than 14,000 Club members benefiting from before and after-school programming at 22 sites throughout the Truckee Meadows. Like so many non-profit agencies, it takes the generosity of a caring community to continue to provide high-level programming – especially at a time when our services are more in demand than ever before. Corporate and individual donations can be made online securely, on our website – www.bgtcm.org - or by calling us at (775) 331-KIDS (5437). Thank you for supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows and enjoy the 2017 Kids News & Review. Please tell our advertisers that you saw their ad in the Kids N&R!
2016 Kids News & Review Content: Ad design: Photos: CoordinAtion: LAyout/design: Ad CoordinAtion: Ad sALes: PubLished by:
Kids and Staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Kids and Staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Casey Rogers, Director of Program Development Margaret Larkin Lisa Ryan Gina Odegard and Myranda Keeley Chico Community Publishing, Inc., dba The Reno News & Review
The content and opinions Frontier Financial credit Frontier Financial Credit Union expressed in this issue do 5200 Neil Rd., Reno • (775) 829-2070 5200 Neil Rd., Reno • (775) 829-2070 not necessarily reflect those 5362 SparksSparks Blvd., Sparks • (775) 824-8053 Sparks Blvd., • (775) 824-8053 of the Boys & Girls Club 5362 of www.frontierfcu.org www.frontierfcu.org Truckee Meadows or Chico Gracie Age 15 Caroline Aguilar, Community Publishing, Inc.
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2017 kids news & review 3
Asked at our Donald W. Reynolds facility
What is your favorite Winter olympics sport? My favorite Winter Olympic sport is skiing because it is a sport that helps you keep balance and control. I also like skiing because I have done it before and enjoyed it very much. Jasmine Q. 9yrs
My favorite Winter Olympic sport is curling because it is so funny to watch. Mayrin G. 9 yrs
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My favorite Winter Olympic sport is speed skating because I like how they skate so fast and the different passes they have to do around each other. Dilan C. 10 yrs.
My favorite Winter Olympic sport is Luge because they go so fast. I love how fast they can go on the ice. Adrian J. 10yrs
My favorite Winter Olympic sport is hockey because they get to hit the puck hard and then skate on the ice. Syra J. 7 yrs
My favorite Winter Olympic sport is figure skating because you get to perform on ice and get to come up with dances.
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By A N N E S T U D E B A K E R
HAPPENINGS T
he Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, with tremendous support from the Reno, Sparks and Fernley communities, provides Christmas gifts and goods to local club families in need. In 2015, the Club matched more than 200 families with the help of generous adopters, as well as those who provided extra toys. We were able to help more than 1,500 children. Many of the families that receive help through our program are Club families that are either living on a very limited income or are homeless. The children in our Holiday Help program range in age from 5 to 18. All are currently enrolled at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows and have attended the Club at least 52 times in the last year. Each family goes through a pre-screening process before their application is approved for the Holiday Help program, so we know these are families in need of assistance. We ask that donors specify the size of the family they want to adopt. We always do our best to match donors with the family size they request. Our families range in size from one parent and one child up to two parents with six or more children. It is our hope that donors will provide at least three new, wrapped gifts for each child. In most cases, these gifts will be the only presents our children receive. Many donors also want to give the parent a gift. We suggest a gift card to Wal-Mart or Save-mart (they can be purchased with restrictions such as no tobacco or alcohol), so the parent can buy f The holiday season is always buzzing around the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows! Aside from our Holiday Help Program which consists of donors in the community adopting our members and their families; we have other exciting events going on as well! Our annual Breakfast with Santa, sponsored this year by Nevada Family Wealth, was an opportunity for families to have an affordable breakfast together, take a picture with Santa, and engage in many festive activities. On Saturday, December 2nd, we served 600 meals. Another wonderful holiday event we are lucky to participate in is Shop with a Sheriff. Many lucky club members get the opportunity to be taken on a shopping spree by a Sherriff deputy or an honorary Sherriff deputy. This
fun event exposes our youth to some of our communities first responders in a fun way! Volunteers from the Hot August Nights Foundation (HANF) will be taking 25 of our members on a shopping spree this month to purchase some needed items, like warm clothing, and allow them to purchase Christmas presents for themselves and their families. Each child will be matched with a HANF volunteer that will help them shop. As the holiday programs wind down, our Strengthening Families Program (SFP) will be gearing up in January. SFP is a 10-week program in which children, ages 6-17, and their parents attend classes focusing on topics that help create happier, more successful families. Modules include topics such as: Communicating with Love and Understanding; Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Use; Setting Consequences and Limits; Choosing Good Friends and Safe Monitoring Activities. Each class is two hours in length and allows parents and their children to eat a meal together, have specific learning time for parents and children separately and then engage in a family activity based on each week’s module and discussion at the end of the night. Classes are available both in English and Spanish and weekly incentives are available for families who attend. SFP is completely free, including a meal and childcare for children under the age of six. Children whose families participate will receive a scholarship to become members of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. For more information and to reserve your family’s space, please contact Anne Studebaker, Family PLUS Director at (775)360-2401 or astudebaker@bgctm.org.
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2017 kids news & review 5
arts&Culture T
he Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows has been partnering with Reno Little Theater for more than 2 years to bring theater to members at the club. Sarah Phillips, the education outreach coordinator for RLT, has successfully directed 3 productions with members from our Pennington facility. Those productions were, “Help, I Need A Vacation!”, “Steal Your Rock n’ Roll” and “Wiley and the Hairy Man.” These productions have all been a huge success and the program continues to grow as more and more members are excited to join. Due to the success of the partnership with Reno Little Theater, we have been able to build partnerships with other performing arts organizations and people in our community. TheaterWorks of Northern Nevada has given us the opportunity to bring theater to many other locations by having one of their instructors, Elisha, travel around teaching theater work-
shops which culminate with a mini production. We have also been able to partner with Andi Glover, a local theater director. Andi successfully executed the production, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with members at our Donald W. Reynolds facility. Because we have a growing performing arts program, we have been able to showcase small snapshots of these productions at our annual awards banquet for the past two years. This gives us an opportunity to show off our talented and hardworking members! Last year, a performance at the Banquet resulted in a gracious donor offering to pay for voice lessons for some of our talented members. Through that donation we partnered with a local voice coach, Tiffanie Story, to give some members formal voice lessons and coaching. Due to her success, more of
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our members will be able to have the opportunity to attend her lessons. As we look to the future of the performing arts program at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, we want thank all our partners who have helped grow the program.
By E d d i E G U T H For more information about our Performing Arts programs, please contact Art Coordinator, Eddie Guth at (775) 360-2411 or eguth@bgctm.org.
Programming:
PROJECT ALERT By T r e M o n Tg o M e ry
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ur motto at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows is, “Great Futures Start Here”. We are a positive place for kids and we do our best to make an impact on our members lives every day. With drug abuse becoming a frequent issue for youth in our community, we decided to adopt the Project ALERT program and offer it to all middle schoolers at our clubs. Project ALERT is a classroom-based substance abuse prevention program for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that is proven to reduce the experimental and continued use of drugs. Through a series of comprehensive lessons, Project ALERT motivates students against drug use, cultivates non-use attitudes and beliefs, and equips teens with the skills and strategies they’ll use to resist drugs. We believe every student deserves to be educated and given the tools to make a decision against using drugs. The best way to implement those tools is by learning and practicing with their peers using engaging activities in a classroom setting. Using this program, we provide members with supportive facts and statistics on drugs and alcohol. Each lesson has a situational video that correlates with the topic and then members are given an opportunity to act out their own scenes and situations.
This is their favorite part because they got to laugh at the dreadful acting in the videos and then act out their own skits. It was clear to see that even though the members found the videos to be silly and goofy, the message was getting across. They would often refer back to the positive decisions they witnessed in the videos while doing their own skits. The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows works hard to provide members the tools and practices they need in order to be productive, responsible citizens. We have the opportunity to play a significant role in preventing teenagers from experimenting with drugs and alcohol. The ultimate goal is to produce members who have a positive impact on their clubs, schools and communities. We believe this program is a great way to encourage some of our older, and most vulnerable, members in a positive manner. This is our opportunity to prepare all members for the building blocks to achieving a great future. For more information about Project ALERT or our other Health & Lifeskills programs, please contact our HLS Coordinator, Tre Montgomery at (775) 360-2458 or tmontgomery@bgctm.org.
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2017 kids news & review 7
OPINION
GIRLS IN ATHLETICS BY K a l a n i Va K a
G
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irls often need encouragement to take that first big step to give sports a try, but what they get from sports will last a lifetime. The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows (BGCTM) strives to incorporate girls into our Sports, Fitness, and Recreation (SFR) programming. We offer comprehensive health and wellness initiatives specifically for females, and make it a priority to improve the overall health of all members, by increasing their daily physical activity, teaching them good nutrition and helping them develop healthy lifestyles. Sports have many health benefits and girls who play sports are more likely to be healthy throughout their lifetime. At the Club, our kids engage in our Triple Play program daily. Through the Triple Play experience, we challenge members to become healthy and active by learning new ways to eat nutritionally, manage stress, maintain physical fitness and form positive relationships with peers. Triple Play has three components: Mind, Body and Soul. The MIND component is based on our Healthy Habits program and is designed to incorporate healthy living and active learning in every part of the Club. The central themes are good nutrition, regular physical activity and improving overall well-being. The second component, BODY, boosts club members’ physical activities by providing sports
and fitness programs, including activities and sports competitions for all members. Club youth of every age have the chance to have fun playing longer and harder at a variety of games. The third and final component, SOUL, allows members to participate in a comprehensive social recreation program. Club youth are able to develop and sustain positive relationships with others, acquire a healthy selfconcept, a strong belief in their selfworth and cope well with positive and adverse situations through the skills learned in the games room. More than half of girls quit playing sports and being active by the time they reach age 13. The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows will continue to affect this and encourage females to be active throughout their life. We serve girls, ages 6 to 18 years old, and have an opportunity to influence our female members with a wide variety of SFR programs. Our goal is to continue encouraging females to participate in programs that allow them to live a happy, healthy life! For more information about our Sports, Fitness & Recreation programs, please contact our Triple Play Coordinator, Kalani Vaka, at (775) 360-2457 or kvaka@ bgctm.org.
music BEAT MONICA OKOPAL
O
ver the last 2 years Monica Okopal has been on a journey to stardom at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. The Club’s very own professional singer Monica Okopal began her journey to discovering her talent in second grade by auditioning and receiving the role of Annie in the elementary school musical. In a time when normally the third graders were selected for such roles, she was given this incredible opportunity. Experiencing such a success gave her the courage to continue to audition for every musical put on by the school, and although she spent some time acting, Monica decided to focus mainly on the singing aspect. Nine years after her starring role, Monica continues to sing her heart out. Until recently,
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she was not formally trained, but simply figured things out along the way. She recognized over the years that her vocal quality naturally matured through practicing. She also acknowledges that she learned a lot of vocal fundamentals, technique and sight reading music through being involved with local choirs. Last year, staff at the Boys & Girls Club recognized Monica’s talent and potential, and thanks to a charitable donor, the Club connected her with a private voice coach. Along with many others, she has also had help from Club staff and the Arts Coordinator Eddie Guth who has arranged multiple gigs for her at many large Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows events. She has expressed her gratitude for these opportunities. In a world with so many styles to choose from, Monica enjoys singing mostly pop and R&B. She is especially drawn to pop for its malleability to break down and give it a new twist or add flavor to fit your own personal style. However, she does have to say that R&B is her favorite to sing because it contains incredible soul and emotion. She believes they are the songs that have the most power to move people.
BY Da n P i k e
Monica couldn’t say that there is just one absolute role model to her when it comes to musical inspiration. However, she definitely attributes a lot of her musical guidance and inspiration from staff member Shayla Johnson, from the Donald L. Carano Boys & Girls Club. Monica says she, “has such a soulful and beautiful voice. Whenever she sings, she has the power to captivate people’s attention and I want to be able to do that to others.” The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows has always been a big supporter of Monica, “Honestly, the Club has been the biggest support in my musical journey. The Club restored my passion for singing.” Monica explained that she had waning interest in her musical career when she moved to Reno in 2012, until she was re-inspired at the Club. Over the last month, Monica’s docket of events included singing the National Anthem at several Club events including the FIRST Lego League Scrimmage match, and singing it again and another song by John Mayer, “Waiting On the World to Change,” at the Annual Awards Banquet for more than 750 guests. She would have to say that that was
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by far her greatest achievement so far. She was also part of the Boys & Girls Club staff band that performed Christmas/holiday music for the Thanksgiving Dinner at the Club this year. Monica has learned many things as a musician, but the most important thing she feels she has gained is confidence. She says, “Whenever I doubt the quality of my voice, I get really nervous and I perform awfully. Without confidence, you’re likely to be less successful because of the amount of doubt you carry about yourself. But, with confidence, you can proudly and humbly assert your presence. With confidence, you believe in yourself and if you believe in yourself, there is nothing to stop you from succeeding.” Music will always be ingrained in Monica Okopal. She hasn’t decided whether or not a career path in music is right for her, but even though she doesn’t have much planned right now for the future as far as a career in music, she does know that, “Regardless of whatever happens, I’ll always be singing.”
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2017 kids news & review 9
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feature
OUR GOAL:
To INSPIRE AND ENABLE YOUTH BY L au r e n S o u L a m
“A
registered them for the Boys & Girls Club. “Even though our dad was retired and would have been home with us, our parents chose to enroll us in the Club instead,” he said. “They wanted to give us the opportunity to make connections with new kids and spend time in a positive environment.” Joseph shares that the Club became a second home for him as it helped him navigate the transition following
his adoption. He attended every day after school, made new friends and found mentors in the Club staff. He has particularly fond memories of attending Marge’s Camp, BGCTM’s week-long traditional summer camp in the California mountains. “Marge’s Camp is what solidified me as a true Club kid,” Joseph said. “I was hooked!” Now, as a 17-year-old senior, Joseph continues to find the support he needs at the Boys & Girls Club. “Throughout high school, the Club helped me to focus on my next steps. As much as I got from the Club as a kid, opportuni it really is the best place for a teen to be for opportunities and resources. They exposed me to different career paths, taught me how to manage my money and save for college, and showed me how to set and obtain my goals.” Joseph has his sights on college next fall and ultimately wants to become an entrepreneur.
A place for every kid While Natalie and Joseph’s stories are extraordinary, they not unique. The pair are the face of the more than 14,000 young people who will attend one of BGCTM’s 22 locations in 2017. With sites in urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods, thousands of kids throughout the Truckee Meadows and beyond have access to the Club’s experiences and resources. Across all sites, however, the mission remains the same: “To inspire and enable youth, especially those who need us most, to become responsible, productive and caring citizens.” BGCTM accomplishes this mission by offering a blend of programs that build knowledge and skills in a fun and interactive environment. Programming at BGCTM focuses on five core areas:
1 Education & Career Development: BGCTM offers daily afterschool homework help and tutoring as well as money management courses, college and career preparation, computer classes, science camps, literacy clubs and much more.
2 Character & Leadership Development:
These programs give members ample opportunity to serve their community and others as they build integrity, learn work ethic and grow into our community’s future leaders.
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CONTinued on page 13
t the Club, I felt like I had a purpose, like I finally had a place to belong.” Eighteen-yearold Club member Natalie Grady shared a common sentiment among kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. For parents, it is a safe place for their children to spend those critical afterschool hours, but for kids, the Club is a place to embrace new experiences, make new friends and find that place to belong. Natalie first joined the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows (BGCTM) a decade ago. She recalls being a quiet, introverted child who had trouble making connections with others. That changed when she became a Club member. “On my first day [at the Club] I remember being intimidated by so many unfamiliar faces and trying to keep to myself, but I quickly came to realize that it is impossible to feel alone at the Boys & Girls Club,” she said. As time passed, Natalie began connecting with Club staff and making friends among her peers. She could often be found the homework room, working on assignments and earning those all-important Power Points. “I lived for the Power Points Store at the end of the month, when I could use all the points I accumulated to buy special Club privileges and presents for my family,” she said. Natalie also joined BGCTM service clubs and found that she enjoyed holding leadership positions and taking the reins in different projects. As she became a teen, Natalie joined Leaders in Training, through which she earned one of a handful of coveted paid Junior Staff positions. Her accomplishments ultimately earned her the title of BGCTM’s 2017 Female Youth of the Year. Today, as a high school senior, Natalie’s future is bright. She plans to attend college next year to study international business and ultimately land a job in a major financial district. Her counterpart, 2017 Male Youth of the Year Joseph Ryan, also found his footing at the Boys & Girls Club. Joseph’s young life was full of strife as he was in and out of foster care. He and his younger sister were adopted when Joseph was six, and a few years later, his parents
2017 kids news & review 11
programs
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L
ast summer we offered 18 different specialty camps to more than 250 children in the Truckee Meadows! We offer specialized camps that include learning new skills and allowing members to try new things. These camps run in addition to and in conjunction with the traditional day camp program at all sites, so campers can enjoy their specialty camp and then rejoin the day camp program before or after their assigned specialty camp time. Our Healthy Lifestyles camps teach members the fundamentals of living a healthy life. In Jr. Giants, members learn how to hit, throw, pitch, and work together to achieve a goal. Jr. Golf teaches members how to swing, pitch, chip & putt in order to refine their golf game and play for years to come. Go Girls Go and Pack Leaders are gender specific programs that get girls & boys engaged in physical and leadership activities with their peers in order to learn teamwork, goal setting, conflict resolution skills, and building healthy relationships. We also offered camps focused on skateboarding, cheerleading, tennis, swimming, hip hop dance, Equestrian, Extreme Team Challenge and Kids in the Kitchen. Academic Success camps reinforce to our members that learning is FUN and happens wherever we
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go. The Robotics camp is one of our most popular and teaches members to master LEGO engineering techniques while learning to program robots that can solve complex issues. Rocket build is another popular camp that encourages members to explore the many principals of flight, including creating and launching their own rockets. Our very own Streams and Trails camp utilizes STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art & Math) education by creating adventures in nature while discovering and learning in the most interactive classroom, the great outdoors. Club Kids’ College exposes participants to a real college experience as they explore the University of Nevada Reno, including daily tours to several buildings and colleges throughout campus. Other Academic Success camps offered included Science and Art Explorers. Each camp focuses on a specific area of our core programming, including Education, Art, Character & Leadership, Sports & Fitness, Health & Life Skills and Technology. If you are looking for exciting camps to make your child’s 2018 summer extra special, check our website for signup dates and additional camp information or call (775) 331-KIDS (5437).
Ren / Zoey
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Club began in 2015 when a local community coalition identified a need for a new center for youth and families. A Boys & Girls Club seemed the perfect fit, and fundraising efforts began in order to construct a new facility on the property adjacent to Lowry High School. With tremendous community support, the Boys & Girls Club in Winnemucca opened its 4 The Arts: The Club offers an array doors in June 2017, just in time for sumof arts programs that are as broad as mer. Today, the facility serves nearly their members’ interests. Whether its 350 members, ages six to 18. music, fine arts, digital media, phoIn White Pine County, community leadtography, drama or ers approached dance, the art room BGCTM leadership is one of the most last year to address popular places to be the lack in local at the Club. youth services. 5 Sports, Fitness Rather than con& Recreation: struct a new facilBGCTM offers ity, it was decided leagues, camps to utilize space and instruction in a within local schools variety of sports like to both minimize basketball, baseball, expenses and crefootball and karate. ate easy access for Plus, plenty of time students and parfor cooperative ents. Following a games and informal concerted fundraisplay to get kids of ing effort, BGCTM all abilities up and opened a site at Natalie Grady moving. White Pine Middle School in June Meeting rural needs 2017 and two additional sites at Norman Although BGCTM’s reach is significant, and McGill elementary schools at the start Club leadership regularly seeks smart, susof the school year. After just six months tainable growth opportunities in order to of operation, these sites have a combined bring these programs and services to more membership of 240 youth, more than oneof the kids who “need them most.” This third of the elementary and middle school past year brought two unique expansion population in the area. opportunities beyond the Reno/Sparks city At all of their rural sites, youth parlimits and into rural Nevada as the orgaticipate in the same variety and quality of nization opened sites in Winnemucca, Ely programs offered at BGCTM’s Reno/Sparks and McGill. locations. However, while the BGCTM This venture into rural communities is not structure supports these rural sites, the locanew for BGCTM as, in 2010, the organizations remain community-focused. Staff are tion opened four school site locations in local residents, programs are tailored to Fernley. Earlier that year, the town’s sole meet the specific needs of the community, afterschool program was forced to close its and the majority of funds to support the doors due to a lack of funding. Following Clubs are local. a period of planning, community outreach This customized approach ensures that and fundraising, BGCTM was able to fill the Club is there meet the unique needs of that void and ensure Fernley kids had a their members, and it’s a model not only safe, affordable and engaging place to for their rural sites, but all of their locaspend their out-of-school time. Seven years tions across northern Nevada. As Natalie later, there are more than 600 Boys & Girls shared, “The Boys & Girls Club has Club members in Fernley. always met me right where I was at and As opportunities in other northern inspired me to become the best possible Nevada counties arose, BGCTM was able version of myself.” This is the goal with to leverage this experience to ensure a every young person who walks through solid foundation for their new locations. their doors – today, tomorrow and for In Winnemucca, plans for a Boys & Girls generations to come. Ω
3 Health & Life Skills: The Club plays
an important role in helping members make smart decisions and establish healthy habits. From building selfesteem to dealing with peer pressure to creating healthy eating habits, BGCTM offers comprehensive health and life skills programming.
“The Boys & Girls Club has always met me right where I was at and inspired me to become the best possible version of myself.”
Sierra air 4875 Longley Lane, Reno, NV 89502 (775) 356-5566 • Fax: (775) 356-7940 NEV LIC #24522 • CA LIC #652354
Deanna, Age 15
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2017 kids news & review 13
Boys & Girls CluB Movie reviews
BGCTM . Donald W M i d d le s d l o n y e R mbers School me e review th
ZwAr
A scientist discovers a cure for cancer, but it leads to a zombie epidemic. A group of crooks must escape a prison and survive to discover the cure. Jayden: It was cool and fun to watch! Anthony: Interesting take on a Zombie film
suiCide TeAM
A group of high priority criminals have been recruited by a secret service to stop an evil invasion and rescue a kidnapped girl. Jayden: Great show! Rated 9 out of 10. Easi: One of the coolest comic action films to see. Jackson: This film is action packed.
Film Reviews 2017 A Twist on a Happily Ever After A prince is abducted by the evil duchess and her henchmen. An unlikely female knight emerges as the hero to save the day.
A TwisT on A HAppily ever AfTer
Esai: It was funny! I like the part when the prince said “Cash me ousside.” I give it a 10 out of 10.
Anthony: It was a funny twist on a classic adventure story and the edits of the movie Awereprince is abducted by the evil duchess and ok. her henchmen. An unlikely female knight emerges as the hero to save the day. Esai: It was funny! I like the part when the prince said “Cash me ousside.” I give it a 10 out of 10. Anthony: It was a funny twist on a classic adventure story and the edits of the movie were ok.
MAsTer GAMer
Although Jeff lost the video game competition back in 1974, he is given a second chance in life in the present to use his expert video game skills to save the world from an evil alien centipede. Jayden: Hilarious! Rated 10 out of 10 Zander: This is a hilarious version of Pixels!
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GHosTBusTers
The Ghostbusters doubling as elementary school teachers get hired to deal with a rich man’s haunted mansion. Jayden: It was good and creative. Rate 9 out of 10. Anthony: They didn’t take the same idea from the real movie; an original piece.
GliTCH
A group of gamer kids get sucked into an alternate reality of video games through a glitch in their game. Each gamer must overcome a test in order to return to reality through the glitch. Jayden: It was definitely funny. I really enjoyed how the gamer kids have to try to get back home to reality. Rated 10 out of 10. Anthony: The idea of this movie is really interesting. I liked it! Zander: I thought it was funny during the part when Dragon Girl said, “I’m me again!”
unsToppABle GiAnT A girl who gets bullied at school gets captured by a lonely giant with her own secrets. They become unlikely allies in a fight against a group of evil giants. Jayden: I laughed and I cried. Zander: I love the take on Big Friendly Giant. Esai: It was cool to see such a good remake of the BFG film. Jackson: I liked that it teaches not to bully.
THe sCAry MAn
The Bodallaire children are recently orphaned and adopted by a cruel and evil uncle who attempts to steal their fortune. The kids must use their secret powers to escape. Jayden: It was a good funny movie. Rated 7/10 Lucy: Fascinating! Jackson: I liked the kids’ special powers.
THe HAunTed Girl
A family moves into a new home, but their daughter discovers a sinister evil that lurks within their new home. Something evil has happened for the family to discover. Jayden: Frightening! The dolls especially chilled me. Rated 10 out of 10. Zander: The possession is terrifying! Lucy: Petrifying!
KonG And THe losT MAn
On the day a Jedi named Trin comes of age, her parents are captured by Kong and the evil Empire. She must figure out how to raise the money to get to her parents and rescue them with help along the way. Jayden: I liked how they incorporated the monopoly money into the scene where Trin is trying to purchase a flight off the planet to rescue her parents. The Lego guns were also impressive. Anthony: I loved the whole thing! Esai: I love the Star Wars series and so I loved this version of Star Wars. Lucy: This movie is action packed!
Adrian Jordan, Age 10
Aeris Noble, Age 8
Alexis Hauger, Age 8
Brynton Merrill, age 8
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2017 kids news & review 15
Ean Vargas, Age 8
Keely Garcia, age 12
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Karizma Hinojos, age 11
Kyra Kiserow, age 11
fOOD FINDS
BY R i c k S t e v e n S
Hot Meals at tHe Club
Lois Allen, age 9
Mayrin Galvan, age 9
O
n any given school day our Clubs are filled with excitement and fun. Our members come to the Club to be in a safe place, engage with caring adults, have fun and be exposed to many different opportunities they would not get anyplace else after school. One of the most significant opportunities offered to our members is a free, healthy meal. Meals served at the Club are funded in part through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. The Club provides a hot meal for members after school and a breakfast and lunch during school breaks at all Club house locations. The chefs at the Club have worked hard to get input from members to continuously develop the menu into products the members love to eat that are also nutritious. The result has been hot meals that kids are excited about eating. As in all areas of the Club, members are a crucial component of the meal service. From busing tables and washing dishes to serving and helping package meals, our members have the chance to play an active role in our food program every day. Being able to work in our kitchens allows members to learn job skills, take ownership of the Club and realize the enjoyment of giving back to their Club. This year, our Club is on track to serve more than 330,000 meals to
This year, our Club is on track to serve more than 330,000 meals to members at our Club House sites members at our Club house sites. These meals are prepped and prepared in our very own kitchens lead by12 food service employees, including 2 chefs, 9 cooks and 1 food truck driver. We also have a partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada that enables us to serve food at several of our Club’s school site locations. Here at the Club, we understand that our members are happier and perform better when they are well fed. Our food program ensures kids’ bellies are full before they finish homework, head outside to the playground or join in on a game with friends. Great futures are fueled at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.
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2017 kids news & review 17
New DoNalD l. CaraNo FaCility: youth & teeN members
• What they love about their new Club • How it impacts their neighborhood • Their favorite program, why it’s their favorite, what they have learned.
Margaret Sanchez, age 10
Monica Okopal, Age 16 I like that the teen center has been greatly expanded. Having the Teen Center Education room has now given me a space to do my homework without being interrupted. I believe this center will impact the neighborhood because it will give children and teens who are not members a chance to see what the club has to offer them. My favorite program would be Keystone because it gives me an opportunity to be a leader in my club and give back to the community. Jimena Gonzalez, Age 8 I love that the new club is very big. I like arts and crafts because I like to be artsy and do crafts.
Otis Karm, age 8
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Eysis Barber, Age 7 I love that we have a Dance Room here at the club. I believe having the new club here will draw in new people to the club. My favorite program is
the Gardening Club because I am able to plant vegetables. I learned that plants need soil and water. Carlos Lopez, Age 11 I like having the new games and that it’s bigger and we have television in every room. I believe having the club here will bring in more kids to give them an opportunity to try something different. My favorite program would be Triple Play because you get the opportunity Ciarra Staggs, Age 11 I love the fact that we can use the whole entire gym to do activities in. I think it can have more kids come to the club and give them things to do instead of being at home. My favorite program here is art because you get to learn how to paint and use different types of art techniques. Andy Chavarria, Age 9 I love that the club is much bigger and we
have more things to do here in the club. I think it can impact the club by having more kids attend here at the club. I would say the games room is my favorite program because you can do tournaments with your friends and have fun. We learn about how to positively lose and being a good sport. Sergio Luna, Age 7 I love having an Xbox 1 in the game room. I like doing art because I get the chance to paint. I learned how to paint letters. Alejandro Jimenez, Age 10 I love the new rec room and all the games and Xboxes that we got. I like doing the games room tournaments that we have because it gives me a chance to compete against other members and to test my abilities in various rec room activities. I have learned how to be a good sport even when losing.
WITH LEAdERs In TRAInInG BY Ta T i a n a a n d e r s o n H a l l
A
t BGCTM we offer a plethora of Leadership Opportunities. Natalie Grady is our 2017 Female Youth of the Year and Joseph Ryan is our 2017 Male Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. They have both participated in our workforce development program, Leaders in Training as well as our Club Leadership Program Keystone.
Natalie Grady What got you into Youth of the Year, Keystone, and LIT?
My mentors at the BGC encouraged me take on leadership positions to make my club a better place and to use those as ways to make friends with peers who had the same interests. How long have you been part of the club and these programs?
I have been a part of the club for 10 years and a part of these programs for 4 years. What is your favorite part of The Club?
My favorite part of the club is Keystone because no idea was too big as long as we were willing to put in the work and I learned to be a leader. I also love the support system that I have here. I am surrounded people who want to see me succeed and are there for me through every little milestone in my journey. Why are you a leader?
I am a leader because I take the initiative, I have drive and direction, I encourage everyone to participate and I know how to work in teams. What leaders inspire you?
The leaders that inspire are my staff because they were all once club kids before me and inspire me to accomplish and take advantage of the opportunities they all had. I see them continuously thrive to better their club experience through job promotions and the creating and teaching of new programs and I know that I am capable of doing the same. What goals do you have for the Club and yourself as a future club alumnus?
I would love to actively do teen outreach. The older the members get the more they weed out, but I strongly believe that a member’s club experience only enhances as they get older. The opportunities and resources at the club such as the college and career center, mentors, and a safe and productive place to be after school are great tools to have in your back pocket when help is needed with homework, scholarships, FAFSA or just a support system.
What has been your GREATest accomplishment as a Club member?
As a Club member I have two greatest accomplishments. My first is winning the Female Youth of the Year title and the second is becoming a BGC staff. Being able to walk kids through theirs hard times and telling them I’m proud of them when they accomplish something are two of the most fulfilling feelings because those are the relationships that have the strongest foundation and that are irreplaceable.
Joseph Ryan What got you into Youth of the Year, Keystone, and LIT?
Most of my friends participated in these programs, at first I just wanted to hang out with them. After participating I truly fell in love with helping and programming with the members.
Sahari Derez Chavez, Age 9
How long have you been part of the club and these programs?
LIT 4 years, Keystone 2 years, Club member 8 years. What is your favorite part of The Club?
I enjoy working with the kids everyday Why are you a leader?
I want to keep kids on track and lead them to success. What leaders inspire you?
Tina Drudi, Ta-Tiana Anderson-Hall, Casey Rogers and Brenda Torres. These coordinators are very dedicated to their work at the club and their passion to the positive development of youth is inspirational. What goals do you have for the Club and yourself as a future club alumnus?
I see myself working here as a staff in the future and through college. I would like to see the Club come together and be a communal force to help the kids in our community. What has been your GREATest accomplishment as a Club member?
Becoming Youth of the Year is my GREATest accomplishment. It was a lot of work and at times uncomfortable but I am grateful for the experience and the skills I have attained such as public speaking and networking.
Yarveli Magallanes, age 12
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Jayla, age 13
Kyli e, age 7