National Boys and Girls Club Week March 21-27

The Gene Mack Clubhouse showcases its youth during National Boys & Girls Club Week, March 21-27

The Gene Mack Clubhouse, a Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County, joins Boys & Girls Clubs across America this week to celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week, March 21-27, by hosting several events to emphasize the importance and value of the Clubs to the Medford community. Every day afterschool the club strives to provide a safe place for our youth to become caring citizens for the City of Medford. This week will be dedicated to them, allowing them to share their talents with each other in a really exciting week.

“Boys & Girls Clubs are increasingly playing a vital role in many young people’s lives,” said Mechilia Eng, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County. “In today’s economic climate, we offer a positive place for kids whose parents are seeking an economical, safe and enriching environment for their children.” The cost for parents to send their child to a Club is $30.00 per year.

Boys & Girls Clubs are unique in the field of child development due to five identifying characteristics. Clubs provide:

– A safe place to learn and grow,
– Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals,
– Life-enhancing programs and character development experiences,
– Hope and opportunity, and
– Peer, staff and volunteer recognition.

For more than 75 years, Clubs have celebrated Boys & Girls Club Week in a variety of ways, all with an emphasis on five core Club program areas: Character & Leadership Development; Education & Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. Activities in these five core areas support Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s overarching goal to help each child reach their full potential and BE GREAT by securing academic success, living a healthy lifestyle and distinguishing themselves as young leaders.

Planned activities during Boys & Girls Club Week include:

Spelling bee – Club members match up based on their grade to show their spelling prowess. Finalists from each grade will then face off to crown the Club champion.

Art competition – Youth will be given a theme at the beginning of the week to create their masterpiece. Artwork will be judged on Thursday and awards will be administered on Friday.

The Great Gene Mack Tournament – In the style of a medieval tournament, Gene Mack Clubhouse members will face off in Games Room games. A variety of games have been chosen to best show the strengths of each of our members.

Olympics Week – A wall of champions will be crowned through a variety of gym based activities. Each club member will have the opportunity to work for Club glory to be featured prominently at the club.

Our week will culminate in awards and celebrations. Youth will receive prizes and recognition for their participation in Boys and Girls Club week activities.

Although the activities for Boys and Girls Club week are only open to active club members, the Gene Mack Clubhouse also runs an exploratory summer camp experience, for more information contact The Gene Mack Clubhouse at 781.391.3619 or visit www.kidsclubs.org.

About The Boys and Girls Club of Middlesex County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County (BGCMC) was founded in 1967 when a group of citizens, concerned about boys who were drifting into difficulty with the law, formed the Somerville Boys Club. The Club opened its doors in September 1973, occupying the second floor of a former police station. In 1981, the organization acquired and renovated our Washington Street Clubhouse and reopened in 1982 as the “Boys & Girls Club,” becoming one of the first clubs in the country to admit both girls and boys as members!

In the last decade, we have expanded our services to meet the needs of other Middlesex County communities. Opening the Medford Clubhouse in 2001, the Cambridge Clubhouse in 2002, and the Everett Teen Clubhouse in 2009, the BGCMC now operate five full-service clubhouses and one summer boathouse. We serve over 5,000 children and teens, ages 6 to 18, every year.

– Submitted by Bruce Barrett, Gene Mack Clubhouse Unit of Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County