Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri set to celebrate

Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri will open its doors to the community during National Boys & Girls Club Week starting Monday and running through Friday.

Mayor Elaine Horn kicked off the celebration Thursday by signing a proclamation declaring March 22-26 National Boys & Girls Club week in Sedalia.

The clubs will be hosting several events in order to emphasize the importance and value of the clubs to the youth of west central Missouri. The organization is inviting the public to come visit its sites in Cole Camp, Green Ridge, La Monte, Leeton, Sedalia and Smithton.

“National Boys and Girls Club week allows us the opportunity to be at the forefront of the community, so they can see a lot of the great things the club is doing,” Brett Barth-Fagan, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri, said. “It allows us to do outreach on many levels, with the community, city officials, and into the kids’ lives and their family members.”

According to a news release from the organization, clubs have celebrated Boys & Girls Club Week in a variety of ways for more than 75 years. Celebrations emphasize the five core club program areas: character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation.

Activities in the five core areas aim to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s goal to help each child reach their full potential by securing academic success, living a healthy lifestyle and distinguishing themselves as young leaders, the release stated.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri or the National Boys & Girls Club week activities, call 660-826-8331, toll-free 877-242-9260 or visit bgckids.com.

Planned activities in celebration of National Boys & Girls Club Week:
March 22
• 6 p.m. — Green Ridge site
Sports day theme
March 23
5 - 6:30 p.m. — Cole Camp Site  
• Cole Camp Mayor Judy Harris will sign a proclamation declaring March 22-26 as National Boys & Girls Club week in Cole Camp. The proclamation will be signed at the club’s after school program in the Cole Camp school cafeteria.
• Seuss-a-ville — In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Cole Camp elementary club members will be tie-dying vegetables.
• Cole Camp Teen members will start their cake baking and decorating competition.
6 p.m. — Green Ridge site
• Crazy Socks Theme
March 24
5 - 6:30 p.m. — Cole Camp site
•Seuss-a-ville — In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Cole Camp elementary Club members will be baking tie-dyed cakes.
• Cole Camp teen members will continue their cake baking and decorating competition.
6 p.m. – Green Ridge site
• Sunglasses theme
March 25
5 - 6:30 p.m. – Cole Camp site
• Seuss-a-ville — In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Cole Camp elementary club members will be making tie-dye flowers and hosting a family fun night. The night will include some examples of the activities and programs that the members have participated in throughout the year.
• Cole Camp Teen members will be part of the family fun night and the cakes they built over the past two days will be served.
6 p.m. — Green Ridge site
Hat theme
March 26
5 - 6:30 p.m. – Cole Camp site
• Seuss-a-ville — In celebration of Dr. Seuss’’ birthday, Cole Camp elementary Club members will be hosting a Dr. Seuss read-a-thon.
• The Cole Camp Teen members will be celebrating Seussapalooza with everything Dr. Seuss. Members will do a variety of projects that center around his works as well as try to create their own Dr. Seuss-like stories and tongue twisters.
6 p.m. — Green Ridge site
• Club shirt or blue shirt theme