This fall is going to be a busy one for the Boys and Girls Club of Bonnyville.
According to Patti Cowden, executive director of the local club, not only are they expanding their programming, they’re also opening it up to even younger kids.
Starting September, children ages six-years-old and up will be able to take part in the club’s activities, including some of their newest ones.
“This coming September, we will have four brand new programs that we will run, which is pretty awesome,” expressed Cowden.
For youth, Career Launch offers advice on employment.
Cowden explained, “We’re focusing on the age group from 13 to 18. Career Launch is a pre-employment program to give youth the opportunity to develop pre-employment skills, access job hunting, and teach them how to write a resume, how to cold-call different places, and do job interviews.”
The local Boys and Girls Club will check-in with the youth in the program, offering advice along the way, and hopefully inspiring them to consider career opportunities.
They will be launching the program in September, but access to the program will be available all-year.
To start, they will meet with youth one-on-one on a weekly basis. From there, they will schedule bi-monthly check-ins.
“It’s going to be a little more open, and we want to work with them individually, because everyone has totally different goals in life,” detailed Cowden.
She felt the program was a perfect fit for the area, describing it as “a huge need in Bonnyville.”
“I want the teens to start focusing on their future and start thinking about their future, what they’re looking for, what they like, and what they want to do. We really want them to explore different options in town and the area.”
Their second program goes hand-in-hand with Career Launch, by introducing the same age category to possible careers in the hospitality industry.
Cowden said the club is introducing the program in the fall, and thought it was a great fit for the area.
“We have tons of hotels in the area, so we wanted to see if there are some jobs they might be interested in.”
This group will explore the various opportunities in hospitality, such as restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores, among others.
They’re hoping to help youth understand how starting off as a receptionist or cleaner can lead to much more.
“We want our youth to be proactive. I know a lot of youth complain that there aren’t many options in a small town. We want them to see, explore, and possibly guide them and let them know that if they look in the right direction, they might see more options out there,” Cowden expressed.
The program could include field trips, or “day in the life of” experiences, in order to give youth a chance to witness the jobs in action.
Project Backpack is also kicking-off this September. It helps kids in low income families access healthy and nutritious food.
Cowden said, “It’s to help reduce food insecurity for young people and their family.”
Families register their child for the program. Every week, they will stop by the club to pick up their backpack filled with healthy snacks.
Also starting in the fall, is kids’ tennis.
Earlier this summer, the Boys and Girls Club held a test-run, inviting kids of all ages to come out and learn about the sport.
What’s great about the program, Cowden said, is the fact that all children need to participate are running shoes.
“They don’t need to buy the equipment at all. All they need to do is come in with their exercise gear, and join us,” she added.
All of the equipment needed to play was donated by Tennis Canada, something Cowden is extremely grateful for.
For more information on these programs, or to register, contact the Boys and Girls Club of Bonnyville at 780-826-3037.
