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2010-2011 Youth of the Year
 Awards and Honors...The First Annual Youth of the Year Award Breakfast premiered Wednesday morning the 28th of September in the gymnasium of the St. Helena Club. More than 80 people were in attendance for the Breakfast Award Ceremony and Fundraiser to honor 2 Calistoga Club Members and 2 St. Helena Club Members for their outstanding contributions to their Clubs.
St. Helena Mayor Del Britton and Calistoga Mayor Jack Gingles shared the role of Masters of Ceremony in a program to recognize and applaud the accomplishments of Jimena Guerrero, Girl of the Year for Calistoga, Tyler Savage, Boy of the Year for Calistoga, Destiny Camacho, Girl of the Year for St. Helena and Tomas Herrero, both Boy of the Year for St. Helena and Youth of the Year for St. Helena and Calistoga.
All four Club Members received a framed award and a $500 Savings Bond with the Youth of the Year receiving an additional $500 Savings Bond.
The Youth of the Year Award Breakfast brings to the communities' attention the qualities that these wonderful young people exemplify in Leadership, Service and Character and highlights the importance of the Boys & Girls Clubs in our Upper Napa Valley. |
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St. Helena Club News
 The Power of Bumper Pool... Here at the Club we never under estimate the power of a game as a tool for learning. This past year bumper pool has become such a game.
Bumper Pool is the "IT" game at the Club, the first to be played and the last to close every day. Members line up to wait their turn, patience. Members who know the game well teach less informed Members the rules and etiquette of the game, communication and cooperation. Girls are as successful as boys in bumper pool and younger children do as well if not better than older children, equality and respect. The game requires physical coordination and mental focus, body knowledge and concentration. Because some of the younger Club Members have to compensate for their lack of height when at the table they find unique solutions when using the pool cue, creativity. Adrian, the Unit Director often plays bumper pool with Club Members. Club Members more often than not win their round against Adrian who always plays at his level, positive self image and self confidence. Plus these young folks are having a blast, joy, and they are good, practice makes perfect.
So a game is not always just for play and a game proves that yes, learning can be fun! |
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Calistoga Club News
Kindergarten takes Club by storm... Help! The Club has been overrun by a rambunctious and inspiring group of critters known as "Kindergarteners." The Club welcomed this age group for the first time last school year. We are always happy to include a few more friendly and wonderful children into the Club, so much so that the program has exploded this year with nearly forty kindergarteners visiting the Club on a regular basis.
Like any other Member at the Club, they play, eat snack, do homework and participate in programs. What's remarkable is the impact these youngest ones have had on the Club in general. Both older Members and staff find themselves delighted by the good natured, joyful and infectious energy they bring.
The Kinder program remains separate for most of the afterschool program, they have their own playground, staff, and classroom to call home. In an effort to help them feel more included in the Club and prepare them for 1st grade they join the main Club at 4:30 to participate in programs with the Clubs older members, a wonderful relationship all the way around! |
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Calistoga Teen Center News
Calling All Girls, Get Your Kicks... Staff member, Resurecion Hlavsa (a.k.a. Richie) has begun a lightweight Kick Boxing exercise class for girls at the Calistoga Teen Center. The class held every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 5 .p.m. focuses on body, mind and fun.
Kick Boxing's choreographed aerobic work out engages both body and mind and is a great way to strengthen all muscle groups, develop stamina and enhance mental and emotional fitness. If working on positive self esteem, self awareness, confidence and physical strength sounds like a good thing grab your BFF and see Richie pronto. Space is limited. |
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Harvest Festival Dance For Adults
 After the Pet Parade and a day of fun on Oak Street, its time to kick up your heels and tap you toes.
Come and enjoy the fun!!! |
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A Bright Light Shines... Thursday, October 20th is the 12th Annual Celebration of Lights on Afterschool. This special day of recognition pays tribute to the important role afterschool programs, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga, have in our communities.
Without appropriate, safe, supervised places for youth to go after school children , families and communities lose. Did you know that the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex? Did you know that parents miss an average of 8 days of work each year due to lack of afterschool care? That's bad news.
The good news is participants in high quality afterschool programs like the Boys & Girls Club improve their scores in Math and English (Napa County Office of Education) and their regular school day attendance is higher compared to non-participants. Here at the Club between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Members get what they need to succeed: a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, control and safety. Children , families and communities win.
In 2010 The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga served a total of 1,726 youth. St. Helena served 865, Calistoga, 861. Those numbers are growing quickly as more youth need the Club every year. Nationally only 8.4 million K-12 children participated in afterschool programs. Another 18.5 million would participate if quality programs were available in their community.
Last year there were more than 7,500 Lights on Afterschool events nationwide that attracted 1 million Americans. The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga will celebrate the day by having Club Member led tours between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Stop by, take a tour and witness your local afterschool program in action. |
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