Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi will have a little education mixed with their fun while they’re on spring break.
As students get a week off of classes, their opportunity to learn won’t take time off, club officials said.
“We have five core areas that we cover here at the club,” said Treymunda Jenkins, program director at the club’s Jewel Rushing Unit in south McComb.
Those include:
• Education and career
• Character and leadership
• Health and life skills
• Sports, fitness and recreation
• Art
Jenkins said these five topics are discussed each day at the club with classes and special speakers.
“We have classes on character, leadership, being respectful, telling the truth, how to be a good citizen. Our Youth of the Year Award is part of our character and leadership program,” Jenkins said.
The awards go to three youths in the club who have demonstrated success in club objectives and in academic pursuits.
Kids ages 6 to 9 are in the club program “Smart Kids,” ages 10 to 12 are in “Start Smart” and ages 13-18 participate in “Stay Smart.”
The groups study age-appropriate curriculum throughout the year.
The club has several programs that get the kids into learning new ideas and new life skills, including:
• The Torch Club, a group for 10- to 13-year-olds that is focused on good citizenship.
• R.A.T., short for reject all tobacco.
• The Men of Distinction, a mentoring program for boys.
• Smart Girls, a mentoring program for girls.
• Wanna Play, a program that teaches members the fundamentals of softball and baseball.
• The Boys & Girls Club choir.
• Job Ready a program to teach teens 14 to 18 how to become employable, and Career Launch, which is a more in-depth job skills program.
• Money Matters, which teaches kids how manage money wisely.
• Healthy Choices Brighter Futures, for ages 10 to 18, which teaches abstinence and is sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Health.
• Smart Moves, a health, fitness and abstinence program that gives kids the tools they need to avoid drugs, smoking, pre-marital sex and drinking.
“It’s about kids making smart choices,” Jenkins said.
She said academics is the highest priority at the club, especially during its afternoon “Power Hour.”
“It’s an hour dedicated to helping the kids get their homework done and an opportunity for them to do their reading,” she said.
This week the kids won’t be having Power Hour, but they will hear from speakers and take a field trip to a military museum in Hattiesburg.
“This week we are having Pamela Evans, one of my female mentors. She’s been speaking to my girls on self-esteem, body image and self-respect,” Jenkins said.
Today members traveled to the African-American Military Museum in Hattiesburg
On Wednesday, the kids are going to learn about the history of St. Patrick’s Day and have arts and crafts to illustrate the lesson.
And dancer Jocelyn Brown, who studies dance at the University of Southern Mississippi, will teach a class. Brown’s class is part of the club’s weekly routine.
“The girls love their classes so much we are trying to get another one scheduled during the week,” Jenkins said.
Thursday Cynthia Benson with L.I.F.E. will be teaching her weekly class on basic life skills such as maintaining friendships, how to avoid bullies, how to avoid being a bully and self-esteem issues.
A spring break dance is 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Higgins Middle School Gym. Jenkins said the annual dance is another of the annual events the organization has to raise money for field trips and supplies.
Jenkins said the annualmembership fee is $10 and the summertime membership is $25. The summer membership includes two meals a day and two field trips.
The club’s next fundraiser will be the annual Smart Moves Banquet, where outstanding club members and volunteers are recognized. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. April 5 in the community room on the sixth floor of Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb. This year’s speaker is the Rev. Gregory Partman.
Tickets are $15. For more information, call Jenkins at 684-5437 or 341-8969.
