COCHRANE— Rising to the challenges of COVID-19, The Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area remains focussed on keeping youth connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The non-profit has crafted a selection of free virtual programming for children including the ever-popular online version of Junior Chef.
“It's pretty beginner so there’s no experience required,” said youth program manager Nola Hume. “They get to make some pretty neat dishes.”
During the six-week Junior Chef program, youth aged nine to 12 are able to gather online and learn new recipes from a youth worker over Zoom. Groups are typically around 15 youth.
When participants sign up for the free program a box of ingredients is delivered to their homes for the recipe of the week. Pick-up times at the Club are available for participants who live outside of Cochrane.
The program has an important impact on the youth, Hume said, because it helps them to feel empowered by teaching them recipes they can be proud to share with their families. They also learn important skills along the way including kitchen safety and knife skills.
“They’re learning things and then they get to contribute when their parents are making stuff,” Hume said.
The program has always been popular with the community, Hume said, and the draw of Junior Chef has only increased during COVID-19. Registration often fills up within an hour of going live.
Junior Chef runs for a six-week session and will be wrapping up on March 18. After a brief break, the program will return again.
While the pandemic has impacted the Boys and Girls Club programming the organization has been focussed on pivoting to find and embrace the unique opportunities that are now possible, said Manager of Licensed Programs Maureen Topp.
She highlighted the eight-week course Kids Food Nation as an example.
Kids Food Nation is supplemented by President's Choice and runs through recipes with kids, which are often developed by children, and work with eight to 12-year-olds. Each lesson also has other elements including health and safety, choosing healthy ingredients, using utensils safely when cooking and more.
The program serves as a great opportunity for youth to try foods that they might not normally eat, Topp said, but also encourages them to incorporate ingredients they also enjoy.
“It is such a foundational skill that not all kids have access to," Topp said. “Kids are capable in the kitchen, and if they weren’t before they came to us, they will be after.”
A number of different programs are available at the Club including the poplar Creating Connections running every Tuesday and Thursday. During Creating Connections youth are provided with a craft kit with goodies they can use in the session. The goal is to encourage creativity and have fun while being interactive, Topp said.
Creating Connections is facilitated by two leaders who serve as positive mentors and role models for children in the program.
Virtual programming has proven to be increasingly important during the pandemic, as they have youth who used to come to Club who may no longer be able to during COVID-19 lockdowns.
“They don’t have to wear masks, they can still engage with their friends and do fun games and activities,” Topp said. “We keep them pretty active during those sessions— It's as fun for the leaders as it is for the kids.”
The goal of the Club has been to ensure they could connect with all youth in the community and provide a space for social engagement during the pandemic when options are so limited.
A new addition was also added to the Fifth Avenue Club over the holidays with a freshly installed indoor play structure.
Topp said the Club had been wanting to create an indoor play structure focussed on engaging gross motor engagement in youth for some time.
They used West Grove Custom Design a husband-and-wife team from Airdrie to create the indoor play structure. The structure includes a four-part climbing wall, a kid's cave, monkey bars, swings, a fireman’s pole and more.
Youth have been climbing all over the structure since the first day it opened, Topp said.
“The beautiful thing is that when guidelines kind of ease we’ll have more community opportunity to use the space,” Topp said. She added she is looking forward to hosting fun events in the area when public health measures are softened.
The Boys and Girls Club is continuously expanding and offering programs. Visit the Club's Facebook page for more information.
