Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg celebrates special week | News, Sports, Jobs

Parker S. and Gavin M. celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week together. (Photo provided)

PARKERSBURG — The members and staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg recently set a goal to “Level up” to celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week with video game-themed activities.

In an official proclamation, Governor Jim Justice declared June 24-29 as National Boys & Girls Club Week for West Virginia, and throughout the week, staff made sure the club was celebrated for its positive impact on the community.

“BGC Week is an annual event where all 5,000+ clubs across the country celebrate all things ‘clubs.’ I firmly believe that Boys & Girls Clubs is the greatest youth organization there is, and this week we took the time to recognize all the wonderful things that club members, staff and volunteers make possible every day,” Lynn Reins, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, said:

Middle school members did a Tetris activity, decorated the door with Pacman, watched BGC alumni videos, and played Jeopardy and Quiz at the Boys & Girls Club.

“This week went really well. They were able to live out their creative and competitive side and had many opportunities for team building and healthy competition this week, which is something we always want to incorporate into their everyday lives,” Said program director Dasia Russell. “Sportsmanship is a big part of the Boys & Girls Club world and this gave us the opportunity to focus on those things.”

From left: Leianna C., Willow P. and youth development specialist Crystal Barker pose with the Pacman decorations they made for the middle school’s youth section for National Boys & Girls Club Week, themed “Level Up.” (Photo provided)

Fourth and fifth grade students designed their own video games and consoles, created their own characters and judged each other’s creations.

The kindergarten and first-graders made their own board games and played with them. The second and third-graders played online video game tournaments and learned about the creation of video games.

Bella G., the Boys & Girls Club’s West Virginia Youth of the Year, traveled with Reins to Chicago to compete for the regional title of Midwest Youth of the Year. Although Bella did not advance, Reins said she represented both the Parkersburg Club and West Virginia well and “She will continue to do great things.”

Bella G., West Virginia’s Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, traveled to Chicago this week to compete in the regional competition, representing the Parkersburg Club. (Photo provided)