Parents in Irricana looking to keep their kids entertained after school have some help in the form of the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie (BGCA). The club, which has been running programs in the town since 2013, offers a variety of options for youth. “[The Kidz Zone program] touches on everything. We put on different crafts, and team-building and other things,” said Emily Graves, BGCA manager of club programs. September’s theme is Getting to Know You, and participants will explore that theme each day through a variety of activities, according to Brittany Kehler, who is responsible for running the Irricana programs. “Monday is Cool Moves, and the kids will engage in active activities with a focus on healthy living and eating,” she said. “Tuesday is Mad Science, and we’ll explore a variety of science through several hands-on, discovery-based approaches.” Wednesday’s program focuses on creativity, according to the Kehler, with the kids encouraged to show off their creative sides through technology, painting, sculpture and more. On Thursdays, participants go for a virtual trip Around the World, during which the kids will travel to far-off places and experience different cultures, music, food and sports. The week is capped off on Fridays with Freedom Friday – a chance for participants to let loose and try a variety of activities such as board games, creative projects and other hands-on activities, according to Kehler. BGCA took over running the Crib – the club's facility in Irricana – in 2013, and since then, according to Graves, it’s been a struggle to fill the programs it offers. The programs are extremely cost-effective for parents, she said, at approximately $3 per day for each child, and she said she is hopeful registration numbers will grow. “They pay $200 for a session, which runs September to December,” she said. “That’s pretty affordable.” A new evening program focused on coding will launch Oct. 16, Graves added. “The program is Kids Tech Nation and it is a six-week session, from Oct. 16 to Nov. 20,” she said. This new program will teach kids the ins and outs of coding, including how to create code for a video game, a website or animation. Best of all, Graves added, the program is free. BGCA also operates programs in Beiseker and is hoping to expand to Kathyrn, according to Graves. More information about all of BGCA's programs is available online at airdrie.bgccan.com
