News
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Club Administration Office Wins $30,000 Make-over from Chase Office InteriorsNo one initially thought that by entering a simple radio contest for an office make-over that we would actually win... but thanks to the perseverance of one staff member and the support of the community voting for us, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs won the EZ Rock Office Furniture Facelift Contest! We are thrilled to be receiving a $30,000 office make-over from new West Kelowna based business Chase Office Interiors. Check out our reaction to winning back in October here! With the start of a new year, we are preparing for our new office. A great big THANK YOU to Chase Office Interiors for their support and donation to improve our workspace. |
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Kelowna Chief's Be an Angel Book Drive Huge SuccessKelowna, BC – January 2, 2012 – The Kelowna Chiefs would like to thank everyone who donated to the 2011 Kelowna Daily Courier's Be An Angel Campaign Book Drive.
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Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club Donation to Provide BooksThank you to the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club for their generous donation to support purchasing books for our Christmas Hampers. The Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs will be packing over 250 hampers to provide beset families with a brighter Christmas this holiday season. This donation from the Sunrise Rotary Club will ensure that each child receiving a hamper will also receive a special book as part of their hamper Christmas gifts. Thank you so much for your support!
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Raffle Winners AnnouncedThank you to everyone who purchased a ticket for our annual Agency Fall Fundraising Raffle. We sold a total 3,384 tickets raising $6,768 for our Clubs!
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THANK YOU Future Shop!Future Shop Support Shows their Commitment to Kids, Youth and our Community
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VOTE to help us make a difference in PeachlandWe have applied to receive funding from the Aviva Community Fund...but we need your help to even be considered! Your vote is needed to help move our 'Idea' into the semi-finals to receive a possible $100,000 to help with the Peachland Primary School Restoration Project.
The Kids / Youth A place to call home! Youth benefit most from having a place to call home, and this is exactly what the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs and the District of Peachland are working so hard to provide. This project is in response to the community need to provide local children and youth a central accessible location for recreation, arts, culture and social programming. The Peachland Youth Centre will also provide youth at risk with access to counseling services, food and a safe place to come for help. Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs strive to provide children and youth across the Okanagan valley with a “good place to be”. A place to call their own, a place that they feel safe and supported, a place to have fun and to experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. The school will become a hub for events and activities for children and youth in Peachland. The Community The Peachland Primary School Redevelopment Project will rejuvenate an “iconic” community heritage asset to provide more suitable and permanent space for several vitally important community services. This historic building was constructed in 1908 and has been home to generations of children until it closed 2003. There are only three public heritage buildings in Peachland, this being one of them. In 2009, the District of Peachland Council made a commitment to keep this historic building and to partner with the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs and the Peachland Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Information Centre for the restoration of the building, and for development and operation of community services. The renovated Primary School will become a hub for events and activities for citizens, families, children and youth in Peachland. The school will be a place of interest and focal point within the community. BC Tourism/Visitor Information Centre and the Chamber of Commerce will meet the needs of visitors and locals alike. Tourists can stop in and receive information about Peachland, in this beautifully restored space. The Chamber Office provides information and assistance to businesses and citizens of the Peachland Community. It will be a place of interest and value to residents and visitors alike, a place where youth, community groups, clubs, and service providers can find occasional or permanent meeting space and a place to showcase Peachland’s arts, culture and heritage. The Bats Peachland bats, previously considered a nuisance, have now become a local phenomena. It has been known that the nocturnal mammals inhabited the 103 year old Peachland Primary School for decades, however, their numbers have only recently been revealed. Peachland Primary was closed in 2003 and recent refurbishing of the historic building revealed a massive roost. Wildlife biologist, Aaron Reid from Ministry of Environment, estimates the colony to be upwards of 2000 Yuma bats making it one of BC’s largest colonies. Bats in the attic of Peachland Primary School have created a unique educational experience. Bats are a protected species and are now considered valuable mammals in the eco system. They can eat up to three quarters of their body weight in insects each night and mosquitoes are their choice of diet, thus explaining why Peachland is virtually mosquito free. A visit to the Peachland Visitor Centre will show how humans and bats can successfully co-habitat. For more information and view these bats on video camera visit www.peachlandbats.ca WHY SHOULD I VOTE?! - The Peachland Primary School Restoration Project will provide: -A permanent home for children and youth programs and services, providing them a sense of connectedness with their peers, and with positive adult role models in their community. Community connections like these are important for children and youth and give them a sense of belonging that can help them to overcome the challenges in their lives. -A permanent home for the Visitor Information Centre/Chamber of Commerce, which will provide assistance and services to tourists, citizens and businesses as well as provide a place to showcase the art, culture and history of Peachland. -A permanent home for the colony of protected species Yama Bats, which will ensure that they remain a valuable part of our eco system for years to come. Please HELP US give Peachland children & youth a place to call their own! |
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Kelowna is Bringing Gingerbread to Life in Support of the Boys and Girls ClubsThe 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event would like to invite the public to a family fun day at the Parkinson Recreation Centre on November 27th, 2011. The event is in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Cool Moves Program. The Cool Moves program promotes healthy eating and physical activity for kids. As a result of participating in games and activities of this program, participants will also gain cooperation and team building skills as well as confidence and feelings of belonging. The core goals of the Gingerbread House Event are:
The Event has three categories to provide different challenges for different people: Open, Packaged Kit and Chef Category. The Open Category allows entrants to build their house at home and bring it to the event. The Packaged Kit is where each entrant receives and builds a packaged gingerbread house kit right at the event. It’s an excellent option for the family to come for a fun event during the day. The Chef category allows cooks and chefs to enter their creation in a bragging rights competition.
Registration in the Gingerbread House Event is available now at www.gingerbreadevent.com. Registration is $20, $25, or $30 depending on category and age. Rules and registration forms are available at our website www.gingerbreadevent.com
Want to see the houses without building your own gingerbread house? No problem, the gingerbread houses are available for public viewing from 3-6pm. Viewing is $2/adult, $1/child or free with a non-perishable food donation to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Christmas Hampers.
Note to potential sponsors: There are still sponsorship opportunities available. You can get involved by: Becoming a Major Sponsor ($350+), sponsoring a Packaged Kit for those unable to afford the entry fee ($25), renting an 8’ table to display or sell your products/services ($50), or donate items for the raffle.
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Westside Youth Make a Difference with Shoreline CleanupWESTSIDE YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT CANADIAN SHORELINE CLEANUP This event was hosted by provincially-funded Youth Employment Services. Member participation in this event allowed for the youth to develop a more in-depth understanding of the conditions of their environment, and enabled them to contribute to improving our community beaches while gaining volunteer hours. The youth enjoyed a great afternoon, wrapping up their volunteer work with a fun sand castle competition! For more information or to get involved in next year's cleanup please contact: |
Special Ride to Support the Boys and Girls Clubs |
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Kids Go Green This Summer at Boys & Girls ClubsArmstrong, BC - Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs are pleased to announce that we will be running a special environmental awareness program – Be Green – for Summer 2011 in the Armstrong and Spallumcheen areas thanks to support from Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Future Shop and SIFE Memorial. |
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Interior Savings Moonlight Movies Kick-off July 14From July 14-August 15 as the sun goes down, Interior Savings Credit Union and Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs will be lighting up community parks from Osoyoos to Vernon with a giant inflatable movie screen and fun activities for the family.
“With the Interior Savings Moonlight Movie Tour, we are able to provide a high quality plug-and-play event to non-profit groups throughout our service area,” says Gene Creelman, Interior Savings’ VP of Marketing and Communications. “We’ve partnered with organizations in our community who are making a lasting impact in the lives of young people by helping them develop leadership and life skills. We provide the movie, the screen and the sound system and our community partners create an event to raise funds and generate awareness about their services.” |
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Kelowna Valley First supports Camp ArrowFlight!The four Kelowna Valley First Bank branches held a draw at each location to send a child to Camp ArrowFlight this summer. Maddison aged 7 was the lucky winner of a 6 day-5 night overnight camp adventure this summer! Maddison is excited for her first every camp experience and will be attending the special GIRLS ONLY camp "Cow Girls" for girls ages 7-12 in August.
Camp ArrowFlight is the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs' outdoor centre offering a residential camp experience with day camps, wilderness excursions and overnight camping trips all year round. Our camp provides participants with the opportunity to learn about the environment, the importance of being part of a team and about themselves through programming based on recreation, adventure and experiential learning.
Overnight summer camps for all ages include swimming, rock climbing, mountain boarding, hiking and more! Camps run all summer from July 3-August 27. Camps include all meals, activities and accommodations, as well as a variety of core activities.
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Why helping charities close-to-home is so vitalThis year’s Buy a Hammer, Build Our Community campaign is on target to reach the July 3 fundraising goal of $750,000. We still need many more donations and purchases of $2 paper hammers, but the response thus far has been inspiring. The ongoing success of this annual campaign reaffirms that charity truly begins at home. This is one of the main reasons that The Home Depot Canada Foundation partners with community-based charities. Local initiatives are crucial—they ensure that community-specific needs are being addressed and helping the people who need it the most.
As you may know, this year each of The Home Depot Canada’s 16 different store districts have chosen to support either their local Boys & Girls Clubs or a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. This means that anyone who buys a paper hammer in their local store will assist a nearby charity and help them make a real difference in their community. And as part of this commitment to thinking locally, The Home Depot Canada Foundation will match the proceeds of the district that raises the most funds during the campaign.
Help make a difference close to your home, and build a better community with a paper hammer. To donate to this year’s campaign please visit The Home Depot Canada Foundation. |
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Free Family Adventure Day at Camp ArrowFlight!2012 Family Adventure - Stay tuned for dates... Excited about coming to camp this summer? Want to show it off to friends and family – then come check out Camp ArrowFlight and all the great activities we’ve got for you! All ages are invited to come take a tour of Camp ArrowFlight and try some of the following camp activities:
Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch of a hamburger, chips and drink by donation (suggested donation $5).
CLICK HERE for more information or call 250-762-3914 or 1-888-772-7751. |
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Volunteers Needed for 24 Hour Relay!!The 24 Hour Relay for Kids is an annual community based fundraising event that challenges groups of people to run or walk Relay-style for 24 hours. Teams of runners and/or walkers made up of Corporate and Recreational groups collect individual pledges or organize team fundraising events to raise funds towards their collective team totals. Volunteering at the 24 Hour Relay is incredibly fun - and you don't have to run, sweat or stay awake all night in order to take part (although working through the night is an option!). |
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Okanagan Businesses - Help Send Kids to Camp!We're calling all local Okanagan businesses to Help Send Kids to Camp this summer!
Hold a draw at your business and send a Child to Camp with Camp ArrowFlight and the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs!
We will:
You:
Do you believe – like we do! – that every child deserves to have the life changing experience of going to camp? |
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McHappy Day 2011 - Another Mc-Success!On behalf of all of us at McDonald's Kelowna and the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs, thank you to all who came out on Wednesday May 11th for helping to make the 18th McHappy Day such an outstanding success! Your support is very much appreciated. |
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Fest-of-Ale Helps Penticton Families!Penticton Family Outreach wants to say a big Thank You to Okanagan Fest-of-Ale for their 2010 donation to the program. The donation helped cover food costs for lunches for the families attending and supported families cooking in the Community Kitchen. Pictured are some of the families who wish to say thank-you. |
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Thank You BCRFA and the Taste of KelownaTHANK YOU to the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association for your recent donation made to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs from proceeds from the annual Taste of Kelowna event. Sunday March 27th the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs participated in the 22nd annual Taste of Kelowna at the Kelowna Curling Club. 40 exhibitors featured a great selection of food, beverage and activities all available in our City. The Boys and Girls Clubs is fortunate to have the support of the BCRFA. To learn more about the BCRFA visit their website at www.bcrfa.com |
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Heroes Needed for Local Youth Who Need HelpWritten by Lyonel Doherty – Oliver Chronicle |
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OK Sun Players Teach Kelowna Kids Some "Cool Moves"On Monday April 8, 2011, members of the Martin Ave. Boys & Girls Club got a special work-out during their regular afterschool rec program. Okanagan Sun Head Coach Jason Casey brought quarterback Bobby Davis (#14) and all-Canadian receiver Danny Turek (#84) to meet the kids and show them some football skills and training tips.
The activity was part of a weekly program called "Cool Moves" which aims to combat child obesity and inactivity by promoting increased physical activity and healthy eating through its two components: Eat Smart and Play Cool! Through an array of Eat Smart and Play Cool activities, members benefit from increased participation in physical activities and skills for making healthy eating choices. As a result of participating in games and activities, participants gain cooperation and team building skills as well as confidence and feelings of belonging. |
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Camp ArrowFlight Summer Registration !WANTED: SUMMER CAMPERS! Want the experience of a lifetime this summer? Then WE WANT YOU! Come to Camp ArrowFlight this summer and Learn Through Adventure! Camp Arrowflight is the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs’ outdoor centre offering camping and outdoor programs for children, youth and families. Situated on 82 acres in Armstrong, BC it has cabins, a lodge, dining hall, swimming pool, bmx course, archery range, rock climbing tower and more! Campers learn about the environment, the importance of being part of a team and about themselves through programming based on adventure and active learning. Completed forms can be emailed to campreg@boysandgirlsclubs.ca, faxed to (250) 762-6562 or dropped off at any Boys & Girls Club. NEEDED: Camp Sponsors & Volunteers! We believe every child and youth deserves the self-discovery and adventure of an outdoor experience. If you’re interested in sponsoring a child to attend camp this summer contact us at info@boysandgirlsclubs.ca. |
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Check out our SPRING Valley Voice Newsletter!Find out what we've been up to this past winter and what we're planning for spring and summer!
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Taste of Kelowna 2011 Helps Boys & Girls Clubs!(March 28, 2011 Kelowna, BC) – The committee for the 22nd Annual Taste of Kelowna wishes to express thanks to all who made this years’ event such a success. |
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Bullying Prevention ResourcesBullying FACTS and RESOURCES
What is Bullying?
þ Bulling is a form of abuse. Bulling does not end when we grow up, it can be experience in your home life, work life and in social situations as adults.
þ Everyone has experienced some form of bullying in their lives, both receiving and giving:
o Name calling, verbal threats, gossiping
o Exclusion from groups
o Threats and intimidation
o Extortion of stealing of money/possessions
o Physical violence
þ Bullying is the act of intimidating a weaker person.
þ A child bullied in one place may be the bully in another so as a parent you need to recognise both sides of the bullying issue.
þ Victims feel: extreme fear and stress, loneliness, humiliation and insecurity
þ Effects can last into adulthood
The four most common types of bullying are:
þ Verbal bullying - name-calling, sarcasm, teasing, spreading rumours, threatening, making negative references to one's culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, unwanted sexual comments.
þ Emotional/Social Bullying - mobbing, scapegoating, excluding others from a group, humiliating others with public gestures or graffiti intended to put others down.
þ Physical Bullying - hitting, poking, pinching, chasing, shoving, coercing, destroying or stealing belongings, unwanted sexual touching.
þ Cyber Bullying - using the internet or text messaging to intimidate, put-down, spread rumours or make fun of someone, comments on Facebook.
Signs of bullying:
o Change in attitude, eating or sleeping
o Fear of going to school/afterschool programs
o Lowered self-esteem
o Sadness/depression
o Acting out at home
o Unexplained broken person possessions, loss of money/personal items
o Unexplained bruises, injuries or damaged clothes
o Decreased interest/performance at school
tips to help bully-proof your child:
þ What PARENTS CAN DO:
o TALK to your children
o Role play scenarios and discuss how to respond
o Show interest in your children’s friends, school and social life and get involved
o Provide positive social opportunities for your child
þ IF YOUR CHILD IS BULLIED:
o Never blame you child
o Don’t promise to keep it a secret – this gives the bully power
o Get the facts
o Encourage your child to share their feelings
o Work with staff to address the problem – but avoid blaming administration
þ WHAT KIDS CAN DO:
o Hang out with friends and play in groups
o Walk to school with a friend
o Stay away from kids who don’t like you and try to avoid them
o Stay within sight of grownups when possible
o Don’t bring expensive things to school
o Practice being confident – stand tall, walk proud, make eye contact
o Tell an adult if someone bothers you – the longer you wait the harder it will be to stop
þ HOW TO DEAL WITH A BULLY
o Don’t react – stay calm
o Stand up straight and don’t show you are hurt or afraid
o Be alert and think fast to get out of situations – don’t try to fight back
o Think of ways to deal with the bully before hand so you’re prepared
o Get help from friends, teachers, family
þ If you see someone being bullied STEP-IN
o When someone steps in to help another person, 57% of the time the bullying stops within 10 seconds
o If you’re scared – get help
o Walk away – don’t give them an audience
o Be a buddy to the victim
o Speak up “don’t be a bully” might be enough to stop the situation
RESOURCES
o Pink Shirt Day Website www.pinkshirtday.ca
o Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 www.kidshelpphone.ca
o Bullying Awareness Network www.bullyingawarenessnetwork.ca
o Canadian initiative for the Prevention of Bullying www.cipb.ca
o Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada www.bgccan.com
CYBER BULLYING – email, text messages, internet sites are used to bully
þ Hateful comments on websites, blogs, through text messages, IM
þ Stealing passwords and sending out threatening email or IM using assumed ID
þ Creating website to target specific students or teachers
Online bulling on the RISE
þ Bullies think they can hide online – anonymity emboldens them
þ Can be crueller online than in person
þ Children don’t tell for fear of losing online privileges
þ Cyber bullies often those who have been bullied themselves
þ No safe place from cyber bullies – follows then on home computer, cell phone and visible for all world to see
SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS BEING CYBER BULLIED (same as before, PLUS):
þ Change in attitude, eating or sleeping habits
þ Fear of going to school or afterschool programs
þ Unexplained sadness or depression
þ Low self-esteem
þ Loneliness or social isolation
þ Difficulty concentrating
þ Threats to hurt themselves or others
SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS CYBER BULLYING OTHERS:
þ Aggression with parents, siblings, pets and friends
þ Low concern for others’ feelings
þ Bossy and manipulative behaviours
þ Secretive about activities around the computer
þ Has friends who bully and are aggressive
WAYS TO STOP CYBER BULLYING:
þ Talk to you child about cyber bullying
þ Encourage them to tell you if they are being bullied
þ Learn and teach your children how to “block” bullies, and forward messages to you service provider (email, internet provider, cellphone company, web host)
þ Keep your cool – don’t storm off to confront the bully. Think through your strategy
þ Work with teachers/staff to address problem
þ Teach your child that if they bully others there can be serious consequences – including legal action. Even children can be charged with libel, harassment, or hate crimes under Canada Criminal Code
þ If physical threats, call police
CYBER BULLYING RESOURCES
Microsoft Take Back the net – www.microsoft.ca/onlinesafety
PREVNet http://prevnet.ca
Media-Awareness Network www.media-awareness.ca |
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We're on Facebook!You can now find out all the great news and events happening at our Clubs across the Okanagan by becoming our FAN on Facebook! Find our Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs Fan Page and LIKE our page and/or add it to your FAVOURITE PAGES. Then stay tuned for updates on our Club events, fundraisers, volunteer and job opportunities, helpful information for families in the Okanagan and more!
Any comments or questions about our Social Media policy or for tips and information on helping kids stay safe online please contact us at 250-762-3914 or email marketing@boysandgirlsclubs.ca. |