Boys/Girls program offers after-school activities

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

PUEBLO OF ACOMA — After a summer of serving Acoma tribal members’ children during the day, the Boys and Girls Club in Acomita is currently offering an after-school program.

Club Director Annadine Leon said about 25 children are currently coming to the program and more are expected during the school year.

The club serves children and teens to the age of 18, she said.

The Boys and Girls Club has been in Acomita since 1999, and in addition to the standard after school projects helps teach the students about their culture, which includes some of the students planting a garden at the Sky City Cultural Center.

The club has recently started a Teen Night, she said.

Christina Garcia, 17, a senior at Grants High School and a junior staffer at the club, said teen night gives teenagers on the reservation somewhere to go and something to do.

The after-school program is from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Teen nights are on Tuesday and Thursday.

Leon was the club’s director in 2000, then left for a few years and has been the director again for about three months, she said.

The after school programs, by day are:

Monday: Triple play. All the children play basketball or football, and at times all get together like one big family, Leon said.

Tuesday: Arts and crafts projects, followed by Teen Night.

Wednesday: Play Day. Club youths basically do whatever kind of play they want. This can include working in the Technology Room researching homework or playing computer games, arts and crafts or sports.

Thursday: After school play followed by Teen Night.

Friday: Triple Play. One part of Friday’s club activities is called Smart Moves, where ages 6-13 gather together and older teens and junior staff talk with them about saying no to tobacco, drugs and other things that are considered bad for youth.

Also on Fridays, and now that school has started, Saturdays, are field trips. These field trips go to movies in Albuquerque, or the zoo, museums, the planetarium or Cliff’s Amusement Park.

Information: (505) 552-7313.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent
@yahoo.com.