Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley offers winter activities
By Avi Rutschman avi@theacorn.com

For those kids whose endofthe-year break isn’t quite a winter wonderland, the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley’s annual Winter Club offers an escape from boredom.

Available to all members of the organization, the Winter Club, which runs until Jan. 5, provides a wide range of activities designed to engage kids’ minds and bodies.

“It’s a lot of fun for the kids, and it’s a safe place for them to be during the holiday season. We have a variety of activities to do, and there’s something for every child no matter what they enjoy doing,” said Tess Fricke, the schoolage director of the Simi Valley club.

Activities include holiday artwork, basketball tournaments, billiards tournaments, game room programs and hanging out in the teen lounge. The club also aims to stave off academic cobwebs during the break by engaging the kids in mind exercises.

“We try to keep the kids sharp by doing word searches, reading and math labs, and computer labs. We also have a chess club,” Fricke said.

The program has been running annually since the founding of the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley. It is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and attracts an average daily attendance of 150 kids between the ages of 6 and 17.

Anyone interested in participating in the program must be a member of the Boys & Girls Club and must pay a $13 daily fee. Lunch and breakfast are available for an extra charge.

The Winter Club also offers optional daily field trips for a separate charge.

“The field trips range from LazerStar to bowling to movies and ice skating. The kids absolutely love LazerStar, and the RollerDome trip is another one that is extremely popular,” Fricke said.

Next week, the Winter Club will be hosting a basketball workshop taught by Damon Harris, the club’s athletic director. The free clinic will take place from 12:15 to 2 p.m. on Jan. 3 and 5.

“There’s a tremendous amount of things to do, and it really is more fun than I can put into words,” Fricke said.

The club will be closed on New Year’s Day. For more information, contact the club at (805) 527-4437.