Summer Clubs

Summer Clubs here on the ranch have been going for 14 plus years.  The Sister missionaries were asked to particiate and we had a great time.  The children that live on the ranch between the ages of 3-13 can participate.  They put them in age groups and then ask Moms and other Women to do any kind of class for 10 weeks every Tuesday & Thursday from 9 - 12.  This is a list of just some of the classes held.  Reading, outdoor games, sports, crafts, dance, preschool classes, art, cooking, Know Your Country, & many more.  The age groups were 3-4 and they basically did preschool for 3 hrs Tuesdays & Thursdays for 10 weeks.  The 5-6 yr olds did 3 different classes every Tuesday and Thursday.  First class was dancing, craft and eating healthy.  I got to help with this class and what a handful they were. Second class was animals, things that crawl and story time.  Third class was outside games.  Because of their ages, these classes had to be short to keep their attention.  Next was the 7-9 year olds, this was the group that I helped with @ 9:00am each Tuesday.  We did crafts.  They learned how to and embroderied a cat or dog of their choice.  This took 3 classes to complete.  Then the 4th & 5th weeks they made a frame for their picture out of cardboard and cloth and put them together.  They turned out really cute.  The 6th week they made wooden necklaces and bracelets.  The 7th & 8th week they sanded, painted, and wrote on a block of wood for their room.  Most just put their name on it, but one boy painted his like a book and wrote Book of Mormon on it.  It was cool.  The 9th week was tye-tied t-shirts.  It was really messy but the kids had fun. That was the week Tiffany & her family were here so the kids each made a shirt to take home.

 Then the last week, we made a fold up photo book made out of card board, cardstock paper and pictures.  I wasn't there but they were really neat.  This age of kids left our class @ 10:00 and went to 2 more classes for the day.  They learned about different countries and their foods, and then did outside games.  The older groups did sports, inside and outside games.  All age groups did reading.  Each group sets goals and they are tracked each week.  After the 10 weeks, we held a Summer Club Finale at the church were the parents came and each group showed off what they had done.  The 5-6 yr olds did a dance and it was so fun to watch.  They served cookies and punch.  What a great success it was and fun for all involved.  These moms are wonderful in keeping kids busy for the summer while the older kids @ age 14 begin to work on the ranch for their summers.