Enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
                                                                                                                                       
  It Just Takes One
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2016 Youth of the Year  Celebration  
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Morgan Russow, 2016 Youth of the Year meets Governor Asa Hutchinson at the state competition. At the 2016 Youth of the Year Celebration locally, more than 1,000 people were in attendance.  The Celebration featured Don Frieson, EVP of Sam's Club Operation as the master of ceremonies and Greg Foran, President and CEO of Walmart U.S. as the keynote speaker. Also presenting at the event was Jim Breach, Unilever Vice President of Customer Development.  Club kids were on hand to display their talent in song and dance, providing entertainment at the Celebration. To view pictures of the evening's festivities click HERE  The event was presented by Unilever.   


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Spring Planting at McKinney Unit Gardens 
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The kids at the Carl & Alleen McKinney Unit took advantage of fair weather to plant early crops in the Unit's community garden.  They were helped by the Hershey team who was instrumental in creating the gardens and maintaining them.  Thanks to Walmart, fresh vegetables will be available throughout the summer and fall for families to take home and for use in the Club's Cooking Matters nutrition education course.

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Crest Kids  
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Dental Hygiene is critical to the overall health of our youth.  The Club, through the generous support of   Procter & Gamble and the support of the Walmart Foundation offers a variety of way to tech kids about good oral health.  One of those avenues is the Crest Kids Dental Hygiene class.  Here, guest speaker Dr. Trent McCord, a local dentist from Centerton, talks to kids about their dental health and the importance of brushing and flossing at least two times per day.
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Trike Theatre Brings Improv to Rogers 
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Trike Theatre's mission is to empower youth to forge deep connections with themselves, their community and the world by seeing, participating in, and learning through theater.    Trike Theatre worked with the Rogers Unit kids for two weeks for an hour and a half each day in performing arts exercises.  The group is seen here participating in an engaging improvisation activity.  Trike and the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County have been collaborating for the past five years to bring performing arts to our kids.  In the summer program performing arts will be expanded to all facilities.  The program is supported by funding from the Arkansas Arts Council.

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Cooking Matters at Bella Vista
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The Cooking Matters class at the Bella Vista Unit decided to make some delicious hummus. A lot of the kids had never tried hummus in their lives and by the end of the class became hummus advocates. The Healthy Lifestyles program is trying to bring newer and healthier food options for the kids.  The program encourages kids to branch out and give healthy foods a second chance. (top picture) Mr. Adam is seen sampling the hummus with the kids while (bottom) Nine year old Kaylin Silva is pictured enjoying her Banana, Strawberry, and Blue Berry smoothie. Kaylin was able to take these same ingredients home to share something healthy and fun with her family.  Great things are happening at the Bella Vista Unit!  The Healthy Lifestyles programs are made possible through funding from the Walmart Foundation.

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STEAM at the Clubs
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As part of our emphasis on science, engineering, arts, technology, and math (STEAM), youth from the Rogers Unit created their own lava lamps from ordinary household materials. We are thankful to the many volunteers who help us in the STEAM program to create highly interactive activities that pique kid's interest in high demand, high wage occupations. 




In this STEAM activity McKinney Unit members learn about the water cycle. This hands-on activity was designed to show students how water molecules build up in clouds until water droplets form and fall to earth as some form of precipitation.




  Students at the Bella Vista unit have been working with staff to build an automated, robotic design. They use the diagrams and instructions on a tablet to build the robot, piece by piece. This is just one example of how our STEAM activities stretch the creativity and imagination of our kids, while they  are also developing many life tools such as patience, discipline, and teamwork.

 

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Celebrating Dr. Seuss Through Reading
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On March 2, 2012 the Rogers Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County participated in the national Read Across America Day. Ninety-seven children, ages 6-14, celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday by reading simultaneously.  After reading, they culminated the event by saying "Happy Birthday" to this great American author. 

 
 
   Register
HERE 
   

Talented Youth at Rogers
 
In the annual Rogers Unit Talent show kids exhibit their skills through a variety of performances - singing, dancing, reciting.... This year's winners are pictured here from left to right: Jewel Conley (3rd Place not pictured but part of the group Moriah Hutson & Rion Beck), 2nd place Jena Boggess, 1st Place Estrella and Derian Yang!  Congratulations to these talented youth.

Youth of the Year Featured in Celebrate Magazine

Pictured on the cover of Celebrate magazine are the 4 Youth of the Year Finalists (L-R David Martinez, Morgan Russow, Ethan Roy Zuheily Almarez).  Karen Stuckey, Boys & Girls Club of Benton County Board of Directors President, is pictured at left with finalists. She, and our 19 board members give countless hours and resources to support our mission of developing youth in our community to reach their full potential.


Boys & Girls Club of Benton County is a

Agency


DEVELOPING HEALTHY CHILDREN 
WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL &
MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES

Stay Connected 

Can You Help a Youth Reach Their Full Potential?
Caring Adults are needed to be trusted guides to middle school age youth.  If you can commit 1 -hour per week to be a mentor to a youth who needs you, inquire HERE .

Not interested in being a mentor?   You can see other volunteer opportunities HERE.


Thank You Volunteers! 
 
The staff and the administration of the Club wishes  to extend our gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who have given thousands of hours towards making the Club a better place for our kids!   Your work does not go unnoticed. 
 
McKinney Unit Gym Gets Facelift?
 
Funding from Walmart and the Carl and Alleen McKinney Charitable Trust and many man hours from volunteers has enabled the McKinney Unit gym to have a new floor and newly painted walls.  The floor old floor was original to the building and was in a state of disrepair.  The gym is used daily by over 200 children and for the volleyball and basketball sports leagues.  The new floor not only enhances play and comfort, but lessens the risk of injury.  Thank you Walmart & the McKinney Trust!
CAN YOU HELP KEEP A CHILD SAFE?

Your gift of $25 per month for a year can provide a safe, developmentally rich place for a deserving child!   We are classified as a 501 (c)(3) charity and your gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.     Donate
HERE 


Motion Fitness

Getting youth involved with exercise programs has always presented a challenge, especially for teens. The new ExerGame Motion Fitness equipment at the HLM Teen Center helped to solve this dilemma through being electronic and interactive.  The equipment purchase was made possible through funding by the Walmart Foundation as part of their Quality of Life initiative in Northwest Arkansas.