BTAS! Hike to Whiteface Mountain
Today in our BTAS! (beyond the after school) school vacation program, we took a hike to Whiteface Mountain in Gilford, NH. It was a perfect day for a spring hike!
Part of our group at the trailhead ready to hit the trail.
The view from Whiteface Mountain allows hikers to see right up to Franconia Notch. There’s also great views of the Sandwich Range, Kearsarge, and Cardigan.
We took our time enjoying the view!
Zachary even did a little juggling!
Thanks to the students who joined us for a fine day off from school! We hope everyone’s having a safe, fun, and relaxing vacation.
Throwback Thursday!
Today is throwback Thursday during Kingswood Regional Middle School spirit week! Here’s a KYC throwback from 2009. Now we’ve been in our building on Center Street for almost 10 years!
Escape Room!
Last Wednesday in BTAS!, the KYC hosted our second escape room. Students worked as a team to crack the code to get back into the KYC. The correct answer to multiple choice trivia questions corresponded with the correct digits to a set of combinations locks. For example:
What article of clothing is called a chapeau in French?
4 Tie
2 Hat
9 Belt
0 Dress
The correct answer (hat) corresponds with the correct first digit. The students had to get all twelve correct digits before they could get into the building to claim their prize (other doors were unlocked for bathrooms, emergencies, etc.).
Working to crack the code!
Testing the numbers!
The prize, ice cream Sundaes!
Thanks for playing KYCers!
Science Cafe!
Each Monday, our volunteer scientist, Shelly hosts Science Cafe. In Science Cafe, we explore topics and issues, create and experiment! Yesterday, we looked at shopping bag sustainability, and made slime and kinetic sand.
The use of plastic shopping bags has been an issue of much discussion lately, as it should be given environmental implications of single use plastics. High volumes of plastics enter our oceans and other ecosystems, inflicting harm on wildlife. One solution is to use reusable shopping bags. However, all grocery bags are not created equally! Shelly notes that due to the environmental impact of manufacturing them, organic cotton bags need to be reused up to 20,000 times before they prove more environmentally advantageous than single use plastic. Reusable plastic bags on the other-hand are a great choice, as many fewer reuses are required before ecological benefits are reaped.
We’ve heard about places where single-use plastic bags are prohibited; these laws have some unintended consequences. Communities that ban disposable shopping bags have seen an immediate spike in sales of products such as 4-gallon trash bags and disposable bags used for picking up dog waste. These products are also single use and are made from much more plastic than typical single use grocery bags.
Shelly also offered a kinetic sand experiment!
…and slime making! Thanks Shelly!
Softball Team Visit!
Yesterday, the middle school softball team joined us for our afterschool program. Thanks for visiting!
We all watched one of the KYC’s favorite short films, The Butterfly Circus. Highly recommended https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98KAEif3bI This is a great story of how the main character, Will, finds his niche with the infamous Butterfly Circus!
We played ‘the best game!’ Teams of students are tasked with sending their ‘best’ to complete a challenge. Examples of challenges: Tallest, youngest, random trivia question, ‘name that song,’ state capitols, cornhole.
The softball team tie-dyed socks!
Others worked on our re-purposed feed bag contest for the Green Mountain Conservation Group’s contest!
What a fun afternoon! A big thanks to the softball team for joining us!
Budgets!
Each Thursday, we spend some time in our life skills programs. These are the programs that help students develop specific skills that will prepare them for adulthood. On Thursday we talked a bit about personal budgets. We challenged students to brainstorm a list of expenses incurred in a typical household. Next we talked about how much some of those things might cost. Next week, we’ll dig a little deeper!
Mock Job Interviews
Last week in our life skills programs we practiced interviewing for employment. The job interview is an applicant’s chance to prove that he or she is the right person for the job. It is also a great time to learn more about the position. We broke into teams, each of which were challenged to send a representative to try a few questions.
Why are you looking for a job?
What do you think it takes to be successful in this position?
Students also presented tips to help their peers with future interviews: be on time; dress for success; turn off your phone; know some information about the position your applying for; practice answering some of the more common questions.
We know our KYCers will make great employees. A little practice will help them get the job!
Music Trivia
Yesterday we offered some music trivia. We did a combination of name that song and trivia questions!
Name as many members of the Beetles as you can!
Who is the lead singer for Maroon 5?
What’s one instrument that is considered a woodwind?
Here’s a link to the video we used for guess the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=PRE3y2Ud1N4&app=desktop
We have some pretty knowledgeable teens. How’d you do?
Changing Seasons!
Happy Spring! Yesterday we launched an upcoming program series, celebrated the start of spring, and practiced yoga!
We are starting a program called Perspectives on Prevention. Throughout this program, we will invite guest speakers to speak about substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery. We will hear from a person in long term recovery, the loved one of a person in recovery, a treatment professional, a police officer, and an EMT. Yesterday we heard from our volunteer, Valerie, who has worked as a nurse in the treatment of substance use disorders and has taught middle school health. Thank you Valerie!
We hosted an equinox trivia game. The big stumper was: in what month is the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere? Anyone know? The winner was honored with a spring themed crown.
We celebrated spring with some outdoor games such as a cornhole contest. We also had desserts!
Those of us who stayed for BTAS! went outside for a count down to spring. Spring started at 5:58 PM yesterday!
Our Main event in BTAS! was a yoga night!
Happy spring!
Take the Floor!
Yesterday we hosted ‘Take the Floor.’ ‘Take the Floor’ is the KYC’s own talent show. Students, volunteers, and staff have the opportunity to wow the group with a talent. Singing, musical instruments, jokes, impressions, juggling, skits, and unique skills are a few of the talents we’ve seen during ‘Take the Floor.’
One student came with a very unique talent: a raptor cry!
Singing is a popular talent.
Our staff member, Zachary demonstrated some juggling and explained how he learned to juggle.
Other acts included our volunteer Estelle, saying the alphabet backwards…wow! Thanks everyone who took the floor!