“What country are we studying this week?” “Brazil!” It’s the beginning of the day for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County 21st Century after-school program at Mount Baker Middle School, and the students are sitting with their hands in the air, waiting to answer a trivia question about the South American country. This is how each day began during 21st Century’s Multicultural Month. During March, students learned about and participated in activities surrounding a different country each week. From making Carnivale masks from Brazil, to building model catapults from Germany, writing haikus from Japan, and learning about archeology in honor of Lebanon. “What continent is Brazil on?” Hands shoot up across the room, and one joking voice calls out “Antartica!”. The grasp of geography isn’t always there, but there is a sense of excitement surrounding the introduction of new knowledge. Finally a student, with the help of google, shouts out Asia, and the trivia game ends. Students split up to go to homework time before the day’s activities.
Multicultural Month was a joint project between the 21st Century Programs at Mount Baker and LaVenture Middle Schools in Mount Vernon. Both programs offered multiple cultural activities each week and encouraged their students to learn cool facts about the countries they were studying. At Mount Baker, the month kicked off with a visit from Japanese Exchange students from Skagit Valley College. This was Fransisco Sanchez’s, a 7th grader at Mount Baker, favorite part. “It was fun to meet the Japanese Exchange students. It was nice to meet new people.” He also said he enjoyed getting to share hispanic snacks with the visitors as part of the cultural exchange.
Part of the goal of the month was to lead up to learning about the Olympics happening in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this year. To honor that event, the last country the programs studied was Brazil, and the schools competed in a mini-Olympics at the 21st Century Family Night on March 23rd. Students participated in sprints, basketball, soccer, discus with frisbees, and long jumps. After the Olympics students and families enjoyed a dinner and presentations about the countries, as well as student awards. “I liked getting an award,“ said Zoie Saunders, a 7th grader from Mount Baker who was given the ‘good stewardship’ award, “it made me feel good. I also liked the charades game. It was fun to call out the different staff members!” The charades game was parents and staff versus students, and a highlight of the evening for both students and staff.
The goal of the 21st Century programs is to provide opportunities for students to experience and learn new and interesting things. That tradition of new experiences will continue in April with National Volunteer Month, where students will have opportunities to volunteer at their schools and in the community.
Made possible through a specific grant, 21st Century is an after-school program managed by Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County. The program takes place at the Mount Baker & LaVenture middle schools and is open to students attending there at no extra cost. Attendees are also given a free Boys & Girls Club membership and are able to participate in all Club programs.
