An Okotoks service club has launched a youth division aimed to give back to kids in the community.
The Kids 4 Kids Foothills Junior Optimist Club, for children age six to 14, is two meetings into its first year and already 15 members strong said Amy Giroux, president of the Okotoks Optimist Club. Her own two children are part of the Kids 4 Kids group.
“It started with most of the (Optimist) parents enrolling their kids in the junior club,” said Giroux. “They’ve already started inviting their friends from school, neighbourhood friends, friends through word of mouth or from church, and it’s getting a lot of great interest.”
Since she posted a photo of the group wearing its colourful Optimist t-shirts in mid-July, several people have approached Giroux to inquire about enrolling their children.
The group is child-led, with Giroux and other Optimists acting as mentors and facilitators. Members may be asked a question to prompt discussion, but the ideas that flow are their own.
One of the first decisions they had to make was what the youth club should be called.
“They had a ‘Name That Club’ competition amongst themselves, so it took a little bit to firm up, but once they had their club name they started talking about projects,” said Giroux. “We’ve had two meetings so far, and it’s pretty popular amongst the kids.”
The first meeting was a little chaotic, with some of the boys sitting next to one another more interested in playing and roughhousing than conversation.
Giroux created a talking stick to keep discussion flowing and respectful, and at the second meeting, the children decorated it themselves.
“And I separated them boy-girl-boy-girl, so there was no play fights or anything during the meeting,” said Giroux. “It was much better planned the second time around, so I feel like every time we do this it’s going to get a little bit easier.”
Part of the meetings involve working through the Optimist Club creed and making it relevant and understandable for children.
Giroux said the entire creed is too complicated for younger children, but they break it down into manageable parts.
“Like, how can we promise ourselves to be so strong that nothing can destroy our peace of mind?” she said. “To take that little bit and put it into a way a six-year-old can understand kind of helps them.”
Right now, the group meets once per month on the third Friday for one hour starting at 6:30 p.m.
If they choose to plan activities or fundraisers, she said that could change to meeting twice per month.
Some conversation has hovered around how to save bees or collect books for schools that may need assistance, she said.
The Kids 4 Kids group may team up with its adult counterparts from time to time as well, to help take part in activities like making soup for families at Rowan House.
“They will be at the Pumpkin Chunkin with their own activities they’re planning, and they’re already going strong on those plans,” said Giroux.
The Okotoks Optimist Club’s annual Pumpkin Chunkin event is Oct. 30 at Country Living and Garden Centre.
Those interested in joining the Kids 4 Kids group can email [email protected] or [email protected].
Membership fees for the junior group are $10 per year, with some additional expenses such as $14 for a t-shirt.
For more information find the Okotoks Optimist Club or Kids 4 Kids Foothills Junior Optimist Club on Facebook.
