The decision to be closed on those same days is based upon safety. We want to ensure that; our Club members and staff are able to arrive safely, whether they are walking or driving and that they avoid the circumstance of being ‘stranded’ at a Club site. For reference, KBSN/KDRM radio station (99.3) will run Club closure announcements in the early morning, along with school closure announcements. We will also post information on our website and Facebook page.

For a complete list of prizes and the names of the winners click the following link: Duck Finalist Listing

Click here to check out the ‘Duck Regatta’ photo album.

Although the office will try to maintain hours of 8:00-5:00, there may be times that the office staff is out also, so please call before stopping by to ensure we are in the building! See you on Monday, June 25th when we reopen!

By Cheryl Schweizer,
Herald staff writer

MOSES LAKE – Tickets – well, ducks – are on sale for the first Rubber Duck Regatta, a fundraiser set for June 16 by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin.

The ducks will be released about 9:30 a.m. to float around the Lazy River ride at the Surf ‘n Slide water park, 401 W Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.

The organization’s goal is to sell 4,000 ducks. Cost is $5 for one duck, $20 for five ducks and $100 for 25 ducks.

The first duck to float all the way around will win the grand prize of $1,500 in cash. Other prizes include $1,000 in cash, an overnight “Stay and Play” at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, tickets to Seattle Mariners games; organizers are planning about 40 prizes in all, said Deb Polito of the Boys and Girls Club.

Join us as we proudly take part in Macy’s Thanks For Sharing.

As one of our valued supporters, you’ll have the opportunity to champion Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin and other charitable causes.

Starting September 14, 2011, put your $25 enrollment on your Macy’s Credit Card and you’ll get 10% rewards on most Macy’s Card purchases* from your enrollment date through December 31, 2011.

Thanks to you, Macy’s will donate $10, up to $15 million to participating charities. The first $3 million raised will benefit Go Red For Women. The balance, up to an additional $12 million, will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund as well as local Boys & Girls Clubs like ours.

Enrollment is easy. Visit macys.com/thanks, ask a Sales Associate at any Macy’s or call 1-888-933-6229.

*Terms and conditions apply. See a Macy’s Sales Associate or go to macys.com/thanks for details.

MOSES LAKE – A $15,000 grant brings the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin closer to building a new clubhouse, possibly this summer.

The Staples Foundation for Learning gave the grant to the clubs this week.

“This new facility will have a dedicated teen space,” commented Brant Mayo, the club’s executive director. “This will allow us to run new programs and services designed for the teen members.”

The existing downtown club on Third Avenue, in downtown Moses Lake, and a second location on Arnold Street, do not have space for teens.

“It is a demographic we want to have more impact with,” Mayo stated.

In both locations, activities are provided for more than 200 youth per day.

They also learn about character and leadership development, “while increasing their community service participation and future academic and employment opportunities,” he explained.

The grant application started with the manager of the Moses Lake Staples store, Kevin Donovan.

Staples supports the club with donations, but wanted to go further, Donovan explained.

“I wanted to do something more specific for the local club,” he said. “Hopefully, it will help them get a little closer to their goal, to building their new facility.”

Staples staff members bring their children to the club, he explained.

“We’re so excited to help Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin make after-school programs that make a positive impact available to more youth throughout the community,” stated Amy Shanler, director of community relations for Staples.

“Staples Foundation is committed to supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin as they work hard to provide phenomenal academic and enrichment programs that help local youth reach their full potential,” she added.

Last year, the clubs started the public portion of their capital campaign to raise $1.5 million for its new clubhouse.

The site is located next to Park Orchard Elementary School, on Paxson Drive, in Moses Lake. The school is set to open this fall.

MOSES LAKE – Giggles and squeals of surprise mark Thursdays at the Boys & Girls Club on Arnold Drive.

Student teachers from Heritage University spend an hour each Thursday teaching children at the club about science.

Heritage adjunct John Bartkowski supervises the student teachers and gets a kick out of the lessons that present the wonders of science in a fun lesson.

“This is a unit on water,” Bartkowski said. Surface tension, buoyancy and other water-related lessons are all part of a semester of Thursdays spent at the club.

Bartkowski said Heritage has done science lessons with students in Moses Lake for the last three years but this is the first year it’s being done at the Boys & Girls Club.

“The benefit of having it here is that this is a much more conducive setting to separate the groups,” Bartkowski said.

For middle school students like Starr Hernandez, 13, of Moses Lake, the science lessons are a way to couple fun and learning.

“My favorite thing is to do the tests,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been coming for three weeks.”

Hernandez said she heard about the program from a student advisor at school.

“It sounded pretty cool and I wanted to join in,” Hernandez said.

For instructor Matt Wood, the class gives him a chance to work with students in the real world.

“My wife teaches and I love working with kids,” Wood said.

While earning his teaching certificate, Wood is also a substitute teacher.

He called the move toward becoming a teacher a “natural fit.”

“Last week, they did the Mentos in water,” Bartkowski said. “That is always fun.”

For more information about the science classes or the Boys & Girls Club, call 509-762-5832.