By WJEZ Staff
Jodi Martin, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Livingston County, says October marks a nationwide rally for Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. The month-long event is called “Lights On,” and Martin says it’s an opportunity to bring attention to the things the clubs do for kids every day. Martin says the Livingston County Clubs in Pontiac and Fairbury are going to be turning the spotlight on their after-school programs. “We’re going to showcase what the kids are doing in our STEAM programs,” Martin says. STEAM is an acronym for focused studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics. Martin says the young people at the clubs will get to display their work during a special event scheduled for Thursday, October 25th.
Jordan Hornickel, the Senior Program Director for the club, adds that a number of activities are starting up at both clubs as the colder weather sets in. The Fairbury and Pontiac clubs have a before-school program now that gives kids a place to go if their parents have to be at work earlier in the day. Hornickel says there are activities going on for teens, and she says a robotics team is currently forming. Young people in that program will work with professional adult programmers and engineers and learn the fundamentals of robotics. Hornickel says the robotics team will design a machine and travel to competitions to face off against other robots. Cold weather sports programs are starting up as well and Martin and Hornickel encourage anyone with questions to call the Boys and Girls Club in Pontiac at (815) 842-3089, or the club in Fairbury at (815) 692-2423.
