First Nations Celebrate National Kids Day - August 3, 2003 National Kids Day -a day set aside each year to celebrate and honor America's children by spending meaningful time with kids, helps develop a positive self-image and a sense of belonging. Here are a few examples of how Native American Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation celebrated National Kids Day. - Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club, North Carolina - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley, Idaho - Komatke Boys & Girls Club, Gila River, Arizona - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metlakatla, Alaska - Boys & Girls Clubs of North County, Fallbrook, California - Gila River Sacaton Branch Boys & Girls Club, Sacaton, Arizona - Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Oklahoma - Taos Boys & Girls Club, New Mexico - Boys & Girls Club of Wilson, Inc., Wilson, OK Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club, North Carolina Excited participants began arriving at the Talking Trees Children's Fishing Derby as early as 6:30 a.m. to get ready for a day of fishing and fun in Cherokee, NC! With perfect weather for trout fishing, Principal Chief Leon Jones welcomed over 2000 children, parents, and other family members! Sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, this annual event gives families a weekend of trout fishing and family fun in some of the best trout waters in the Southeast where the Cherokee Fish and Game Department stocked 3,000 pounds of trout. Trophies were awarded based on fish weight for four age groups. Breakfast was hosted by the Cherokee WIC Program while the Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club provided lunch in honor of National Kids Day. Elders and Storytellers entertained families with Cherokee legends and traditional Cherokee Dancers performed. Participants received t-shirts and hats and the first 100 pre-registered also received a free fishing rod. To round out the family fun, a BBQ cook off complete with a bluegrass band was held. Children also participated in a Tobacco Free Carnival sponsored by the Healthy Cherokee/Injury Prevention and Qualla Housing Authority . Several local businesses offered time, money, and materials to sponsor door prizes and trophies. Some 225 volunteers from Tribal government and the community came together to create a safe, fun, environment for everyone. While the event required many months of planning, organizing, and recruiting of volunteers it provided families with a great opportunity to spend time together and create many happy memories. Denise Ballard, Executive Director proudly announced that the derby was featured on ESPN2 during a segment on "Cumberland Stories" on August 29 and August 31! Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley, Idaho Lapwai Unit Director Anna Calkins reports that all three Clubs, Lewiston, Lapwai, and Clarkston all participated in National Kids Day. Activities included a jumping castle, free hot dogs and pop, balloon animals, face painting, parachute games and many small carnival-like events involving everyone. Since all events were held at a terrific outdoor park, bad weather forced the cancellation of all Sunday events. To make up for the cancellation, the Clubs held their own mini events at each site the following week and had a BBQ with all the donated food and beverages that were provided for the Sunday event. All in all, they had a great time for National Kids Day. Komatke Boys & Girls Club, Gila River, Arizona National Kids Day began with a Native American blessing for the kids of the Gila River community. The event was held at the Club's gym and was filled with a carnival-like atmosphere including jumping castle and snow cone machine provided by the Gila River Casino. Community partners such as Arizona Drug Prevention, HUD, and Gila River EMS and Fire Department helped make this a special day for 100 kids and family members. Club staff organized the face painting, ring toss, personalized towel booth, and the Boys & Girls Club Information booth. The Club's Keystone, Torch, and C.A.P. leadership groups helped with setup and cleanup of the event and with preparing the BBQ. All those participating had a great time! Boys & Girls Clubs of Metlakatla, Alaska This Boys & Girls Club located on he Eastern side of Alaska celebrated National Kids Day by hosting a Scavanger Hunt at a nearby ballfield. The Club organized games, prizes, and fun and held a Barbeque just for kids following the Scavenger Hunt. Boys & Girls Clubs of North County, Fallbrook, California Children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County, which includes Fallbrook and the Pala Indian Reservation, celebrated National Kids Day by holding signs and beating drums as they proceeded down the streets of Fallbrook in an Awareness Walk. After the neighborhood procession, the participants returned to the Club for a poolside barbeque, games, and contests. More than 100 kids and parents participated and all had a great time! Gila River Boys & Girls Club, Sacaton, Arizona The Gila River Sacaton Branch Boys & Girls Club, Arizona Fifteen tribal and off-reservation community agencies joined with the Gila River Sacaton Branch to celebrate National Kids Day by sponsoring a carnival and barbeque. The participation by such agencies as the fire, EMS, and police departments, diabetes education, the hospital, college, social services and recreation helped the youth and their families of the community have a day filled with good fun, positive activities, and games and prizes! Club staff worked hard to make certain that the youth would have day they could enjoy and remember! The event had three times the attendance of last year and the Club is already planning to surpass that next year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Oklahoma August 3rd, 2003 found over 400 kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles at Whitaker Park in Pryor Creek, Oklahoma. They celebrated their 3rd Annual National Kids Day with 49 community collaborations! From the Pryor Creek Optimist Club serving hot dogs, pop, and pop corn, to a local sign company, to the police finger printing booth, there was something for everyone ages 3 to 99 years old! All participants were asked to register and those who did received a ticket for door prizes at the end of the day. Most people stayed the entire day. TEENSupreme War Council Keystoners ran the games for the younger kids. Torch Clubs helped with registration and the "Water Balloon Toss". Chooch Kingfisher taught Cherokee Marbles and shared Cherokee storytelling with the kids and adults. Many families participated in the fishing tournament ( the park pond was stocked the night before!) and kids won trophies as prizes. One grand attraction was the train that chugged around the park stopping only to pick up and drop off. Another attraction was "Sponge The Mayor"! It was 100 degrees and he was delighted to help out by having wet sponges tossed at him! Staff volunteered their time to make this day a huge success. Everyone seemed to leave as happy as the clowns who were there making animal balloons and face painting! Taos Boys & Girls Club, New Mexico The Taos Boys & Girls Club and the town of Taos joined forces to celebrate National Kids Day with the 4th Annual "Touch-A-Truck held at the Club. The event gives the entire family a chance to examine police cars and fire trucks-all available for hands-on inspection. Officers and Fireman were available to answer any questions and provide tours of the vehicles. In addition, the County DWI Program provided music as well as golf cart rides. The Santa Fe Safe kids and Safe Seniors, along with support from the hospital and the cities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, sponsored a bike rodeo. Boys & Girls Club of Wilson, Inc., Wilson, Oklahoma Boys & Girls Club of Wilson, Inc. was busy celebrating National Kids Day throughout the month of August. Joined by Wilson Mayor Bill Miller, who signed a proclamation designating August 3, 2003 NKD, the Club planned a series of activities and public events to emphasize the importance of children and families. Tammy McArthur, Executive Director of B&GC of Wilson, points out that “our organizations work everyday to positively impact the lives of young people. NKD gives us yet another opportunity to let children know they are special and loved, whether they are our own children, grandchildren, or any other child in need of mentoring.” In partnership with a local production company, Wilson B&GC presented the play, “Snoopy,” a four-day entertainment and fundraising event. Each night they distributed the Kids Day family booklet and encouraged families to spend time together and celebrate NKD. They also partnered with J.C.Penneys and held a rally at the local Mall, where they distributed “Goals for Graduation” materials; sponsored a Teen Dance at the Wilson Old Gym; and participated in many back-to-school activities at the Club and at local schools. The Club reports that more than 400 participated at the NKD event and a total of 1800 community members were involved. Parents and Children: Meaningful Time Together Research shows that when adults spend meaningful time with kids, it helps them develop a positive self-image and a sense of belonging, usefulness and purpose. The Families and Work Institute's study, "Ask the Children," found that while children are happy with the amount of time their parents spend with them, they wish the time together was not rushed, but focused and rich in shared activities. According to the National Kids Day "Meaningful Time" survey, more than 50 percent of children polled agreed that spending casual time with their parents - whether playing games, talking or even watching TV - is a great way to spend meaningful time together. The one caveat? That the time parents and kids do spend together is engaging. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has the following recommendations for creating meaningful interactions between parents and kids: Focus on Children: Tips for Spending Meaningful Time with Children TIP: Make a regular habit of spending time with your child without interruptions. Turn off the television or radio, and unplug the phone. Be sure to focus your attention on your child and avoid tending to other activities such as driving, cleaning the house or working on the computer. Ask them. Kids and adults can differ about what they consider meaningful time. To know what your son or daughter enjoys, simply ask them. Find out what kinds of activities they enjoy and why. Parents may be surprised by the simple and exciting suggestions they hear. TIP: Give children a voice in selecting and planning activities. Let them help prepare snacks for a picnic or help pack a bag for the beach. Make it fun. In the "Meaningful Time" study, kids placed greater emphasis on activities that are fun-focused. Just because you are engaged, meaningful activities doesn't mean you can't have fun in the process. TIP: If you're playing a game of chess or checkers, make the pieces edible; wear a chef's hat to make dinner; read a bedtime story in a funny accent; think like a kid! Interact . . . Don't just watch. Surprisingly, less than one-in-ten children said that having parents watch their activities (such as sporting event, plays, etc.) constituted meaningful time. TIP: Take part in fun activities rather than sitting on the sidelines. For example, play a game of baseball with a child or write your own family play and cast different family members as the lead characters . ... costumes and all! Listen. Kids need to feel wanted and supported by their parents. What better way to do that then by listening to what your child has to say? TIP: Play the telephone game. Listen to what your child tells you and then repeat it to someone else in the family or one of his/her friends. Did you get it right? Use this time to tell your child how important his/her thoughts are and how committed you are to listening to them. Young at heart. "Parents doing things they enjoy" was among the top five ways children think parents could make time together more meaningful, important and memorable. TIP: Select games and activities that both you and your children will enjoy, such as baking cookies, gardening, building a model airplane or fixing a car.