FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

You made it! It's Friday and you actually made it to the end of the week. Way to go. It was a good time getting here though, wasn't it? Of course it was. We have got a pretty neat-o kind of day planned for you. Today is JERSEY DAY, so wear one. We will be playing a thrilling game of CLUE during brain boost. And at 5:00 p.m. we will be flexing and stretching our bodies in a game of TWISTER. So make sure your feeling limber. And finally, you guessed it...our HARRY POTTER MOVIE MARATHON continues.

And you all know the spiel. It's Friday...be safe, be smart and BE HAPPY! See all your beautiful faces on Tuesday.

Laters ;)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Today is the day! That's right, the day!!! Today is the day we start our HARRY POTTER MOVIE MARATHON. What?!?! Yes! We will be watching all of the Harry Potter movies from the very first to the very last. Now, such a grand achievement cannot be accomplished in the mere confines of just one day. So, the solution is most obviously to divide the awesomeness of our Harry Potter marathon among two days. Crazy cool beans, right? We will be meeting at Platform 9 3/4, otherwise known as the couches.

After school, during our brain boost activity, we will be passing go, hopefully avoiding jail and possibly making many quid. Yep, it's the game of MONOPOLY.

And at 6:30 p.m. there will be a HOCKEY SHOOT OUT.

Our eyeGO trip to see the music of Bob Dylan has been cancelled due to lack of interest. Common guys, it's Bob Dylan! Oh well. We need to work on your taste in music a bit...well quite a bit.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Wednesday what?!?! Yep that's right, it's midweek. So how do we spend this middle day of the week? Well, first we start by rocking some Wii SMARTYPANTS. Then at 6:30 p.m. we will be hitting a few homers playing BASEBALL. The weather is suppose to be lovely, so come out and join the game. And finally, we will be ending our evening with a POOL TOURNAMENT.

Anna went to the library and picked up a few flicks. Yesterday we watched the movie Real Steal. We also have the new Footloose. Come and chillax on the couch and watch a flick.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Today is Tuesday. On this most glorious Tuesday we will be getting our groove on with some DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION. And if you'd like to get your swim on, come out at 6:30 for SWIMMING (cost of $2.50 applies). Anna also brought some movies in if your interested in some chill time on the sofa. Hope to see you.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Have you noticed that I like to ask a lot of questions? Do you like questions too? What's your favorite questions?  Did you know that when you ask a question sometimes you will get an answer? Did you see what I did there? And how about there? Questions are great, aren't they? Wow I'm good, wouldn't you agree?  Haha ok, I think I'm done meow...or am I?  Yes, I am! So, if my counting is accurate, I managed to ask a total of 8 questions there. Impressive, I know. Our brain boost activity today will be 20 QUESTIONS.

At 5:00 p.m., given the current state of environmental conditions, we will be WALKING THE INDOOR TRACK. So get those walking boots or shoes or clogs or moccasins or Oxfords or high tops or runners or...you might have guessed I have a thing for shoes! Any which way, ensure your feet are covered with the proper sort of footwear and join us in a few laps. After all, these boots were made for walking the track.  

At 7:30 p.m. Anna will be MAKING A SNACK. Now I'll admit that all my snacks have not been completely successful but we always have fun and our creations almost always taste good. So why not come in and lend a hand in making our snack. If you do, you get to lend your mouth in the eating part too. I'm not sure that made sense but you got the general idea. Food = yum...basic stuff really.

And to wash down our delicious snacks we will be having a POP CHUGGING CONTEST. Choose your flavor of choice and get that throat ready for some serious chugging of soda pop. Yeah I said soda pop.

Enjoy your weekend but keep out of harms way.

Laters :) 

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

On the agenda today, some Wii TRIVIAL PURSUIT. At 4:30 p.m. we will be playing some SOCCER. Our evening event will be FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS & BEADING. And finally, since the girls had their turn yesterday, tonight will be the chance for the boys to experience BOYS ROUND TABLE at 7:00 p.m. We've got some snacks, nom nom. So come in to the YC and check us out. We're a pretty good time.

Laters ;)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Who sunk my battleship? Was it you?!?! How dare you? Oh, so you mean to tell me that the object of the game is to sink my poor battleship? Well, fine then! In that case I'll try and sink your battleship. You probably guessed it, we are playing BATTLESHIP.

Attention youth: bring in your roller-blades! We will be going ROLLER-BLADING as long as the weather cooperates. Perhaps you should also bring a rain slicker or some sort of water resistant body covering. So if the weather is not ideal for roller-blading, we may try and go for a rain neature walk (yes, you read that right! I wrote neature. If you don't understand, look back at some of my older posts) or something of the sort. Rain walks are some kind of lovely, so either way we will be having a super lovely time.

Then at 7:00p.m. we will have our first GIRLS ROUND TABLE. It's something we are trying out. So come and check it out. But don't fret guys, tomorrow will be the first Boys Round Table.

And finally, our evening event will be GUITAR HERO. Let's rock this Youth Centre.

Laters :)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

We got a real chill kind of day for you. After all, Tuesdays are our Mondays here at the YC. So, after school, from 3pm to 4pm, we will be having a STUDY HOUR/HOMEWORK HELP.

At 6:30p.m., for those brave at heart or maybe I should say warm at heart, we will be venturing into that fall weather and playing some BUMP/BASKETBALL. Brrr, make sure to dress warm enough.

And the evening event tonight will be CRANIUM. That will surely warm up our minds which will help warm our limbs after a chilly game of B-Ball.

Laters :)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Our last game of Scrabble was quite captivating...there was some awesome lexical creativity and some high scores. I myself boosted a 27 pointer and at the end we all worked as a solid Youth Centre team, relinquishing teams and individual scores to just help each other use all our letters. It was simply a thing of beauty.Way to go YC. So join us today for a game of SCRABBLE during our brain boost time. 

Sharks! Need I say more? I think not. But maybe I will just let you in on the fact that we will be rocking some SHARK WEEK VIDEOS as our evening event. Really, nothing left to say. Sharks are amazing.

And to end the week, you can jump off a 5 meter platform into a pool. Pretty cool? I thought so. The Youth Centre will be going to SWIMPLEX. We will be leaving the YC at 7:30p.m. and returning by 10:00p.m. The cost to any members 17 years and younger is $5.00 and $5.50 for members 18 years and older. Make sure to remember your permission form and money. And obviously you'll need your swimsuit and towel. Ah, can't wait to relax in that hot tub!

Well, we find ourselves at the end of another week. It's Friday night, promptly followed by the weekend. So, my readers...please make smart and safe decisions.

Laters :)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

It's Thursday! And it just happens to be B-E-A-utiful out there. Perfect really as today, at 7:00p.m., is the first time we will be GOING FOR A JOG/RUN with Anna. Now, I don't dare call myself a runner but I own running shoes (well actually, I own lots of running shoes) and I like to don said running shoes rather frequently and hit the dusty trail or the forest trail or even the pavement. Alright, maybe if you squint from really far away I can pass as the most magical creature known as a runner. So if your interested in jogging/running, I would LOVE to have you come out and join me in putting some km's on. I am hoping to make it a weekly event, kind of like a running clinic. We could even work up to a 3km or 5km race...go team Youth Centre...or a Half Marathon. Alright, I'll slow it down a little. But seriously you should bring your runners and join me.

And for all you musicians and music lovers alike, we are having some music time here at the YC. So if you have an instrument or even if you don't (we've got a keyboard and some drums here, your welcome to use) come in a enjoy some MUSIC TIME: BRING AN INSTRUMENT this evening. I know we have lots of talent among our Youth members and am super stoked to see it.

Laters :)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Is it a fire bell? No, it's a bicycle! Oh wait, maybe it is suppose to be a shark. I give up, what is it your drawing? So, if you hadn't guessed already, we will be playing some PICTIONARY during our brain boost period. And the answer is a hammock, I was drawing a hammock. Haha!

Then at 4:30p.m. we will be doing some jumping of the long variety. In other words, we will be LONG JUMPING. So bring your runners and lots of energy and lets see how far you can go.

In the evening we will be going back old school style by playing some SUPER NINTENDO SIMPSONS. That's right, I said Super Nintendo...cause that's just how we roll here at the Youth Centre.

And at 7:00p.m. we will be having our first YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING of the year. So all Youth Council members are expected to attend with enthusiasm and ideas. Can't wait to see you all there.

Laters :)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

At 6:30 this evening we will be venturing to GIBSON PARK to play, discover and explore. Maybe we will even play some Frisbee or catch! This summer I discovered that I  like to play Frisbee and am not too bad at it either.

Our evening event will be to LEARN TO DRAW CARTOON ANIMALS. We have a resident artist or two here at the Youth Centre, hopefully they will share some of their super skills with us.

And a GIANT SHOUT OUT to our Senior Boys! They were the top winners of our "Go for the Gold" series of summer challenges. As the winners, they indulged in a pizza party earlier today. Good job guys, you rocked it all summer long!!

Laters :)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

CHESS. A mighty fine game, indeed. This mighty fine game will be played here at the Youth Centre this afternoon during our brain boost time slot. So let us get those brains boosted and play a match or two.

After those delicious treats we indulged in during our Junior and Senior Round Tables we need to get our bodies moving. So this afternoon, at 5:00 p.m., we will be RACING THE OUTDOOR TRACK. I'm excited to see what kind of racing talent we have amongst ourselves. Maybe some future Olympians? Alrighty, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself but I have faith that you guys will blow me away or should I say blow past me.

And, and, and...at 6:30 p.m. we will be driving any and all interested members in grades 6, 7, 8 to the K2K DANCE in St. Jacobs. And I guess we can drive you back too (just in case you didn't pick up on my attempt at humor, we will drive you there and back, both ways no exception). We will be leave the dance at 9:30 p.m. to return to the Youth Centre. The cost of this trip is $5.00, so please make sure you bring your permission form and money if you plan on attending.

And to end a pretty awesome week we will be having an AIR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. Let me warn you, you should get your game face on because as I am currently witnessing some staff and youth members battling it out on the air hockey table...and they are good. Real good. So come prepared for a challenge! You may even decide to challenge someone to a dual. We will turn air hockey into a game for the noblest of knights.

So I think that is about it for this week. Hope you not only survived school but maybe actually enjoyed it. Next week should be a bit better, routines will come a little easier. Great job everyone, you did great this week. And since it is Friday and your back at school I must remind you to be safe and make good decisions tonight and the rest of the weekend. See you Tuesday!

Laters :)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Did you know that crokinole is believed to have originated in Perth County, Ontario, Canada!! Wowzers, I'm just as shocked as you. Who knew Ontario created such amazing action board games. I know, I shocked you again. Crokinole is indeed considered an "action board game", well at least according to the all knowing Wikipedia (we bow to you, most humble source of unlimited and almost always accurate information). So, if my thought process is correct (which it always is of course), we Ontarians are currently super cool but this coolness has existed since at least 1876, the year crokinole is believed to have been created (although I'm sad to report that it was first patented in NYC). I'm not sure about you but I feel just a little bit prouder to be part of this provinces history. I mean crokinole and Anna both came from Ontario, could it get any more cool beans?!? Well of course it can, it can always get cooler here at the Youth Centre, which just happens to be located in Ontario too! I just blew your mind, I know I did so don't even try to refute it. So let's recap. Anna, crokinole and the Youth Centre...all seriously awesome and all from or currently located in Ontario. Now, just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about crokinole I'm going to tell you this simply isn't true. Did you know that the use of any lubricating powder is very controversial in the world of crokinole with some, and  I quote, "purists reviling the practice". And while crokinole is thought to have orginated from Ontario, the word itself is of French origins meaning a type of cookie. In fact, in Quebec the word crokinole designated a pastry purportedly similar to a doughnut. So maybe the next game of crokinole you play should be played while chowing down on some cookies and pastries, I mean it would be the appropriate way to play. And finally did you know that there is a World Crokinole Championship and it is held in Tavistock, Ontario! Whoa, who knew. Now, getting back to the matter at hand, we are going to boost your brain this afternoon by playing a game or two of CROKINOLE. Bring those cookies and pastries.

At 6:30 p.m. we will be playing some HACKY SACK. And since I raved on and on about crokinole I can't possibly ignore hacky sack without hurting it's feelings. So, did you know that Hacky Sack is actually the trademarked name for a type of  footbag. Much like Kleenex is a trademarked name for a type of facial tissue. Now I know all you readers are about as cool as anyone could ever get but just in case your not up on the this game of footbag I will give you a few things to ponder over. The goal of any game of footbag is to keep the footbag off the ground without using your hands (so I guess a monkey could play too seeing as the primary difference is our opposable thumbs and when you take those out of the equation we are practically identical...well maybe not quite!). Some ways players achieve this goal is by utilizing tricks such as stalls, bag daggers, ham spalts and milk tosses. But unlike crokinole, hacky sack is a relatively new game, having been created in 1972.

At 7:00 p.m. Anna will be leading the JUNIOR ROUND TABLE. It''s the first week back at school and I'm sure you've got a ton on your mind. Why not come out and talk about it with me and some of your fellow members? We are all in this together, so let's talk about it, be it happy, sad or just silly. Hope to see you there. And P.S. there will be some treats. So really you have no reason not to go!

Finally, our evening event will be SUPER NINTENDO MARIO ALL STARS. So come on in to the Youth Centre. As you can tell I'm pretty neat, Cat is cool, all our members rock and the scene is always awesome. What more could you ask for? Nothing, the answer is nothing.

Laters :)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Getting back into the swing of things? Longing for those days of the past? I'm definitely missing those sunny, lazy, hazy days of summer. But this time of year comes with some delights as well. Just think of baked pumpkin treats, hot chocolate, sweaters and cool nights! Ah see, it's not all gloom from here on out. NO! We are going to embrace all the special things that come with this time of year. I don't know about you but I love anything with pumpkin in it...just think of all the delicious possibilities.

Our brain boost activity this afternoon will be UNO. So get those card playing fingers ready.
At 6:30p.m. we will be breaking free of all our troubles and SKIPPING. Did you know that skipping is considered exercise? Well, it is! Pretty amazing that something as fun and silly as skipping could also be so healthy for you. So come and join in, we would love to see any crazy skipping skills out there.

At 7:00p.m. there will be a SENIOR ROUND TABLE...our first of the school year. Your surely have lots to talk about, so come on out and let's chat.

And finally, our evening event will be Wii MARIO PARTY, dibs on Princess!

Laters :)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

IT'S SEPTEMBER!!!! Can you believe it? I feel like it was just the Victoria Day long weekend and by some magic we find ourselves in this month of September. The month that school starts and the weather starts to shift towards fall. Can you feel it? I know I can! To commemorate the change of season and the change of pace here at the Youth Centre we are back to our regular hours. So what exactly does that mean you ask? Well, it means we are open Tuesday to Friday from 3:00-5:30 and 6:00-10:00. Soooo, how was your first day of school? Was it just lovely? Did you make new friends? Did you get homework? What did you eat for lunch? Come in to the YC and tell me all about it, I want to know everything!

Tonight we will be playing some BALL HOCKEY at 6:30p.m. Oh, that must mean fall is not to far. We are prepping ourselves for hockey season! And our evening event will be a POOL TOURNAMENT...now I must admit that my skills, perhaps not the greatest to start, have gotten slightly rusty. So please go easy on me. Deal? Deal! Great, glad we understand each other. Well that's about it, thought we'd keep it casual for your first day back at school.

Laters :)