Submitted by Assistant Recreation Director Nick Cacciolfi, with photographs by The Corner’s supervisor Pascal Whitt
Fourteen members of the newly-established Corner Club gathered recently for a clean-up day at Bedford’s Skate Park. The event was the first community service project conducted by the club that operates out of The Corner, the Bedford Recreation Department’s afterschool drop-in center.
The Corner Club is a group of kids who regularly attend The Corner and who were interested in doing more than the typical daily activities that are offered each day. The idea for the Corner Club is based on the Keystone Club, a leadership-based group that is an integral part of every Boys and Girls club. The Recreation Department has created the Corner Club to give the kids an opportunity to learn leadership skills, give back to The Corner as well as the community, and to have fun.
The four duties of Corner Club members are:
- Service to the community/The Corner (community service projects)
- Be role models/rule followers in and outside of The Corner
- Help design and implement special events such as but not limited to: dances, parties, cookouts, tournaments, theme weeks, guest speakers, field trips, award ceremonies, community service projects, fund raisers, and to advise the staff on new ideas and equipment for the corner etc…
- To implement their own rules regulations and structure the club. The members must create rules of membership (amount of community service that is required, meeting requirements, elect officials & define roles, name the club, set expectations, etc…)
One of the main purposes of the club is for the kids to have the opportunity to make The Corner what they want it to be while learning some important lessons along the way. The adult leaders understand that this will not happen automatically, and that such groups often go through some formative stages before they start to click.
Adult leaders Nick Cacciolfi and Pascal Whitt will advise the group and set up the initial projects, but as the club moves forward the kids will have the opportunity to structure and set up the way the club runs, elect officers, run their own meetings, and set up their own projects, fundraisers and activities.
If you want to learn more about the Corner check out the Corner info at www.bedfordrecreation.org
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