Breaking out the fun

Suzie Harrison

Spring Break is a time for kids to unwind from the day-to-day demands

of school. It’s a week for students to enjoy themselves and let out

their pent up energy. One place that accommodates the needs of the

kids is the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach where on one spring

break afternoon visitors were having a blast engaging in the game

room bonanza.

Joe Derichsweiler, the director of the Boys and Girls Club, had an

audience of 35 kids ages 6 to 12, listening to his announcement that

the games were soon to begin.

“Everyone is going to be in the game room doing our game room

bonanza,” Derichsweiler said. “It’s out third day in a row and the

kids love it.”

The gym, the art room, even outside, there wasn’t a soul to be

seen, as the children geared up for the competition to begin.

“For today’s event there are going to be a lot of the same games,

and there will be some new games added,” staff member Hans LaRoche

said.

Games included bumper pool, Candyland, shuffle board, cards,

foosball, air hockey, ping pong, pool, jump rope with the new

addition of the ring toss and skittles.

“The main thing is that we’re keeping them active and busy,”

Derichsweiler said. “There isn’t a lot of down time, so they aren’t

just sitting around watching TV.”

After each match, the winner had to report to program director

Susie Hird, who had a list of all their names and was keeping score.

“We have a lot of organized games for every age to participate

in,” Hird said. “It helps kids meet each other and get to know the

staff better. It’s all about having fun and with spring break, we get

to play with them more and that’s what the staff loves.”

Laughing and playing, the children paired off, with two children

jumping rope, each doing their own different style, hoping to jump

for some points.

Maya Ramirez-Rivera, 7, and Caylin Schmenk, 10, were engaged in a

game called Mancala, an African game of counting and strategy that is

believed by some historians to be the oldest game in the world.

A lot of the children had learned the game in first grade and it

became such a hit they brought it to the club.

Diana Necula, 8, says she was enjoying her spring break and that

she comes to the club often.

“It has all these fun games,” Diana said. “I like the staff

because they’re nice and I have a lot of friends here.”

Alex Everhart, 9, was there with his brother Zach and he said the

Boys and Girls Club is cool.

“There’s a lot of games, a lot of nice people,” Zach Everhart, 11,

said. “I like spending my spring break here.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach is at 1085 Laguna Canyon

Road. Information: 494-2535.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.