Friday, April 26, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
Zumba instructor Karla Snell leads a group of Massena Boys and Girls Club members at Jefferson Elementary School in Massena. MASSENA -- With doors opening only a month ago, the Boys and Girls Club of …
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Zumba instructor Karla Snell leads a group of Massena Boys and Girls Club members at Jefferson Elementary School in Massena.
MASSENA -- With doors opening only a month ago, the Boys and Girls Club of Massena says they have taken off to a "dynamic start with over 100 members."
Massena area children in grades four through six partake in the afterschool, program which meets every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Jefferson elementary school.
“Every day club meets, we get more registration forms turned in and more kids signing up,” says program director Debra Donatto. “At this rate, we may double our numbers before the end of this school year.”
Club members rotate through three blocks of activity, including sports and rec, power hour and connections. Within each block, the children are offered choices to keep them entertained, active and having fun. Daily offerings range from arts and crafts, cooking, homework help and computer time to more active programs like freeze tag, dodge ball and now, Zumba, the club said.
Zumba instructor Karla Snell from Massena's Gotta Dance studio offers to club members Zumba lessons free of charge.
“They are getting exposed to something that they might not be able to do or know about, and it’s great fun exercise,” says Ms. Snell who volunteers to teach Zumba at the Boys & Girls Club once a month.
Most Zumba classes traditionally use Latin music to keep the beat, but Snell chooses to use popular music that the kids know and hear on the radio. The first Zumba class was Nov. 19. As each of the three groups of kids rotated into the sports and rec block, they had a choice between basketball in the gym or Zumba. The turnout was surprisingly good for the first class, according to the club.
“The kids weren’t sure what Zumba was at first, but just loved it,” Donatto said. “We had a lot of very sweaty kids leaving club that night.”
The next Zumba class for BGCM Club members will be on Dec. 10 during club hours.
Those interested in volunteering or joining the Boys and Girls Club of Massena can contact Donatto at 250-7806 or visit http://www.bgcmassena.org.
