Boys & Girls Club of Carson Valley going strong

GARDNERVILLE, Nev.

Are you looking for a fun and safe place for your children after school? The Boys & Girls Club of Carson Valley offers services Monday through Friday at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

The club operates from 2-6:30 p.m. during the school year. Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. Children in first to 12th grades as of fall 2009 are welcome to register.

There are five core program areas at the club: character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. In addition to the wonderful variety of games, scientific experiments and special interest days surrounding these core areas, the club places extra emphasis on academics. Homework is mandatory for the first hour of the day, every day throughout the school year. Tutoring is available.

The yearly registration fee of $15 covers all after-school sessions. Summer session costs $20 per week. Transportation services are available from Meneley, Gardnerville and Minden elementary schools and Carson Valley Middle School during the school year.

To register your child, you'll need to complete a packet and attend an orientation meeting at Pau-Wa-Lu. Orientation meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Discounts are available for more than one child and the club also offers scholarships.

For more information, call (775)443-7642 or visit www.bgcwn.org and click on "Carson Valley Site."

Training update

I have completed my "Couch-to-5K" running plan and am up to running 30 minutes at a time, three times per week. I stuck to the plan I found on www.coolrunning.com and much to my surprise, it took me just over two months to reach this milestone.

Mind you, I use the term running loosely. My runs are more like jogs, but that doesn't dissuade me. It actually feels good to get out there and do something I have never done before.

I have yet to experience runners' high, although I have certainly felt stronger on some days. Other days it feels like I am trying to run on two logs instead of legs, but that usually passes after the first couple of miles. Listening to tunes on my iPod and keeping my gaze up and toward our beautiful mountain scenery does a lot to help my motivation as well.

Now without a schedule to follow, I'm wavering a bit. I plan to start a training program for a 5K race and see where that takes me. Hopefully, I will be ready to participate in a race by summertime.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com