Briefly In Education

Back-to-School party planned

Students from low-income households will get a head start on back-to-school activities with help from local organizations.

The event, sponsored by No Square Theatre, Laguna Beach Police Assn., Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, Laguna Resource Center, Susi Q Seniors and the Exchange Club, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at Legion Hall, 384 Legion St.

The White House and South Coast Cinemas will provide hot dogs and barbecue treats for attendees.

The community is asked to help get students of low income families “excited about school and off on the right foot” by donating backpacks, clothing, canned food, and school supplies such as pens, highlighters, notebooks and binders.

Items can be dropped off at Legion Hall or at the Chamber of Commerce at any time before the event.

Club members have their day at Angel Stadium

Eight Major League Baseball sluggers participated in the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby and seven lucky Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach members got the opportunity to participate in the 2010 T-Ball Home Run Derby recently. The festivities took place outside Angels Stadium during the week of the All Star Game and provided an opportunity for Orange County Boys & Girls Clubs to raise money and learn fielding and hitting techniques from some of the games’ best players.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and softball great Jennie Finch participated in the event, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, which served as a fundraiser for Orange County Area Boys & Girls Clubs.

Nine year old, Brooks Hogenauer of the TLC Branch said, “It was a lot of fun—I got to be Cal’s partner!”

Following the clinics, local media members along with Ripken and Finch paired with Boys & Girls Club kids to swing for the fences in the Media T-Ball Home Run Derby. State Farm donated $50 for each home run hit and raised $5,150. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club visit https://www.bgclagunabeach.org or call (949) 494-2535.

Cultivating a new generation of artists

Creativity has been running high at the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, where children ages 5 to 18 have been exploring their artistic side through weekly summer art programs including Global Art, Fine Art, Photography Club, Jewelry Making, Great Artists, Movie Making, Fine Arts and Sculpture/ 3D Art.

“Participation in one or all of the Art Clubs gives members a chance to express themselves, as they learn new techniques and skills, while having fun and discovering what they enjoy about art,” Art Director Emily Murray said. “We provide the space, mentorship and teaching, materials, and resources to make it possible for any child to begin and developed their exploration in the Arts.”

Summer Photography Club members rode the trolley to locations throughout Laguna as they learned to capture photos of the world around them, as well as participate in the Photography Mentorship Program at the Festival of Arts where they discussed their photos and were mentored by working photographers.

“Members will enter their photos in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Regional and National Competitions where they will compete with members from other Clubs all over the world,” Murray said. “This year, local club members Olivia Ladaire and Solei Prats have won at the Pacific Regional Photography Competition level and are now going on to the National level.”

A new Club offering this summer was Movie Making, which provided members with hands-on experience in the areas of writing, filming, acting and editing their own movies.

“The kids made some great short films and commercials and had tons of fun learning a bit about what it takes to me a movie,” Murray said.

For those interested in developing fine art skills, the Fine Art Club provided instruction in new techniques using acrylic and watercolor paint, printmaking, collage, and mixed media as well as joining in Great Artists Club, where they learn about famous artists from history and then create their own art in a similar style.