Northland Boys & Girls Clubs Focus on Staying Active in the Winter

Virtual reality and four-square and bumper balls, oh my!

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northland Boys and Girls Clubs are putting a seven thousand five hundred dollar donation from Pier B Resort to good use. The Clubs had to get a little creative when looking for solutions to keep kids active in the winter according to Northland Boys & Girls Club Operations Director Emily Burnside, so they looked to the people who know what kids like best.

We ask the kids: ‘What do you like to do? What do you want to do? What are you interested in?’ because that makes them wanna come and be engaged with us,” Burnside said. “You know, it’s not just a bunch of adults sitting around thinking ‘oh, maybe a kid will like this.’ We really take into account their opinions, what they’re interested in, what they’re excited about, before we make any decision in the club.”

The bumper balls, VR headsets, and pickle ball games were all chosen by kids as a part of the Clubs’ Healthy Lifestyle Programming.