LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
At a new club in Fort Simpson, board games became more than just a way to occupy a few hours.
William Alger, left, and Nathaniel Tsetso start a game of Dungeon Quest at the Never Board Game Club held at Aurora College in Fort Simpson. - photo courtesy of Dean Harvey
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Literacy, interpersonal and non-verbal communications skills were all being developed by participants in the Never Board Game Club, often without participants being aware of the learning that was taking place. Dean Harvey, a community adult educator at Aurora College in Fort Simpson, developed the idea for the club.
Harvey's initial goal for the club was to support literacy in boys. Generally in schools, boys' literacy levels often don't keep pace with girls', he said.
"Boys need to learn in a boy-friendly environment," he said.
Because boys like a bit of competition, board games provide a perfect literacy opportunity, Harvey said. The educator is also very enthusiastic about board games, which he grew up playing.
"From Grade 7 to 10, I was insanely playing chess," he said.
Playing Parcheesi
In his earlier years, Harvey also spent a lot of family time playing Parcheesi with his grandparents.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment provided $2,800 for the club through its community literacy development fund, which provided enough funding for a person to supervise the club and the purchase of between 30 to 40 different board games.
Although the target audience was boys, the youth drawn to the club turned out to be an even mix of boys and girls. The club ran between 3 to 9 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m. between March 14 and 23 with longer hours on Saturdays. The club also ran after school every Thursday between March 28 and April 11.
Every session drew an average of between six to eight youths. Mary-Anne Muyambo, 11, was one of the regulars. Life is Muyambo's favourite board game from the club's collection. Operation is her second favourite choice.
"I hit the sides a lot, but it's fun," she said.
Life was also a popular choice for Charlene Brown, 10, another club member, although Yahtzee was her first pick.
"It's fun," she said about the club.
Range of games
The club had a range of games for youth of varying literacy levels. There was everything from KerPlunk for pre-literate youth to Sorry and Life for youth with moderate literacy skills, said Harvey. For teens and adults, Harvey chose less well-known games including Shogun, Illuminati and Down with the King.
The club also promoted parents and adult family members coming to play with the youth. Board games are a good family activity because you learn to win, lose and negotiate, Harvey said. People also learn how to read facial expressions, a non-verbal communication skill, while playing board games, he said.
The club is now closed for the year, but if he can secure more funding, Harvey hopes to reopen it in the next school year. The club was a success, he said.
"They came in and were playing for hours," said Harvey.
