INUVIK
When school closes for the day on Tuesdays, it's game on for a small group of students at East Three Secondary School.

Shaomek Bernhardt is one of the 15 or so members of the new East Three Secondary School Gaming Club. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The Gaming Club likely isn't quite what you might think of when it comes to after-school activities, but it's a grassroots initiative that's slowly garnering more attention among the students.

The idea has been germinating for some time, but it took root about two months ago when its founding members, Chance Clarke-Kuzman and Dalton McLeod, approached school staff with the idea.

"Our idea was just to have fun after school," Clarke-Kuzman said.

In particular, the concept was to make gaming paraphernalia available to fellow students who didn't have ready access to equipment, he added.

"We didn't know if there was going to be a market for it, so it was a (pleasant) surprise," he added. "We didn't know what the school's reaction was going to be."

In fact, Clarke-Kuzman said he thought the school administration would most likely turn it down, so he was also pleasantly surprised when they embraced the idea.

The members play a variety of video games, all rated suitable to be played in a school environment, with Guitar Hero being a favourite amongst them.

The rating system, casually supervised by staff liaison Abe Drennan, rankles the club members, but only a little.

They also play a variety of other games, including cards and sometimes board games.

The social aspect is the main motivator, said club members Kai Cardinal and Lane Voudrach.

"We just like to hang out," Cardinal said.

It's one of only two clubs at the school that were formed following requests from the student body themselves, said one of the members. The second is the chess club, which has fewer members.

Drennan said he's impressed by the initiative shown by the students. He's had to do very little direct supervision, other than ensuring the games remain "non-violent" and suitable for being played at school.

"This is really cool," he said. "The kids self-organize and operate tournaments playing non-violent video games like Super Mario, Rock Band, etc. They also play cards and socialize.

"I just say, 'No violent games,' and that's all," Drennan said.

"At first, I was paying too much attention, and then I saw one game they had brought in. I told them I didn't think the school administrators would like that kind of game, and since I've restricted them to games with general rating. They respect that, and that's fine.

"I think it's more the social aspect anyway for them. All I've done is given them some space, and that's all that they need. Sometimes that's all kids need."

The club members have also run bake sales to fundraise and buy themselves snacks like popcorn and juice.

McLeod and Clarke-Kuzman bring in some equipment, such as an Xbox, every week along with storing some games with Drennan.

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