Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley will participate in the semi-annual Pinewood Derby at the Newhall Clubhouse on Wednesday, July 18 starting at 4:30 p.m.

Children seven and older are designing, building and racing their cars made from small blocks of wood.

Through the program, the children are learning and reinforcing science, engineering and mathematics skills they learn in school.

The Pinewood Derby program is an old-fashioned youth program with 21st Century applicability.

“Our members are developing STEAM skills and knowledge in Pinewood Derby, and they are having fun doing it,” said Club CEO Matt Nelson.

“We have two fantastic volunteers, Bill and Darleen Lyons, who are working with club staff to provide this opportunity to our members,” Nelson said.

Club kids design their car. Volunteers and staff help them transfer their design to the block of wood. Bill then takes the wood home and cuts it for the kids, who then sand, pain, and build their cars.

It is hands-on learning at its best as participants have to consider and test how the laws of physics, such as friction and gravity, will affect their cars ability to make it over the finish line first.

Pinewood Derby is part of the Boys & Girls Club’s Summer Brain Gain program, which aims to reduce summer learning loss experienced by youth over summer vacation.

Funding for Summer Brain Gain was provided through generous donations at the Club’s Annual Benefit Auction: All That Glitters is Gold last month.

“The support we received during Fund-A-Need at the Auction this year is being used to run awesome educational summer programming like Pinewood Derby,” said club Board President Ann-Marie Bjorkman. “Thank you to everyone who donated in support of the Club.”

Anyone interested in supporting programs like Pinewood Derby can do so online at www.scvbgc.org.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley
Founded in 1968, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley provides 1,700 local youth, ages 7-17, with programs that provide a safe and supportive environment, support academic success, and develops character and leadership.

Membership is just $60 a year for the first child and $45 for each additional sibling (scholarships available).

The club’s mission is to “enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.”

Visit either clubhouse today to register: 24909 Newhall Ave. in Newhall 91321 or 19425 Stillmore St. in Canyon Country 91351 or visit us online at www.scvbgc.org.