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Club Forge
About the Program
"Turn up the heat!"
Club Forge is a friendship and character-building club for boys entering grades 3 through 5 and their fathers. The club has 3 aims: First, to imbue the boys with a desire to be men of virtue and to give them some of the tools they need to reach that goal. Second, to provide the dads an opportunity where they can lead their sons in collaborative and fun activities. And third, to be a venue to foster friendship in an environment of good leisure and formation.
In a fun and manly environment, Club Forge activities require close collaboration between fathers and their sons. These activities are not necessarily easy. Some require skill with tools or with artistic creativity (which may be lacking). Some activities are awkward or frustrating given a lack of experience or limited time. But these activities are opportunities for fathers to show their sons leadership, since they must work together in a shared task. The activity will allow fathers to demonstrate virtues such as patience, perseverance, order and humility. The product of each father-son team will be seen and recognized by the group: the launch of a rocket, the display of a jack-o-lantern, load testing of a spaghetti-marshmallow structure or the performance of a funny skit to name a few.
These days more than ever, boys are looking to their fathers for guidance, example, optimism and love. During Club Forge meetings each month, fathers and sons can get together and have more focused time in meaningful, formative activities and extreme fun.
Location
Club Forge meetings will take place at the Westcott Study Center every 3rd Sunday of each month from 3:00pm - 5:30pm.
What are the goals for the boys?
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To begin thinking about what kind of men they want to be when they grow up
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To learn about some fundamental virtues and how they can live them
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To engage in fun cooperative activities with their fathers
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To become friends with other boys outside of the school environment who are seeking the same goals
What are the goals for the fathers?
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To spend focused time collaborating with their sons in activities that allow them to exercise their leadership and demonstrate virtues
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To better understand and articulate the virtues and see how they can help their sons acquire them
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To have more occasions for the conversations they want to have with their sons about deeper subjects
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To form friendships with other fathers who are also interested in developing their son's character
Activities for the Boys (20 min)
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3-Team Dodge Ball
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Hand Ball
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Basketball
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Soccer
Main Activities (45-50 min)
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Make and Launch Solid Fuel Rockets
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Design and Carve Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkins
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Father-Son Steak Barbecue Cook-offs
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Spaghetti-Marshmallow Bridge-building Competition
Meeting Dates for
the 2022 Sep-Dec Session
(Every third Sunday of the month)
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September 18
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October 16
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November 20
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December 18
Schedule for Meetings
2:45pm - Arrival
3:00pm - Main Activity
4:00pm - Talk for the fathers only
Short Activity for the boys
4:30pm - Talk for the sons (with fathers attending)
5:00pm - Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, confessions available
5:15pm - Snack and get-together
5:30pm - Depart
Topics for Talks to Fathers
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Toughness for the Adolescent Boy
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When is Your Son Ready for a Smartphone?
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On Discipline
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Teaching Boys Mindfulness and Attention
Topics for Talks to Sons
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What Does it Mean to Be Tough
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Order and the Good Use of Things
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The 4th Commandment: Respect for Those in Authority
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Working Hard and Doing Good Work
