

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.
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Location
Club Forge meetings will take place at the Westcott Study Center every 3rd Sunday of each month from 2:45pm - 5:45pm.

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
Dates, 2023-24
(Every third Sunday of the month)
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September 17
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October 15
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November 19
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December 17
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January 21
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February 18
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March 15-16 or 16-17
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(Camping Trip!)
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April 21
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May 19
Schedule
2:45pm - Arrival
3:00pm - Main Activity
4:00pm - Talk for Fathers;
Short Activity for the boys
4:30pm - Talk for Sons (Fathers present)
5:00pm - Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
(Confessions available)
5:15pm - Snack and get-together
5:45pm - Depart
Sample Activities and Talk Topics:
Activities
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How to build a fire
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How to change a car tire
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Steak grilling competition
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Build and launch model rockets
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Build and launch water rockets
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Guest speaker from NASA
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Bike the bayou
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Team charades
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Magic tricks
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Chess tournament
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Human Stratego
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Pumpkin carving
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Foam sword dueling
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Feeding the homeless
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BB gun shooting
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How to juggle
Talks for Fathers
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The True Purpose of Discipline
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Educating in Friendship
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Educating in Temperance
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The Importance of a Father’s Example
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Educating in Human Love & Sexuality
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Naming the Virtues
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The Temperaments
Talks for Sons
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Temperance
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Charity
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Industriousness
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Gratitude
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Loyalty
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Friendship
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Happiness