Eagle Rock LEGO Club celebrates two years of inspiring children
March 25, 2015
Charlea Mills
Saturday marked a special day for a group based out of Eagle Rock. The LEGO Club celebrated their second anniversary, and to make the occasion special, they held a double birthday party in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’s birthday.
One Saturday a month, the LEGO Club meets in the Eagle Rock Community Building and allows for children of all ages to bring in their recent creations to share with the group and work on a new build of the month. The group was founded and is still headed by Kara Fletcher. She said that her passion for LEGOs runs deep, and she has always loved them. She said, “I loved LEGOs growing up and actually wanted to study architecture in college.” However, Fletcher went into childhood education instead, and that shows.
Fletcher’s genuine appreciation for the children in the club is obvious as she asks questions about each project a child has brought in and encourages other children in the group to do the same. Over 300 children have siphoned through the club in two years, and Fletcher said the individual meetings have hosted 20 to 30 children reliably each time. In the summer, the group often has new visitors when children coming to visit grandparents for the summer join. Kids from toddlers to teenagers come to each meeting.
Fletcher said, “I can’t believe two years has gone by and how successful it’s been, and it makes me excited for the future.” Fletcher shared what it is about the club that she thinks makes it so successful is the way LEGOs can be enjoyed by people of all ages, capabilities and levels. She’s even had adults come to the meetings alone because they love to build. She added, “We’ve also had grandparents who were going to have their grandkids for the summer come just to see how to play with kids on their level.”
She went on, “Some of the older people see these kids on their tablets and phones and they don’t think they can relate. But put a tub of LEGOS in front of them and it evens the playing field.”
Since Fletcher is a stay at home mom, the LEGO Club also gets her out doing what she loves. While she is also involved in the youth activities in her church, LEGO Club also gives her an additional opportunity to reach out to kids. She said, “In terms of working with the kids and creating, it’s always been a dream of mine. Since my kids are older and don’t sit on he floor and play with me anymore, this lets me do that. It’s not a job because it’s something I love to do, so sharing it with other people, what could be better?”
While some people might see the group as play time, it is much more than that. Fletcher said, “There have been kids that I’ve challenged them with math and problem solving to take home. It’s incredible how much you can translate into LEGOs. It’s exciting to see their minds work.”
All of the builds that the children do each month they are allowed to take home, free of charge. Fletcher said that most of the LEGOS for builds come from her own collection, but members of the community have stepped up and donated, too. She said, “We’ve even let kids check out tubs of LEGOS to take home that weren’t part of the build because we don’t ever want anyone to not have an opportunity to build and create.”
Projects have included things like a downhill skier that was designed by LEGO that Fletcher paired with the Winter Olympics, and this month, appropriately the kids built the Cat in the Hat.
As far as an end in sight, Fletcher doesn’t see one. She said, “It’s a way to reach kids, enjoy them and share something with them. I’m thankful that the community has embraced it like they have.”
Kara lives in Eagle Rock with her husband Jeff and her two sons, Riley, 16, and Carter, 13.
For more information on the LEGO Club, their schedule is available online on their Facebook page as Eagle Rock LEGO Club or you can call the Library at (417) 271-3186.
Charlea Mills
Saturday marked a special day for a group based out of Eagle Rock. The LEGO Club celebrated their second anniversary, and to make the occasion special, they held a double birthday party in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’s birthday.
One Saturday a month, the LEGO Club meets in the Eagle Rock Community Building and allows for children of all ages to bring in their recent creations to share with the group and work on a new build of the month. The group was founded and is still headed by Kara Fletcher. She said that her passion for LEGOs runs deep, and she has always loved them. She said, “I loved LEGOs growing up and actually wanted to study architecture in college.” However, Fletcher went into childhood education instead, and that shows.
Fletcher’s genuine appreciation for the children in the club is obvious as she asks questions about each project a child has brought in and encourages other children in the group to do the same. Over 300 children have siphoned through the club in two years, and Fletcher said the individual meetings have hosted 20 to 30 children reliably each time. In the summer, the group often has new visitors when children coming to visit grandparents for the summer join. Kids from toddlers to teenagers come to each meeting.
Fletcher said, “I can’t believe two years has gone by and how successful it’s been, and it makes me excited for the future.” Fletcher shared what it is about the club that she thinks makes it so successful is the way LEGOs can be enjoyed by people of all ages, capabilities and levels. She’s even had adults come to the meetings alone because they love to build. She added, “We’ve also had grandparents who were going to have their grandkids for the summer come just to see how to play with kids on their level.”
She went on, “Some of the older people see these kids on their tablets and phones and they don’t think they can relate. But put a tub of LEGOS in front of them and it evens the playing field.”
Since Fletcher is a stay at home mom, the LEGO Club also gets her out doing what she loves. While she is also involved in the youth activities in her church, LEGO Club also gives her an additional opportunity to reach out to kids. She said, “In terms of working with the kids and creating, it’s always been a dream of mine. Since my kids are older and don’t sit on he floor and play with me anymore, this lets me do that. It’s not a job because it’s something I love to do, so sharing it with other people, what could be better?”
While some people might see the group as play time, it is much more than that. Fletcher said, “There have been kids that I’ve challenged them with math and problem solving to take home. It’s incredible how much you can translate into LEGOs. It’s exciting to see their minds work.”
All of the builds that the children do each month they are allowed to take home, free of charge. Fletcher said that most of the LEGOS for builds come from her own collection, but members of the community have stepped up and donated, too. She said, “We’ve even let kids check out tubs of LEGOS to take home that weren’t part of the build because we don’t ever want anyone to not have an opportunity to build and create.”
Projects have included things like a downhill skier that was designed by LEGO that Fletcher paired with the Winter Olympics, and this month, appropriately the kids built the Cat in the Hat.
As far as an end in sight, Fletcher doesn’t see one. She said, “It’s a way to reach kids, enjoy them and share something with them. I’m thankful that the community has embraced it like they have.”
Kara lives in Eagle Rock with her husband Jeff and her two sons, Riley, 16, and Carter, 13.
For more information on the LEGO Club, their schedule is available online on their Facebook page as Eagle Rock LEGO Club or you can call the Library at (417) 271-3186.