Boys & Girls Clubs participants learn to paddleboard

TIGARD, Ore. — In August, Mariele Balasbas from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington and Teen Turf Club partnered with Chill, an organization that reaches youth through board sports, and Cascadia SUP & SURF to engage four club members in paddleboarding. “Over a three-day period, we had the opportunity to participate in a program at Cook Park in Tigard, Ore.,” Balasbas said. Club members were Olivia Anthony, Abdullah Alzaidi, Hunter Boyse, and Dakota Boyse, who have been active members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington since they began at the O.K.2 Clubhouse and then transitioned to the Teen Turf Club. The objective of the Cascadia SUP & SURF is to remove barriers for youth to access board sports.