Blast off! Boys & Girls Club to be site of rocket launch Wednesday

10, 9, 8 … Start with strong community partnerships.

7, 6, 5 … Add volunteers who are experts in their field.

4, 3, 2, 1 … Support kids’ hands-on STEM learning.

0 … The Jockey–Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha rocket event is ready for liftoff!

The countdown is on for more than 100 local kids who are ready to launch rockets they made themselves, complete with custom paint and miniature parachutists. The launch is set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 18) at the Boys & Girls Club, 1330 52nd St.

The experience started earlier this month with the building session under the guidance of volunteers from Tripoli Wisconsin Association High Power Rocketry.

“The kids had so much fun building rockets,” BGCK Director of Operations Kathy Holland said. “Volunteers from Tripoli Rocketry walked them through the process step by step.

“They even got to paint them and add a little parachute person,” added Holland, who joined the fun working with groups of young rocket builders.

Events like Wednesday’s rocket launch are close to the heart for Jockey vice president and chief philanthropy officer Jake McGhee, who served as the Boys & Girls Club CEO from April 2016 until accepting his position with Jockey.

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“We want to provide opportunities for fun activities and also involve Jockey employees,” said McGhee.

Now an expanded partnership will do just that, focusing on after-school academic and enrichment programs including sponsored monthly educational and fun events.

Jockey employees will have the opportunity to participate at each event, and will be on hand to assist young rocket scientists Wednesday.