By Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region
BAY REGION – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region will launch its own esports league for teen members in 2025, with cutting-edge computer labs installed at sites across Saginaw and Bay Counties.
Made possible through generous investments by Hemlock Semiconductor, the AT&T Foundation, and SC Johnson, these digital literacy labs will allow for a multitude of new programs at the Clubs; however, few are as highly anticipated as esports for current Club members. The gaming program will be piloted at the organization’s Saginaw Teen Center after-school program with a regional launch planned for the summer.
“Play me in Overwatch, Rainbow Six, Fortnite, Rocket League; I’m cooking up,” Teen Center member Kden O., 15, said. “I’m fixing to fry.”
According to Program Director Samantha Oliver, participants in the pilot will compete in the popular game “Rocket League” before eventually moving on to other titles. Described as a “high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem,” the game is considered highly accessible for gamers of all ages and experience levels.
“Esports has exploded as an industry; it made more money last year than the NFL,” Oliver said. “We aren’t just tapping into their love of video games. We’re teaching them how to work with people – how to work as a team and collaborate.”
According to Oliver, the labs will also be essential for Club programs like Career Launch. The computers will be invaluable for introducing members to critical software and exercises like resume-building.
“So many modern workplaces have become either partially or entirely digital spaces,” Oliver said. “It has become normal for jobseekers to secure employment without ever meeting a hiring manager in-person. Therefore, it is imperative that we work to close the digital divide for our members in these critical years.”
Those interested in learning more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region and its programs should call the administrative office at 989-321-9648 or visit boysandgirlsclubsglbr.com.
