The Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County hosted a very special group of guests during the 4^th of July weekend! The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales hopped across the pond to visit the great state of Montana and our local Club!

This unique opportunity came about during a conversation between two bearded staff from each organization at the 2023 Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference, where Yellowstone County’s Nick Enslow recognized a shared passion of serving youth with Wales’ Ethan Richards. Though their visit was short, they knew it was the beginning of a relationship that would benefit many teens on both sides of the pond, so they brought their connection to Jonathon “Paz” Price of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales and Annie Hasiak of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County to strengthen the connection.

The Wales Club model is a unique one, and Nick and Annie were provided the opportunity to learn more about Welsh culture, who they serve and how they support all young people to live healthy and happy lives, develop new skills, have fun, and make a meaningful contribution to their community. An  intriguing feature at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales is their served population. At the Club here in Yellowstone County, youth are served as young as 6 years old and just completing kindergarten. However, in Wales, their primary focus is youth aged as young as 11 and as old as 25.  This unique model is supported by a degree focused on Youth Work obtainable through their university system, and dives into the struggles that underserved and underprivileged youth go through and how best to support them. The various sports programs and youth programs that Annie & Nick were exposed to did not hold a candle to the discovery of their international learning exchange program, Taith.

Meaning “Journey” in Welsh, Taith creates opportunities for disadvantaged youth to explore various countries, cities and cultures around the world. Nothing was more exciting to Annie than a blueprint on how to mimic similar experiences for Yellowstone County youth and teens. Thus, a plan was formulated. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales was set to visit Montana during the summer of 2024, and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County scheduled to visit Wales in 2025.

Ethan and several teens from Wales made the full-day trek to the Treasure State on July 3, 2024. Greeted by Nick, Annie and a group of Yellowstone County Teens, the greatest trip of the summer began! The Wales Club received the full Montana experience, complete with the Laurel 4^th of July Celebration, trip to Zoo Montana, Mustangs baseball game at Dehler Park, and of course a visit to Yellowstone National Park. They also spent a full day at the Bair Family Clubhouse, teaching local kids the ins and outs of rugby, and learning about the Yellowstone County Club system. Their visit made a significant impact on teen members, and the excitement continues to grow for the anticipated trip to Wales in 2025.

Annie’s hope for these exchange experiences is simple: For youth to recognize that the world is smaller than they think, and its okay to embrace new ideas, philosophies, and travel all they want. Home will always be home, and it will always be there.

Annie also believes that there is a lot to learn from Welsh culture and their community-minded ideals. With much of their staff consisting of volunteers, it is definitely a mindset that many would like to see emulated at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County. The potential for international collaboration between both organizations is apparent, and these beginning stages are just the first steps in a life-long partnership. Their dedication and support to youth past the age of 18 offers insight into the importance of intervention and guidance during these formative years.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales and Taith, visit www.bgc.wales or contact Annie Hasiak at AHasiak@bgcyellowstone.org