Tabletop Gaming Afterschool Program Launching at The ARTSpace
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Settlers of Catan is a classic that has dominated a corner of the board game market for quite some time. While this game is technically a “resource management game” you will find that it is also quite strategic.
New Program Perfect Place for Middle School and High School Students to Hang Out After School
A number of tabletop games will be available to play during a new afterschool gaming program at The ARTSpace on Main, beginning April 19.
The world is filled with several different types of games. You have traditional board games, sports games like basketball and football, video games, brain games, and so many more. I’ve always been interested in a variety of games … board games are a passion of mine and I have always loved sharing this passion with others.
The ARTSpace wanted to find a way to invite teenagers in on a regular basis and I thought, “What better way to do this than to host a biweekly game day?”
Starting in just a few weeks, The ARTSpace on Main will be inviting students in grades 5-12 into our Loft Gallery to finish up homework, socialize with friends, and play games! This event will take place every other week on Tuesdays starting April 19 and will go from 3-5:30 p.m. We are currently holding a naming contest for this program, so if you have a creative name to go with this event, head to our Facebook page to let us know!
Before I became the Program Coordinator at The ARTSpace on Main, I was a science teacher. In that position, I was able to facilitate board game days for my students as well as help a student start the D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) club. I also started the first Tabletop Gaming Club when I was in high school. This is not new territory for me to say the least.
Board games come in a great variety with all sorts of different ways of playing. You may be familiar with chess or Monopoly, which will both be at our game nights, but there will also be new games you might not be familiar with! Here are a few things you can expect at our game nights:
Classic strategy games like chess help to stretch your mind’s muscles.
Strategy Games … Exercise your mind
Strategy games will mainly be available in the form of chess and checkers. There is something that is so entrancing about playing a one-on-one game of chess. Anticipating your opponent’s moves while also trying to outsmart them with your plan is a great exercise that keeps you sharp and requires you to use your brain in a different way. The same applies to checkers! Depending on your personal preference, both will be available to stretch your mind’s muscles while hanging out with classmates and friends.
Role-Playing Games … Express your creativity
Another type of game that will be available at these events will be role-playing games. If you are a theater student, this may be something you would love to give a try if you haven’t already!
Dungeons & Dragons is a popular role-playing game that you may have heard of in the past. In this game, you will create a character in a fantasy world (think Lord of the Rings) and explore magical places, meet other intriguing characters, and engage in a battle to keep the world safe!
This game is a wonderful creative outlet for a diverse group of people — involving creative writing, strategy, and acting. Many people have probably heard of this game recently in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, which has been one of the reasons it has been brought back into the public eye. Shows like Critical Role and The Adventure Zone have also helped popularize the hobby, where a group of entertainers play the game for an online audience. (And Critical Role has become one of the most profitable channels on the streaming service Twitch!)
In Dungeons & Dragons, players create characters in a fantasy world and explore magical places, meet other intriguing characters, and engage in a battle to keep the world safe.
Classic Games … Good ole fun!
Our new biweekly game night will also include several classic games that have been around in the community for quite some time, like Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and more! While I am sure these games are filled with memories surrounding frustration with your friends or family, why not come practice so you can figure out how to stomp the competition next time? Figure out how to invest your money in the right properties and run a hard bargain until you feel like you know just how to work your opponent next time.
Another offering will be Settlers of Catan — a classic that has dominated a corner of the board game market for quite some time. While this game is technically a “resource management game” you will find that it is also quite strategic. You will be both trying to sustain your settlements while also managing all of your resources. Should you trade with them? Make an embargo? Rob them of their resources? Make allies? The politics of Catan will definitely have you trying to anticipate people's moves, but it will also force you to make decisions informed by their actions much like chess or checkers. So, come try this one out to see if you have what it takes to hold on to your settlement!
New games … Stay up to date with the trends!
Aside from the classics, there will also be some newer hits in the board game community. Maybe you will find yourself intrigued by a game you have not heard of yet. Maybe it will become your new favorite! This happened to me with one of the games we will be providing called Horrified. If you wish Halloween was year-round like me, this might be a game for you. Work together with your team to stop a band of classic monsters from taking over the city! So, if you are someone who likes to think strategically and collaborate with your friends, you can do so in this game where you will collaborate to solve the monsters' puzzles, collect items to take them down, and help other villagers escape.
All of these options will be open for students to come and play after school. I will be there to facilitate these activities, whether it be being the Dungeon Master for D&D, helping set up the boards, or teaching the rules for the games. Since I also have a recent history in education, bring your homework and I may be able to help!
I hope that this space will be conducive to both work and play, where students can come to learn in a multitude of ways. This is a hobby that I am ecstatic to share with the community, and my experience doing similar activities in the past makes me all the more excited. I hope to see many new faces that are excited to share this passion! So, I hope to see you at our first game night on Tuesday, April 19!
Have questions about the Game on Main? Email ASC at info@asc701.org.
