Playing without electricity

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line went without something Monday that many people take for granted - electricity.

The club, which is located at 500 1st Ave., honored Screen-Free Week, an annual, international celebration where families, schools and communities are encouraged to not use digital entertainment.

According to the celebration's website at http://screenfree.org, Screen-Free Week this year is May 4-10. Devices can still be used for work or school purposes, but instead of watching television, surfing the Internet or playing video games, people are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities such as reading, getting active or spending more time with family and friends.

Tim Brurud, club director, said his organization also declared Monday a "No Electricity Day."

The kids at the club were not allowed to use anything powered by electricity.

"We're trying to give them options," Brurud said. "There are other things to do. You can go outside and play games. You can play tic-tac-toe, bingo or different games that don't use electricity."

A wide variety of games were available for the kids to play, such as pool, foosball, basketball and ping pong.

Jerzy Borowiecki, 11, said he participated in a variety of activities that did not involve electricity, including building things with K'Nex and playing bingo.

"It's really fun," he said.

Borowiecki added that this day taught him that he does not need technology to have fun.

"I learned that you can do a lot of things without electronics," he said.

Breezy Hawley, 8, said Monday went "great."

"You can have fun with everything, even without electricity," she said.