Eau Claire Axemen connect with youth in visit to Children’s Museum

Ahead of their final home regular season game, the Eau Claire Axemen wanted to give back to the community that has stuck with them through a rough season.

The Axemen started off last week by visiting the Eau Claire Boys and Girls Club.

Then, on Tuesday, coach Jim Britton and players Willie McCalebb and Kendall Fowler visited the Eau Claire Children’s Museum.

The Axemen brought excitement to Eau Claire kids — along with a lesson on finances in partnership with Superior Choice Credit Union — ahead of their final home game on Saturday against the St. Joseph Goats at the Sonnentag Center.

“Giving back to the community that’s given us so much (to) myself and my family personally, I’m just very blessed,” Britton said. “If you have a position where you can have a platform to do that, that’s what I use it for.”

Partnering with SCCU Financial Educator Ben Peters, Britton, McCaleeb and Fowler helped teach Eau Claire kids the importance of personal finances, helping them through activities like spending their money wisely.

“The Axemen do such a good job,” Peters said. “They’re really interacting with the kids. It’s not just signing autographs; they’re asking questions.”

Britton has already given back is in his 38 and soon to be 39 years in education. He’s always looking to answer the call to teach.

“Teaching is a noble profession,” Britton said. “It’s a lot of hard work and behind the scenes. It’s just no different really than coaching.”

As a coach, Britton passes on a role-model style of leadership to his players.

McCalebb knows all about being a guide as a current Eau Claire North High School teacher, a sports performance training business owner and a local youth mentor.

“For me, it’s just all about giving back to the kids and just trying to help them out and push them forward in the right direction,” McCalebb said. “We were kids at some point, and we always had someone to look up to.”

McCalebb said at times growing up, he didn’t have anyone to look up to.

That was also the case for Fowler, as he was always the eldest in his family.

“I was the one that all my family members, my siblings looked up to,” Fowler said. “For me to come here and do this brings me back to my childhood.”

Standing in front of the next generation at the Children’s Museum Tuesday, McCalebb and Fowler felt honored to be people looked up at.

“It means everything to just see their face, their expressions and how they respond,” McCalebb said. “If we want change in the community and change in the world, we have to inspire the young people, and I think us being in this position allows us to inspire them and put smiles on their faces.”

“It’s super rewarding,” Fowler said. “Here in Eau Claire, there’s not really any professional sports teams close. We’re the closest thing that these kids can get to a (Minnesota Vikings wide receiver) Justin Jefferson or a (Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver) Ja’Marr Chase.

“To be that role model figure in a community like this, it’s really uplifting and I love it. It just warms my heart that I’m able to do something like this.”

The Axemen now hope their good work off the field will translate to good play at the Sonnentag Fieldhouse on Saturday.

“(The community) spends their hard-earned money to come watch us play and we haven’t gotten any wins this year,” Britton said. “But, the fan base is starting to grow, and with that, we’ve got to give back to those people who pay that hard-earned money to come watch us play and support us.”