Our Blog
Spring Is Here!
We have been thrilled with the warmer weather, longer days, and drier weather this last month! We have been enjoying some of our favorite outdoor games and other screen-free fun! It’s great to see KYC participants interacting with each other through games and team building exercises, and enjoying being outside. Stepping away from screens and out into the sun to play a few lighthearted games is what we all need every now and then, and here at the KYC we are making sure it happens as often as possible!
February Vacation at KYC!
We continue to offer a safe and positive place for teens to spend time during school vacations! February vacation programs consisted of sledding, group games, science kits, art projects, and a movie night! We hope everyone is having a safe and relaxing school break!
Valentine’s Day!
We had a happy Valentine’s day at the KYC! Students worked really hard sanding and decorating wooden hearts. They looked awesome! We also decorated rice crispy treats and enjoyed a guessing game brought to us by our volunteer Diane! We hope everyone had a safe and happy Valentine’s Day!
Relaxation at the KYC
Amidst the changes and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the KYC has proven to be a great safe place for teens to come for relaxation. Last week, we took some time to be mindful. Mindfulness involves being attuned to the present monument and taking a break from the distractions of worry and anticipation. When we discuss mindfulness at the KYC, a staff member will shake a jar of water with glitter in it. The glitter swirls chaotically around the jar. The movement is too fast for one’s eyes to follow. But when the shaking stops for even a few moments, the chaos stops; in less than a minute the glitter settles neatly to the base of the jar. To take a break from shaking the jar represents mindfulness.
We practice mindfulness at the KYC through a short exercise. Students are asked to sit still and quietly. They are challenged to make simple observations about their present moment, without judgement: note five things you can see; then four things you can year; now three things you can feel; two things you can smell; and finally one thing you can taste.
To further calm ourselves, a group practiced some yoga. It’s been wonderful to offer safe, meaningful, relaxation and fun at the KYC to help make the COVID Pandemic a little easier for our teens.
Escape Room!
Last week we offered a KYC favorite, our own version of an escape room! Students search for clues to find a prize hidden in the Center. Along the way, they must also find the digits to a combination lock, as they must unlock their prize once they find it.
Clue: B4, Miss… Location: On the KYC’s homemade giant Battleship Game.
Clue: There was a farmer who had a dog… Location: In the Bingo Game!
Both learning cohorts succeeded in unlocking their prize: cake made by our volunteer, Diane to share and a small individual prize to take home. Nice work KYC!
Campfire Night
The KYC continues to offer in person programs, virtual programs, one-to-one mentoring, and food distribution. Campfire nights have been a great way to offer safe, fun time with friends at the KYC. We had a great evening of games and camp treats around the fire last week!
A Hike to Moody Mountain!
We are happy to be back to offering safe and healthful in-person programs after a couple of weeks of sticking to virtual programs and food distribution (during the GWRSD remote learning period). Two days in a row, we offered hikes to Moody Mountain, the highest point in Wolfeboro. There’s a cabin near the summit and some nice views! Nice job KYCers!
Happy New Year
Happy New Year everyone!
We had a wonderful fall offering in-person and remote programs as well as mentoring and assistance with remote learning. Just before vacation we enjoyed some wonderful winter activities including sledding and a holiday lights tour! We look forward a great year of in-person programs, virtual programs, mentoring, and food distribution in 2021.
Thank you to our recent grant funders!
On this snowy afternoon, we want to say a big thank you to the following foundations who have provided grant funding to the KYC this fall:
Bald Peak Community Fund, Granite United Way, The Miles Hodson Vernon Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire Electric Coop Foundation, Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, The Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, The Wolfeboro Fund.
Thank you for your investments in our local youth!
Fall Picnic Table Projects!
This fall we embarked upon an ongoing project, building and restoring picnic tables. We started by building two new picnic tables from start to finish. Next we embarked upon refurbishing two of the KYC’s existing tables. Students showed creativity and teamwork and practiced painting and carpentry skills. Nice job KYC!
For our new tables, we chose to go with a natural look, finishing with clear stain. In refurbishing some tables that the KYC has had for over 10 years, we decided to get creative and show our KYC spirit! Below there is one ‘before shot’ and three ‘after shots’ of our completed work. These table now match our building, which is red with white trim.
This project was made possible by the Governor Wentworth Arts Council and local donors. Thank you!
