Autumn at the Kingswood Youth Center

A lot has been going on at the Kingswood Youth Center this fall. Check out our quarterly newsletter to get caught up on all of the KYC's exciting news!

The Kingswood Youth Center's back yard

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News from the Director

The Kingswood Youth Center is off to a great start with amazing programs and 120 members to date! Since opening in September, the KYC kids have visited the Lakes Region Humane Society, McKenzie Farm, Albee Beach, The Nick Recreational Park, a variety of hiking trails and more! They have volunteered to work on the Ossipee Concerned Citizens' garden, made bird feeders for the local nursing homes, cleaned up the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, and worked on a project to save the Carroll County Court House. The after school programs offer something for everyone with activities that include: Cooking, arts and crafts, science projects, woodworking, music lessons, games, recreation, nature and wildlife, and more. Having fun, socializing with friends and learning new things is what KYC is all about!

Our new "Teen Council" has been helping the staff design and implement programs, taking leadership roles in so many ways. I personally enjoy watching our diverse group of teens work together on different projects for a common goal!

These are difficult times for teens in New Hampshire right now. KYC strives to be a place of support for all teens that may be facing challenging life circumstances. Our plan is to offer 100 more hours of programs and activities for youth during the "out of school" hours this year. Our doors will be open evenings, weekends, and holidays to offer the safe and supervised place that youth and their families have come to rely on.

We are always looking for volunteers and donations to help us carry out our mission. Please contact the Center at 569-5949 if you wish to help make a difference in a teen's life.

Pam Sweeney

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Barbara Lobdell

Vice President

Matt Lawlor

Treasurer

Gregory Eldridge

Secretary

Peter Hess

At Large

Lynn Hinchee
Gina Jewell

Martha Krause

Megan Marbury
Andy Shagoury

Kevin Van Brunt

STAFF

Executive Director

Pam Sweeney

Teen Director

Mara Michno

Program Director

Zachary Porter

RED RIBBON WEEK AT THE KYC

During Red Ribbon Week, we proposed a challenge to our Teen Council members. They were asked to create a giant "red ribbon" that we could display at the Center, and to get their peers to identify, "What Motivates Me to be Drug Free." Each KYC member wrote what motivates them to live a healthy, substance-free lifestyle, and our teen council attached all of the responses to the red ribbon, which is on display at the Center. On the Wednesday of Red Ribbon Week, staff at the KYC led a conversation with members about why we recognize and celebrate this week, and we concluded with an ice cream social. All of the members sat together, eating ice cream, talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company in a substance-free setting.

Staff from White Horse Addiction Center answer questions about substance abuse

Meet Our 2016/2017 Teen Council!

Sam Thurston- 9th grade- Center Manager

Tyler Kenny- 11th grade- Center Manager

Lyrix Lee- 12th grade- Kitchen Manager

Victoria Jennetty- 9th grade- Kitchen Manager

Jazzy Devoux - 12th grade- Thrift Store Manager

Bradley Peluso- 9th grade- Thrift Store Manager

Bryce Bourque- 9th grade- Member Relations Manager

Peter Lemay- 9th grade- Member Relations Manager

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE KYC

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A big thank you to David Richard of D.F. Richard Energy for his financial contribution to the KYC's Leadership Program!

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY!

The KYC thanks the following businesses for their assistance and contributions to the Center

Bly Farm

Spider Web Gardens

Integrity Earthworks

Teaming Up To Make Bird Feeders

The KYC teamed up with Wolfeboro Arts Council and Carroll County 4H students to create bird feeders! 4H students of Carroll County built 15 bird feeders and delivered them to the KYC. Teens then primed, painted, and delivered the feeders to residents of Sugar Hill Retirement Community, Mountain View Nursing Home,

and Genesis Wolfeboro Bay Center. It was a fun project and we are so grateful to have been involved in such a valuable experience!

Working hard to prime the bird feeders

Each bird feeder needed at least two coats of paint

KYC members deliver hand painted bird feeders to Mountain View Retirement Home

The Life Skills Program at the KYC

What we have been working on this fall...

Identifying support systems in our lives

Cooking and Baking with Megan and Zachary

Applying for jobs and special opportunities

Team building with Mara

Gardening with Shelly at the Wolfeboro Community Garden

Working through challenging situations

Exploring likes, interests, and strengths

"Letter To Your Future Self" with Jeremy

Beyond The After School

The KYC has committed to offering 100 extra hours this year, through programs that are not held during our regular after school hours. These programs have included dinner and a movie, various hikes in the Lakes Region, swimming in local lakes, beach days, a Halloween party, and a KYC field day. These programs have been incredibly successful and are getting a real following! Look in our photo gallery below for some great pictures!

KYC Photo Gallery