|
This past week, our island community has experienced a loss that is deeply painful and difficult to comprehend. There are no easy words in moments like this. What we do know is that grief is not meant to be carried alone. In times like these, we are reminded just how much we need one another—and how important it is that our young people feel supported, seen, and surrounded by care.
And even in the midst of that grief, we have also witnessed something powerful: the way this community continues to show up for its children.
Just this past weekend, our annual Science Fair brought together an incredible group of young scientists, each eager to share their ideas, discoveries, and hard work. It was a beautiful day—filled with wood-fired pizza, ice cream, laughter, and a strong sense of connection. It felt like more than just an event; it was a celebration of curiosity, courage, and community.
Alongside Día de los Niños, these communal gatherings remind us how important it is to celebrate young people—not only for what they achieve, but for who they are becoming. When children are affirmed not just by their parents and teachers, but by a broader community of peers and caring adults, something deeper takes root. Confidence grows. A sense of belonging strengthens. Young people begin to see themselves as capable, valued, and connected.
These experiences matter. They stay with kids. And over time, they help build the resilience and emotional foundation that supports lifelong mental health.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, there is also reason for hope. A recent report from The New York Times shared that since the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, youth suicide has declined by 11%. That kind of progress reminds us that when support systems are strengthened—when people have somewhere to turn and someone to talk to—lives are impacted in real and meaningful ways.
At the Funhouse Commons, we remain committed to being a place of belonging and discovery, where every young person feels welcomed, supported, and inspired.
That commitment continues in the weeks ahead. Next weekend, Orcas students will join peers from across the region at Camp Moran for the second annual Moment of Youth Summit—a youth-led gathering focused on wellness, leadership, and prevention. Students from more than eight schools across Washington will come together to learn, share, and build skills around positive coping, media literacy, and healthy relationships. It is a powerful example of young people stepping into leadership and supporting one another.
On the Event Horizon... we are looking forward to the return of the third annual FunFest on the last day of school. This has quickly become one of our favorite traditions—a joyful, community-wide celebration of all that our students, teachers, and families have poured into the year. It’s a chance to gather, to celebrate, and to step into summer together with a tremendous promotion of fun and joy.
There is also so much energy building within our programs right now. We are excited to officially begin a soft launch of the new Rec & Tech Room, where young people can gather, play, and connect in a space designed just for them. It is already becoming a place of laughter, friendly competition, and community.
Looking ahead to summer, we are excited to offer opportunities like Academy of Sound, where teens can explore music, collaborate, and express themselves creatively in a supportive environment. Programs like this provide more than skill-building—they create connection, confidence, and belonging.
Fishing Fridays will return as well, bringing youth out onto the lakes for connection, mentorship, and time in nature. And at the end of this month, we will celebrate the culmination of our Skills-Based Mentor Program, where young people and their mentors will share the projects they have created together over the past four months—a reflection of relationship, growth, and shared purpose.
All of this work is made possible by a community that continues to show up. As Give Orcas opens on May 12, we are working to raise $25,000 to ensure that every child on Orcas Island can access Funhouse programs, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Your support helps remove barriers and creates opportunities for young people to belong, to grow, and to thrive.
Because in the end, what we are building together is not just programming.
We are building connections.
We are building confidence.
We are building a place where young people know they matter.
And perhaps most importantly, we are reminded—especially now—that fun is not frivolous. It is essential. It is joy, yes, but it is also healing.
We are grateful to be part of this village—a community that holds one another through hardship and lifts up its young people with care and intention.
It takes a Village, and the Funhouse!
Ryan Carpenter, Executive Director
| 
