Your February Newsletter is Here!

Love in Action at the Funhouse Commons

At the Funhouse Commons, love isn’t something we save for Valentine’s Day. It’s something we practice, patiently and intentionally, every single afternoon through our mission of belonging and discovery.

Love looks like showing up at schools to greet students by name. It looks like walking beside them back to the Funhouse and being attuned to how they’re really doing that day — socially, emotionally, and academically. It looks like being the trusted adult who notices when a child is quiet, celebrates when they are brave, and creates space for them to be fully themselves. And it looks like a promise we keep every day on Orcas Island: no child is ever turned away.

This past summer, our camp hearts grew a little bigger. The Funhouse welcomed two students with high needs — something that rarely happens on the island, simply because there are so few programs equipped to support them. By hiring dedicated staff to provide one-on-one care, we were able to open the door to something many children with disabilities here don’t often get: a true camp experience.

And what an experience it was.

They splashed in the ocean on beach days, laughed through muddy adventures, proudly showed off homemade slime, and danced like nobody was watching. Each field trip, each messy moment, and each small victory was a reminder that belonging changes everything.

Every day in our afterschool program, we see how joy becomes confidence, confidence becomes resilience, and resilience becomes a foundation that carries young people forward. Whether kids are building with Legos, creating art, playing music, making pizza's in the new pizza oven, or simply sitting with a friend, they are discovering who they are in a community that delights in them.

This Valentine’s season, we’re celebrating that kind of love — the kind that shows up, makes space, and ensures every child gets to be included and discover the goodness of themselves and those around them.

It takes a Village, and the Funhouse!

Ryan Carpenter, Executive Director

Please welcome Alli Cobb to the Funhouse as our new Assistant Director of Out-of-School Operations.

Alli first came to Orcas as a kayak guide at Orkila and has been drawn back to the island ever since! Alli has had a varied and diverse career in youth work and environmental education all over the west, from infant to teenage years. She moved back to Orcas in 2021 and since then has worked at Four Winds Summer Camp and the Montessori School. Alli loves the beautiful community and environment here, and when not supporting the after school program and planning community events you will find her on the sea, in the garden and spending time with dear friends.

Please welcome Mike Miller to the Funhouse Board of Directors! A longtime listener turned proud participant, Mike and his family became part-time Orcas residents in 2014 with their first set of twins—drawn by the views and anchored by the community. Over the past 12 years (and a second set of twins later!), the Funhouse has been central to their kids’ creative lives, from music and art to studio time and friendships. Grateful for the programs and people who make it all possible, Mike is excited to give back. Professionally, he’s a former UW physics professor, founder of a successful MIT cloud computing spinout, and now leads one of Silicon Valley’s most active venture capital firms. Outside of work, he enjoys wood fires, hiking, biking, skiing, sailing, and playing with the family’s new puppy.

Please welcome Travis Neal as Treasurer to the Funhouse Board of Directors!

Travis grew up in the Seattle area and moved to Orcas Island in 2015. As the father of two children who have benefited from Funhouse programs, he has a personal appreciation for their impact on local youth. His passion for youth development was sparked by his first “real” high-school job as a program coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club of America, and has continued locally through service as a board member of The Children’s House and the Early Childhood Education Initiative.

A CPA with a strong background in finance and organizational governance, Travis brings both professional expertise and a deep commitment to supporting the growth and success of young people. As Treasurer, he is excited to continue the stewardship of resources that ensure long-term sustainability and keep financial practices aligned with the Funhouse’s mission.

PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS

The Funhouse is gearing up for our fourth year of facilitating the Strengthening Families Program 10-14! A FREE 7 week long family workshop, hosted on Wednesday evenings at the Funhouse, Feb 25th- April 8th from 5:00-7:30pm. Free catered dinner and childcare is included each night.

SFP 10-14 is a 7 week long course, where families with kids who are 10-14 years old come together once a week to learn skills and get support. It is offered in both English and Spanish. The program provides free dinner at the beginning, and then the parents and youth split into separate sessions. The parent sessions focus on setting boundaries, family meetings, and setting clear expectations, while the youth session focuses more on goal-setting and peer-pressure refusal skills. At the end of the program, everyone comes together for a large group game and to practice/share the skills they learned in the breakout sessions. This evidence-based program is funded through the Health Care Authority of Washington State, and is implemented by trained facilitators.

Program Schedule

5:00-5:30pm-- FREE catered family dinner

5:30-6:30pm-- Adult and youth break out sessions (Adult sessions are offered in both English and Spanish, youth session is offered in English with a live translator as needed).

6:30-7:30pm- Family session (All Spanish and English speaking families join the session together, with live translation as needed).

**Free childcare is provided for younger siblings!

Click HERE to register and learn more

Contact Maddie at maddie@thefunhouse.org for more information or help with registration.

MUSIC NOTES........

Songshop Sessions are now opening for youth of all skill levels interested in:

*Recording Music

*Learning Instruments

*Exploring Musical Curiosity

Stay tuned for when registration officially opens!

Also, the Academy of Sound musical summer program will return this summer. Stay tuned for more info!

Motivational Interviewing Training

Join us for an in-person session with Dr. Jason Kilmer, from the University of Washington, where you'll learn the strategies of Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is a non-judgmental, non-confrontational, evidence-based approach that can be used to explore and elicit personally relevant reasons for changing a behavior.

In this interactive workshop, we will introduce the basic ideas behind brief conversations that support change and explain the key principles of motivational interviewing using real-life examples. Participants will get to practice these skills, learn how to encourage open conversations about change, and explore ways to respond when someone is unsure or resistant. We will also share practical tips for using these strategies in daily life and work.

There will be in-person Spanish translation. Register HERE

Capacitación en Entrevista Motivacional

Acompáñenos en una sesión presencial con el Dr. Jason Kilmer, de la Universidad de Washington, donde aprenderá estrategias de la Entrevista Motivacional (EM). La EM es un enfoque basado en la evidencia, respetuoso y no confrontacional, que ayuda a las personas a explorar y descubrir sus propias razones para cambiar un comportamiento.

En este taller interactivo, presentaremos las ideas básicas detrás de conversaciones breves que apoyan el cambio y explicaremos los principios clave de la entrevista motivacional utilizando ejemplos de la vida real. Las personas participantes podrán practicar estas habilidades, aprender cómo fomentar conversaciones abiertas sobre el cambio y explorar maneras de responder cuando alguien se siente inseguro o resistente. También compartiremos consejos prácticos para aplicar estas estrategias en la vida diaria y en el trabajo.

Habrá interpretación al español en persona. Regístrate AQUÍ

PEACH PIT NEWS!

Bi-Weekly Jam Session

Starting Friday (2/6) during our regular after-school hours!

Every other Friday 4:00 – 6:30 PM

Open to high school aged youth up to age 20.

Come make music, hang out, and enjoy the show.

College & Cookies continues in the second semester

Wednesdays 12:30-2:20 PM

Warm cookies and a somewhat focused space to work on college applications and scholarships — surrounded by other motivated seniors.

Stop by the Peach Pit any Wednesday from 12:30 PM – 2:15 PM.

As always, all Peach Pit activities are free of charge.

Join Us in Making a Lasting Impact – Become a Monthly Donor Today!

Your support can transform lives. By becoming a monthly donor, you provide the Funhouse with a reliable foundation to continue our important youth work. Whether it’s helping a child attend our Afterschool program, Summer Camp, or Music classes, to helping sponsor community events like our Science Fair, Halloween Party, Dia de Los Muertos & Summer FunFest, your ongoing commitment makes all the difference.

Even a small, consistent gift can create lasting change.

Set up your recurring monthly donation here.

Mark your Calendars!

• Summer Camp Registration Opens April 1

• Science Fair May 2

• GALA July 26