YMCA/Teen Center Merger
Story date: 03/26/2008
By Paula Roberts
The Teen Center in Damariscotta is closing its doors, but the good news for young teenagers is the CLC YMCA has
swung open its doors wide to welcome the program into its fold. The consolidation of the two organizations into a new
program titled T2 Next Generation Teen Center, will be housed at the YMCA. The two organizations have been working
on a collaborative effort for over a year.
"The YMCA and the Teen Center have joined together to reinvent the Teen Center and to add new Teen programs. Ideas,
staff and funding are now underway to bring the next generation of the Teen Center to the youth of Lincoln County," a
YMCA flyer stated. The YMCA is looking for community ideas, input and volunteers. Anyone interested in the new T2 Teen
Center is invited to attend one of three organizational meetings. A teens-only meeting will be held on Fri, April 4 from 3-4
p.m.; a skateboarders-only meeting on Wed., April 9 from 3-4 p.m.; and a parent/volunteer meeting Wed., April 9 from 5-7
p.m.
"From the Y perspective, we are bringing in current talents with our talents to better serve teens and provide better
opportunities, to get teens the programs they need. The [national] YMCA was founded over 150 years ago. They were the
first teen center. Their mission was to get kids off the streets and into a more positive atmosphere. Serving teens is at
the heart of our mission," Craig Wilson, CLC YMCA director said.
"Already, at 3 p.m., over 200 teens are in our building engaging in physical activity," Wilson added. The Teen Center
offers a lot of non-physical activity, the T2 center will incorporate some of these non-traditional activities such as pool
tables, play stations and a computer lab.
"Two keys to the program, to be launched next fall are 1) Youth leaders and 2) Youth in government," Wilson said. Both
are standard Y programs that strive to bring out leadership qualities of youth.
The CLC YMCA is just starting fundraising efforts to expand, "so kids have a club house or place of their own." Wilson
envisions a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot area to be a permanent drop-in center for youth, but not be strictly dedicated to
youth. It would also be utilized by seniors and for family activities at different times of the day. "We are hoping past
supporters (of Teen Center) and businesses will recognize the Y as a permanent place for a teen center."
The YMCA has numerous teen programs in place. One of their most popular teen events is Teen Video Dances, which
are held the second Saturday of every month. The dances typically draw 200-300 teens. The Y plans to continue the
dances, "and add to it."
The T2 new teen center will be "focused on younger teens, kids that can not drive," teens in the 12-15 age group. The
goal of T2 is to "provide a safe, positive place for them to go."
Teen (student) memberships are available at the Y for $12.50 a month, or $150 per year. "The YMCA does not turn
anyone away for inability to pay," Wilson said on scholarship money that is available. "On an annual basis we give out
$30,000 in scholarships. Cost is no excuse to attend anything at the Y. We will also offer teens, that can't afford it, but
want to work off their membership, leadership opportunities to pay it off."
The YMCA also plans on starting an Earth Service Corp, which is similar to the Youth Leadership program, but has an
environmental aspect to it, similar to an outing club. Wilson said the Y is looking to utilize the 40 acres donated to the
CLC Y in 2006 by Carl Poole to further expand teen and adult programming. The land starts behind the Y property and
backs up to the Colby & Gale property on Biscay Road. Wilson would like to see the development of bike, jogging and
hiking trails, which can also be utilized in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The property backs up to
a bog, making great habitat for bird watchers.
The CLC YMCA will be unveiling a new capital campaign this summer, "to modernize and expand the programs at the
YMCA. By consolidating services, we can consolidate fundraising. We're not duplicating efforts or fundraising. By having it
all under one roof, and being one fundraising entity the cost is less and there is more programming, which is a better
way to do things. We are not looking at what happened in the past, but to provide the most services, for teens in the
future," Wilson commented.
A big benefit of the merger will be expanded operation hours, as teens will have access to the YMCA during their normal
business hours. The Teen Center was open a limited amount of time, and was closed during the day on vacation weeks.
"The YMCA Board of Directors is strongly committed to managing our local financial support most effectively. The
consolidation of the Teen Center with the YMCA is an exceptional opportunity for both organizations to combine our talent
and financial resources to serve our local teens," CLC YMCA Board president Lee Simard commented.
Local teenager reactions of the merger to form the new T2 Next Generation Teen Center have been positive. "Sounds
good," Aaron Mason of Nobleboro said. "I like that idea," Jake Millett on Newcastle commented. "That would be cool,"
Sarah Alley of South Bristol, Kelsey Schwarz of Damariscotta, and Sumner Keith of Nobleboro, said in unison.
"The Board of Directors of the Teen Center is excited by the prospect of moving beneath the umbrella of the YMCA. This
move contains all the essential ingredients of a successful merger including compatibility of mission and philosophy,
commitment to providing services to the community and synergy of financial, personnel and operational resources. In
short, it is the most logical and cost effective way to serve our community's teen population," Tim Cheney, president of
the Teen Center board commented.
Skateboard Park
The Damariscotta Skateboard Park will also be closing its doors. "My intent is to try to take it apart and re-construct it as
individual movable ramps and elements at the far end of the gymnasium. I ran a skateboard park in Newburyport, Mass.
and we rolled them in and out," Wilson said of the mobile park there.
"Our membership has grown exponentially. We are up to about 1900 members now. We have no dedicated space, just
general space that can conform," to different activities Wilson said as the biggest reason, the skateboard park would
have to be mobile. "We don't need dedicated space to provide programming. "For the moment, it (skateboard park
pieces) will be stored inside, until we are able to build something to store them outside."
Story date: 03/26/2008
By Paula Roberts
The Teen Center in Damariscotta is closing its doors, but the good news for young teenagers is the CLC YMCA has
swung open its doors wide to welcome the program into its fold. The consolidation of the two organizations into a new
program titled T2 Next Generation Teen Center, will be housed at the YMCA. The two organizations have been working
on a collaborative effort for over a year.
"The YMCA and the Teen Center have joined together to reinvent the Teen Center and to add new Teen programs. Ideas,
staff and funding are now underway to bring the next generation of the Teen Center to the youth of Lincoln County," a
YMCA flyer stated. The YMCA is looking for community ideas, input and volunteers. Anyone interested in the new T2 Teen
Center is invited to attend one of three organizational meetings. A teens-only meeting will be held on Fri, April 4 from 3-4
p.m.; a skateboarders-only meeting on Wed., April 9 from 3-4 p.m.; and a parent/volunteer meeting Wed., April 9 from 5-7
p.m.
"From the Y perspective, we are bringing in current talents with our talents to better serve teens and provide better
opportunities, to get teens the programs they need. The [national] YMCA was founded over 150 years ago. They were the
first teen center. Their mission was to get kids off the streets and into a more positive atmosphere. Serving teens is at
the heart of our mission," Craig Wilson, CLC YMCA director said.
"Already, at 3 p.m., over 200 teens are in our building engaging in physical activity," Wilson added. The Teen Center
offers a lot of non-physical activity, the T2 center will incorporate some of these non-traditional activities such as pool
tables, play stations and a computer lab.
"Two keys to the program, to be launched next fall are 1) Youth leaders and 2) Youth in government," Wilson said. Both
are standard Y programs that strive to bring out leadership qualities of youth.
The CLC YMCA is just starting fundraising efforts to expand, "so kids have a club house or place of their own." Wilson
envisions a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot area to be a permanent drop-in center for youth, but not be strictly dedicated to
youth. It would also be utilized by seniors and for family activities at different times of the day. "We are hoping past
supporters (of Teen Center) and businesses will recognize the Y as a permanent place for a teen center."
The YMCA has numerous teen programs in place. One of their most popular teen events is Teen Video Dances, which
are held the second Saturday of every month. The dances typically draw 200-300 teens. The Y plans to continue the
dances, "and add to it."
The T2 new teen center will be "focused on younger teens, kids that can not drive," teens in the 12-15 age group. The
goal of T2 is to "provide a safe, positive place for them to go."
Teen (student) memberships are available at the Y for $12.50 a month, or $150 per year. "The YMCA does not turn
anyone away for inability to pay," Wilson said on scholarship money that is available. "On an annual basis we give out
$30,000 in scholarships. Cost is no excuse to attend anything at the Y. We will also offer teens, that can't afford it, but
want to work off their membership, leadership opportunities to pay it off."
The YMCA also plans on starting an Earth Service Corp, which is similar to the Youth Leadership program, but has an
environmental aspect to it, similar to an outing club. Wilson said the Y is looking to utilize the 40 acres donated to the
CLC Y in 2006 by Carl Poole to further expand teen and adult programming. The land starts behind the Y property and
backs up to the Colby & Gale property on Biscay Road. Wilson would like to see the development of bike, jogging and
hiking trails, which can also be utilized in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The property backs up to
a bog, making great habitat for bird watchers.
The CLC YMCA will be unveiling a new capital campaign this summer, "to modernize and expand the programs at the
YMCA. By consolidating services, we can consolidate fundraising. We're not duplicating efforts or fundraising. By having it
all under one roof, and being one fundraising entity the cost is less and there is more programming, which is a better
way to do things. We are not looking at what happened in the past, but to provide the most services, for teens in the
future," Wilson commented.
A big benefit of the merger will be expanded operation hours, as teens will have access to the YMCA during their normal
business hours. The Teen Center was open a limited amount of time, and was closed during the day on vacation weeks.
"The YMCA Board of Directors is strongly committed to managing our local financial support most effectively. The
consolidation of the Teen Center with the YMCA is an exceptional opportunity for both organizations to combine our talent
and financial resources to serve our local teens," CLC YMCA Board president Lee Simard commented.
Local teenager reactions of the merger to form the new T2 Next Generation Teen Center have been positive. "Sounds
good," Aaron Mason of Nobleboro said. "I like that idea," Jake Millett on Newcastle commented. "That would be cool,"
Sarah Alley of South Bristol, Kelsey Schwarz of Damariscotta, and Sumner Keith of Nobleboro, said in unison.
"The Board of Directors of the Teen Center is excited by the prospect of moving beneath the umbrella of the YMCA. This
move contains all the essential ingredients of a successful merger including compatibility of mission and philosophy,
commitment to providing services to the community and synergy of financial, personnel and operational resources. In
short, it is the most logical and cost effective way to serve our community's teen population," Tim Cheney, president of
the Teen Center board commented.
Skateboard Park
The Damariscotta Skateboard Park will also be closing its doors. "My intent is to try to take it apart and re-construct it as
individual movable ramps and elements at the far end of the gymnasium. I ran a skateboard park in Newburyport, Mass.
and we rolled them in and out," Wilson said of the mobile park there.
"Our membership has grown exponentially. We are up to about 1900 members now. We have no dedicated space, just
general space that can conform," to different activities Wilson said as the biggest reason, the skateboard park would
have to be mobile. "We don't need dedicated space to provide programming. "For the moment, it (skateboard park
pieces) will be stored inside, until we are able to build something to store them outside."
Providing Safe Passage for Teens