Teen Newsletter Summer 2015

Fountain Valley YMCA Teen Center Volume 2, Issue 4

Summer 2015

4th Annual College Tour by Jared Reinstein The Teen Center is open this summer Monday - Thursday Noon to 5:00 p.m.

The Teen Center is free to Welte Education students and their families

Questions, Comments, Ideas?

This Spring Break the Y Teen Center located in the Welte Education Center took a trip to two colleges in Colorado and another in Wyoming. My name is Jared Resinstein and I’m going to tell you about all the fun things we did on the trip. We went to the School Of Mines, first they gave us a tour around the campus showing us some labs, some of the other facilities and then we ate in the cafeteria. We loaded on the bus and were on our way to the University of Northern

Colorado (UNC). At UNC we had one of the most amazing guides, he was hilarious yet very helpful.

We went all over the campus it was so much fun. We got on the bus again and left to paint at an art studio in Boulder and then went to the Boulder YMCA to stay the night. In the morning we went to the University of Wyoming we took a really long tour, the campus was huge. My favorite part of the tour was going to UNC, some friends and I are really interested in

it. It was tons of fun hanging out with friends and getting to know some of the other people I go to school with. One of my other favorite parts was staying the night at the Boulder YMCA. I got to spend the night with good friends like Harley and Kyle. I also enjoyed painting and having pizza.

I would like to thank Taco Bell Foundation for Teens for funding the YMCA 4th Annual College Tour and allowing me to go on this trip.

Teressa Johnson 21st Century Program Director teressa.johnson @ppymca.org 719.382.1562

Summer Program Begins June 1st

Welte Education Center YMCA Teen Center 330 Lyckman Drive Fountain, CO 80817 ppymca.org

“I’m bored” is not a phrase your teen should be saying this summer.

The Teen Center is open for our Summer program June 1st through July 30th. Our doors are open Monday though Thursday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Every day we will have a variety of recreation activities, art projects,

academic enrichment and team building games.

This program is once again free for Welte Education Center students or there is a small fee for those not enrolled at the Welte Center. Please visit ppymca.org for more information or call the Teen Center at 382-1562.

We look forward to seeing you this Summer!

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Fountain Valley YMCA

Fountain Valley YMCA 2014 Volunteer of the Year is Brylee Crocker Every year the YMCA celebrates its accomplishments from the previous year as well as those that volunteered their time to make the YMCA great. Every branch in the Pikes Peak Region recognizes their volunteer of the year at our Annual Dinner.

Individuals are recognized for demonstrating the

YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility while acting selflessly with their dedication to the YMCA and volunteering their time and talents. This year the Fountain YMCA recognizes Brylee Crocker for her outstanding leadership in 2014 to the Teen Center and the YMCA.

Brylee has been a part of the Teen Center for 2 years now and in that time she has participated in MANY volunteer projects and is a constant leader for us. Congratulations Brylee!

Photo Left: 2014 Volunteer of the Year Brylee Crocker with CEO Boyd Williams

Photo Left: Sierra Barrow, Alejandro Segovia and Patrick Fegurgur playing chess.

Photo Right: Harley Smith, Cristina Mendoza and Brylee Crocker stop for an Icee at UNC on our College Tour.

21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Award The Teen Center has received exciting news! In December our 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant expired. This grant funded everything from staff, supplies and field trips. We were invited by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to

apply for another 21st CCLC grant and in April we were informed that we had been awarded funds.

This will be our third 21st CCLC grant from the CDE. Funding will begin July 1, 2015 and will last for five years.

These fund will support the Teen Center with staffing,

supplies, field trips, college tours and First Aid and CPR/AED classes for the students of the Welte Education Center. We are very excited for this opportunity to continue supporting and serving the students and staff of Welte.

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Volume 2, Issue 4

It’s Kind of a Funny Story Book Review by Faith Bourbeau Don’t let the slightly tacky title fool you. It is one of those books that drags you in and forces you to continue as soon as you pick it up. This book follows a 15 year old boy who’s finally forced to cope with his crippling depression in an adult mental ward.

Hopefully I didn’t lose you there, because it is a wonderfully humorous tale. With such a topic, it takes a very unique person to handle it carefully

enough where it doesn’t bog you down.

The author is a master at this. The story follows Craig through his 5 day adventure into this ward, meeting interesting new characters and beginning to heal himself as well as others in obscure ways. Of course, there’s a dash of teenage romance, (when is there not, really) but that as well is done skillfully. When it boils down, it’s just

a young boy burned out from stress and anxiety trying to get better, and everyone can relate to that. It really is a unique book that I think everyone should read. It goes very fast, so don’t worry about that! You need to read this book immediately, and when you’re done, there’s a movie too...But it won’t be nearly as good as the book ;) Everyone needs a summer book.

Make it this one!

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Care and Share Mobile Food Pantry Care and Share will be hosting a farmer’s market style distribution food pantry on the second Friday of every month at 9:00 am. The mobile food pantry can

be found in the Peak Vista parking lot at 350 Lyckman Drive.

Food items will include seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as fresh baked goods.

Please call (719) 6325700 for more information. This is a new and free service for the Fountain area, and services have already begun.

Adams State University Tour by Faith Bourbeau Adam's State was one of the most beautiful colleges I've had the pleasure of seeing. It's a long drive from Fountain, but it was 100% worth it. Most students groan when a college comes up, and a lot of students thought they were going for the free food. But that didn't

end up being the case at all! I know everyone loved Adams State, or, at the very least, they appreciated it. Every step is gorgeous and seeing everything they had to offer was inspiring. I personally find myself drawn there, seeing as it has a wonderful teaching program that

anyone would be lucky to participate in. Over all, this college trip was a total success. I am very thankful that I got to participate in this; seeing and hearing about the college helped shape part of my future, as I am looking forward to applying to Adam's State in my senior Faith Bourbeau at year!

Adams St. University

Thank you Taco Bell!

Our Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

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The Teen Center’s 4th Annual College Tour saw some great growth this year and consisted of two different trips. Our first trip was an overnight adventure during spring break where we visited 3 different colleges in two days. The School of Mines in Golden, University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. It was very exciting for us to take kids out of state for the first time on our tour. We were also able to experience some art before staying the night at the Boulder YMCA, who was very welcoming and allowed us to stay the night in their gym. A month later we were able to host a one day campus tour at Adams State University in Alamosa. We are very grateful for the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens that made these trips possible. Many teens do not realize that college is an option or that they are interested in college until they are put in the environment. We look forward to next years trip!