Teen Programs

ALEXANDRA GAGNON TEEN CENTER
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Thursdays 4pm-8pm
Fridays 2pm-11pm
Saturdays 4pm-11pm
'September through June'

Location: Cottager's Corner-57 Pequot Avenue, Oak Bluffs

Teen Center Membership cost is $15.00 for the 2007-2008 school year, visitor fee $3.00

Spaghetti Dinners throughout the winter

Video project to begin this Fall which will welcome all ideas and concepts

On March 12, 2004 the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard opened the Island’s first teen center in 20 years. As one of the local newspapers wrote, “After more than a decade of talk and promises…it was ultimately the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard that came through in the clutch. They succeeded where others failed for one simple reason: They did not give up.”

The Alexandra Gagnon Teen Center is open to freshman to 20 year olds, on the school-year calandar. The buildings two floors, carefully supervised by Y staff and volunteers – rocks four nights a week, often with as many as 60 teens playing games, watching TV, or hanging out with friends. Weekly programs include: games night, pool and ping-pong tournaments, movie nights, and homework help. Monthly programs include: Open mike night, Community Service Events, Poker Tournaments and Movie Nights with discussion.

The Youth Initiative

The YMCA is committed to Island youth. The Youth Initiative is comprised of The SLIP (for information contact Eric Adams ea@ymcamv.org), The SLIP's companion adult council, a teen center, and national teen programming. Together these components are devoted to serving the Island's 845 high school students (grades 9-12) and the approximately 120 young adults out of school and under the age of 21.

The Youth Initiative is designed to help the young people of Martha’s Vineyard turn their talents, energies and idealism into fun, productive and ongoing resources for the community. The SlIP is youth-led, giving young participants a greater level of autonomy and empowering them to make good decisions, with the help of mentoring adults. A particularly strong effort is being made to reach the Vineyard’s at-risk youth. Because the Y’s mission is to serve the entire community, the Youth Initiative is interested in further cultivating relationships with members of the Brazilian and Wampanoag communities.

Some of the Youth Initiative's activities have included a substance-free teen dance featuring all island bands, an all ages battle of the bands, a face painting booth at the AG fair, the Island Food Pantry drive, and a contest for island kids to design the logo for The SLIP's bumperstickers and t-shirts. The Youth Initiative has successfully raised $28,000 to put towards its programming.

For information please contact Donald Langley at (508) 696- 7171 ex 23, or email dl@ymcamv.org

Project ABLE

Adolescent Balanced Living Experience (ABLE) is a new program being offered by the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard. ABLE is a program free of charge, that uses a holistic approach to improving the health of young girls ages 11-14 years old. ABLE will offer participants fun and supported opportunities to create a sense of personal power and self-esteem by sharing tools that improve their overall physical and mental health.
Session 2 to run from 1/17/07 to 3/2/2007
Session 3 to run from 4/9/2007 to 6/6/2007

_For information please contact Nisa Kontje at (508) 693-7171 Ex 13, or email nk@ymcamv.org