About Us

Welcome!

You have entered the fun site of the Gravenhurst Youth Centre!

It is our Vision to recognize the urgent need to enrich the lives of youth between the ages

of 11-17 in our community with stimulating programs and special events.

Our Mission is to foster a fun and creative environment to help youth attain personal development and community involvement.

The Gravenhurst Youth Centre is a not-for-profit organization that is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Our Core Values

Honesty, trust, integrity and respect of others are the cornerstones of our organization

Our community investors and instructors are fundamental in achieving our goals

Collaborative partnerships are essential to our long-term success

We work with caring volunteers who are screened to work with youth

Our Objectives

Encourage personal development in order that youth can realize their full potential

Recognize and reward personal achievements by youth through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Promote and enhance positive relationships of youth

Foster community service skills and involvement for young people

Provide links and referrals to other support agencies and services in the community

Recruit mentors/advisors for individual youth

Coordinate job shadowing and apprentice opportunities for youth with local businesses

Gateway to the future…Youth, we believe in YOU!

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Investor

” Our Investors are fundamental to our success”

Why Invest?

Our Investors recognize the economic and social benefits of youth who are encouraged to enhance and develop personal interests, vocational and practical skills. The merits of supporting successful programs that help youth attain such skills results in youth becoming self-reliant and responsible who make a difference to themselves and to their community.

How You Benefit

Business and community partners who support our Youth Centre are assured of the following return:

Recognition through our promotional materials, newsletter, website and advertisements about our Investors’ generous donations

A great sense of Accomplishment knowing you have played a key role in enriching the lives of young people in an enjoyable environment that is fun and results driven

An Enhanced overall quality of life for all our community

We are grateful for the generous support of our Sponsors:

Town of Gravenhurst

Rotary Club of Gravenhurst

Community Policing

Sublime Graphics

Lion’s Club, Gravenhurst

Tim Horton’s, Gravenhurst

Chamberlain TIMBR Mart

Gravenhurst High School

Gravenhurst’s Independent Grocer

Foodland

McDonalds

IGA

Pizza Pizza

M&M

SYSCO

Oliver’s

Artstract

Cogeco Cable

Muskoka Lakes Gardens & More

Milk & Honey Farm

Veridian

Clear Case Computers

Surf Paradise

Mr. Sub

Just 4 Kicks

Rotary Club of Bracebridge

Rotary Club of Bracebridge – Muskoka Lakes

Bent Ply Muskoka

Stephensons Lions Club, Port Sydney

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Instructor

Interested in offering a program for youth?

We are keen to hear about your idea!

Program Instructors WANTED!

Our Instructors recognize the community benefits when youth are encouraged to enhance and develop personal interests and social, vocational and practical skills. The merits of providing successful programs that help youth attain such skills and personal discovery, results in youth becoming both self-reliant and responsible who make a difference to themselves and to their community.

Outdoor, Cultural, Social & Instructional Activities

Key areas of interest that were identified by youth who participated in our Youth Needs Study were programs that include activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, hiking and rock climbing. Also, cultural interests in music, art, drama, cooking and fitness classes rated high on the list, as well as community service projects and special events.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Gravenhurst Youth Centre is a proud Muskoka sponsor of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DEA). The award concept offers young people between 14 – 17 years old a balanced, non-competitive program of voluntary activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and community service involvement. Participants achieve their award by attaining established goals in these areas:

Physical Recreation

Adventurous Journey

Community Service

Skill Development.

Instructors can help youth achieve merit towards their award by designing their program to meet the DEA goals. For more information about the DEA see their site: www.dukeofed.org

Program Proposals, Fees & Registration

Our exciting programs cover the above key areas of interest to youth. Programs can range from a one-day workshop, a course offered over several weeks or longer. Each program offered will require registration on a first come basis. Fees and program registration will be collected by the Youth Centre. Some activities will be delivered in different locations, depending on the program or event. All youth must be a registered participant of the Gravenhurst Youth Centre to be able to sign up for a program.

Please see Use Agreement , Volunteer Instructor Program Proposal, Non-Profit Program Proposal, Profit Program Proposal forms.

How You Benefit

By offering your time, talent or expertise to our community’s youth, you will receive:

· Recognition through our promotional materials, newsletters, website and publicity through media coverage

· Free use of our facility to deliver your program for volunteer instructors

· A great sense of Accomplishment knowing you have played a key role in enhancing the lives of young people in a fun and enjoyable environment

YES! I Want To Help

Apply in writing with new program ideas for youth between the ages of 11 -17 for the summer and also for programs to start in September.

Please send resume with cover letter outlining your program ideas to the Youth Centre.

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Youth News

This page is where GYC youth can tell their friends what activity, workshop, special event or volunteer project they participated in and how much they liked it. We hope to see a lot of kids filling this page with their experiences in the near future!

Gateway to the future…Youth, we believe in YOU!

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Programs

Hey Kids, check this out!

SchoolHouse Rock Live – Jr!

We are looking for volunteers for the following areas:

Back Stage Crew – to help with portable stage props during each performance April 26 – 29 (total of 12 community service hours and crew gets to attend FREE Boston Pizza party on Sunday, April 29!)

Dinner/Theatre Servers – Thursday, April 26 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in Trillium Court, Opera House. (free theatre tickets for volunteers!)

Ushers – volunteer for one or all 4 performances April 26 – 28 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and on Sunday, April 29 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm (free theatre seats for ushers!)

Stage Prop Artists – We need artist volunteers to help create and design hand and stage props at the GYC Tuesdays, from 4 – 5:30 pm.

Contact Susan at the GYC if you are interested in any of the above!

Coffee House

Does singing, playing instruments and hanging out at lunch sound good to you? We are offering a Coffee House during your lunch hour!! We need musicians to step forward and sign up to entertain others during this much needed break in your day. This is also a chance for artists to read poems or short stories. If you are interested in performing during our Coffee House please contact the Youth Centre for more details.

Leo’s Club Youth making a difference! – Leo’s Clubs are an official activity of Lion’s Club International that encourages youth ages 11 and up to serve others in their community and around the world. This group is sponsored by the local Lion’s Club.

Meeting the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month

7:00 – 9:00 pm Location: Gravenhurst Youth Centre

Fee: FREE!!! New members welcome!

Contact: Randy McGregor at 687-0618/ lions_tale_2@yahoo.ca or visit the Lion’s Club website: www.gravenhurstlions/org for more info.

Creative Girls! An after school mentoring program for girls similar to the Go, Girls! program

Tuesdays 4:00 – 5:00 pm Location: Gravenhurst Youth Centre. Fee: $5.00 per session

Instructor: Sherrie Pilger Sherrie_Pilger@yahoo.ca / 687-5995 Register by contacting the Centre

Computer Graphics These workshops introduce you and your friends to:

Image Creation

Editing and Enhancing using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

Youth will have a fun opportunity brainstorming project ideas that will take them right through to creation and printing. Workshops will include logo design, event flyers & posters, mechanical drawing, photo manipulation, and much more! . These workshops will be of keen interest for those already into computer arts, or for those who would like to develop some skills in computer art, such as graffiti, tattoo, commercial or fine art.

Program for ages 13 – 17

Dates and times to be determined by interest. Possible times: 3:30 – 5:30 or 6:00 – 8:00 pm Possible days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

4 hour workshops ( Two – 2 hour sessions)

custom logos

business cards

Fee: $10.00

6 hour workshops (three – 2 hour sessions)

postcards

custom graphics

rack cards

custom text

photo retouching

photo manipulation

book covers

newsletter

colour and grayscale ad design

Fee: $15.00

10 hour workshops ( five – 2 hour sessions)

brochures

custom calendars

posters & flyers

web site design

books

Fee: $25.00

24 Hour Adobe Photoshop Workshop ( twelve – 2 hour sessions)

Fee: $60.00

20 Hour Adobe Illustrator Workshop ( ten – 2 hour sessions)

Fee: $50.00

16 Hour Quark Xpress Workshop ( eigth – 2 hour sessions)

Fee: 40.00

Instructor: Cindy Kitchener of Scatterpaint Graphics. scatterpaint@bellnet.ca/646-8859

Contact the Centre if interested in any of the above workshops

Sewing Classes – Instructors Needed!

A popular class for our youth that produce great results!

Please contact Susan if you and a friend are available to help youth develop these skills.

Food Basics – Instructors Needed! This has been a popular program and we are in need of adult leaders to run a 6-week course in our excellent kitchen space at the Centre. Please contact Susan if you are able to help (687-8985)

Homework Help – could you benefit from the use of a computer and/or some help ensuring you complete your homework assignments on time? If interested, please contact the Centre for more details.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DEA)

This optional program offers youth 14 years of age and up a chance to participate in non-competitive activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, responsibility to yourself and service to your community. (a good place to earn those community service hours!) There are three levels of the Award:

BRONZE

SILVER

GOLD

Each has an increasing degree of commitment. To achieve an Award, you complete 4 sections:

PHYSICAL RECREATION to encourage good health and a physically active lifestyle.

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY to participate in qualifying outdoor journeys as well as develop and appreciation of the environment.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT to encourage discovery of personal interests and development of social, vocational and practical skills.

COMMUNITY SERVICE to provide assistance where needed in your school, church or greater community.

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