Tri-Lakes Teens Celebrate a 'Home Away From Home'
This week marked the grand opening of the Tri-Lakes YMCA Teen Center. The new addition on the north side of the existing facility in Monument officially opened March 5, 2016 with the first club meeting held on March 7, 2016. While Tri-Lakes WyldLife/YoungLife will be utilizing the new building as a basecamp for the Monument organization, the new teen center is available for use by all middle and high school students in the area. The new 'home away from home' features a brand new basketball court, full-functioning warming kitchen, homework areas, soft furniture for collaborative conversation, video game lounge, ping pong/Foosball tables and a performance stage wired for musical and presentation applications. And when the addition is not being used for teens, the space will be available to daytime YMCA members to participate in pickle ball, basketball and volleyball events.
Matt Kubus, a long-standing CRP team member, has been working diligently alongside the YMCA and YoungLife organizations to turn this vision into a reality. This project aligns directly with the YMCA's ongoing mission to provide area teens with a safe community commonplace. In a recent interview with Fox21 News, Jeremy Vanhaitsma (Director of Tri-Lakes YL) explained how the partnership had a dream, “(F)or them to have just a safe place to come, dive into relationships, dive into real life with each other and just a place to be – home away from home.” CRP is proud to have been a part of building community for Monument-area teens and we are looking forward to watching the space grow and thrive with the life that the students will bring to this space for many years to come. Congratulations to Matt and the YMCA/YL team in the successful opening of the Tri-Lakes Teen Center.
Actions speak louder than words... The video filmed on the first teen night held in the new 'clubhouse' clearly demonstrates the enthusiasm, energy and overwhelming excitement the 150+ teens had for their new space and the future opportunities it holds.
“Last night was the first night it was open for “business”, and I encourage you to watch the Youtube link which speaks for itself. My son was there last night and came home excited, encouraged and energized by the fun he and hundreds of teens experienced together. You cannot make this up! You will see through the video what this new space is going to offer hundreds, thousands of young people.”