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First, I’d like to start by thanking all of you who helped plan and operate our first annual YAM Fest held June 28th @ Sutton Park! It was such a fun and eventful day. (…even though it was 10000 degrees) We had the whole park filled with various creative project tents and a stage for our bands. Planning started in January. It was Alicia McAvay’s, ELYS High School Coordinator, brainchild. She wanted it to be a youth-driven event. She is the advisor to East Lyme High’s Student Advisory Board and looked up W-CAST, and the rest was a lot of hard work and determination. “Our teens have so much to offer,” she says, “they just need an outlet and opportunity to show it.” Tents included a t-shirt recycling/designing tent where youth could pick one of many donated t-shirts and re-work it into wearable art. Another tent was set up for “zine”-making (a mini-magazine), another for collaborative song writing, where youth banged away and sang into a microphone hooked up to a computer to create their own song. The East Lyme High School’s ECO Club was also there with the lovely Mrs. Rotchford with lots of information and a water bottle toss game to give away “green” grocery bags, donated by Dr. Engle. We also had a tent and were in charge of the YAM (donated by Stop and Shop) decorating contest. We had several genius entries. The winner was Heather Scuggins with her “Bird of YAM” yam. She garnered 15 votes. (Come get your t-shirt Heather) Other notable entries were “Franken-YAM” by Andy L., Tux-YAM, by Ryan Tagley, and “Santa-YAM” by Ashley Gale. My personal favorite was Emo-YAM, by the ECO club’s Hanna-Lee D. Great Job everyone! There was also an art gallery exhibiting beautiful youth artists’ work. There was a contest there, as well voted by the kids themselves. Bernadette Hebbel, graduating senior, won the vote and will receive a YAM basket full of goodies including a compilation CD of YAM bands, a t-shirt, and other various delights. Bernadette was also one of the designers of the YAM Fest logo, featured in June 26th Lyme Times. She is off to Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall. Congratulations Bernadette! There were a few skeptics, but no could argue that the outcome was amazing: tons of teens having a great time, using their creativity and showing the community what they can offer if given the chance. We couldn’t be prouder of our youth, and Alicia, too!! Keep an ear out next summer for our next YAM Fest! July is in full swing, and with it, comes Summer Programming!!! Summer registration forms need to be filled out to attend our activities. Mondays: Beach Parties @ McCook’s Pavilion 5-6th graders 6:30-8:30pm $5. Wednesdays: Beach Dances@ McCook’s Beach 7-10th graders 7-10pm $7. Fri.’s: Beach Days @ Ocean Beach 9:30am-2: 30pm, call if transportation is needed $10
Don’t forget our Annual Volunteer BBQ July 17th 5:30-7:30 @ McCook’s Pavilion. Our kids plan it to thank all of our volunteers who give their time all year through. If you helped us at all this year, we want you there!!! Please call us for more information. ~Sarah ELYS 45 Society Rd Niantic CT 06357 (860) 739-6788 |