||| FROM EMILIE GINCIG for FUNHOUSE COMMONS |||
On a sunny Sunday in May mentors and mentees from around the county came together for a day of fun and celebration at Camp Orkila. As our first large mentor gathering since the pandemic began it was such a treat to see everyone together again. It was a day full of smiles, burritos from Johanna’s catering, and young people pushing themselves out of their comfort zone by climbing up the rock wall on Orkila’s adventure tower.
The mentor programs from Lopez and San Juan islands braved the capricious ferry schedule to join us in making this lively event happen. Mentors and mentees did arts and crafts together, played games in the woods, and even tested their aim at the archery range. These events are a powerful reminder of the strength of our community, demonstrating how many adults have committed themselves to be there for a local young person, and how we collectively show up to support our county’s youth.
Orkila Mentor Funday is an annual collaborative event co-hosted by YMCA’s Camp Orkila, The Funhouse, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, and the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center on San Juan island. The Funhouse is enormously grateful to all of our partners who came together to create a memorable day for our youth.
The Mentor Program is always in need of compassionate adults to step into becoming a mentor. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact jesse@thefunhouse.org.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
