HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Town Report 2007-YOUTH SERVICES North Andover Youth Services
Annual Town Report
The Youth Services Department, under the direction of Rick Gorman continued to
provide superior quality services and a full compliment of programs. The programs
consisted of support programs, court-related programming, student leadership programs,
family and individual services as well as a host of social, recreational and adventure
services. In 2007,Youth Services serviced 3,300 youth. In July 2007 funding was
restored for the fourth full-time position and $6,000 to our operating budget.
The outstanding professional staff consists of Rick Gorman - Executive Director,
Brie Hart - Support Services Coordinator, Ryan Chasse - Adventure Coordinator and
Josh Peters -Recreation Coordinator.
The Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center continues to be a lively and safe place for North
Andover youth. The center is open six days a week for middle and high school youth.
We have also built in time on Saturdays for fourth and fifth graders to give them a feel
for the center prior to entering middle school.
We operate an extensive eight week summer program, which services 1,200 youth. The
summer is filled with clinics, recreational programs, playground programs, events and
field trips. Youth Services is also responsible for Stevens Pond. The pond, which will be
going through major renovation work in Spring 2008, will once again become a summer
hot spot for our residents.
In 2007, our staff consisted of four full-time employees, student volunteers, adult
volunteers, program leaders, interns and part-time staff During the summer our part-
time staff swells from 25 to over 100. We are very proud of our opportunity to provide
jobs for North Andover youth.
2007 was also the second year that we took over coordinating the Sunday night skating
program at Brooks School, the Saturday morning fourth grade basketball program and the
summer special events for younger kids. We are pleased to say that all three programs
continue to grow and see large numbers.
Late 2007 also saw the re-opening of the very popular NAYS Challenge Course in the
Town forest. Due to budget cuts, the course had been closed for two years.
The Youth Services Director also chairs the Towns Fields Committee. This position is
responsible for permitting fields, working with our youth sports programs and developing
short and long term plans for field use and development.
Once again, a number of adult committees are actively involved in the daily work of the
Youth Center. These adult volunteer committees work on fundraising, the annual fund,
marketing, public relations, finance, budgeting and technology.
The Youth Services Board of Directors and Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center, Inc. are
also continuing to work on long range planning for the department and center. We thank
the Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center, Inc. for their continued financial and emotional
support of the center.
The lifeline of Youth Services is to provide support services and I am pleased and proud
of our constant mission of helping the youth and families in this community. The
following are the services provided during the last year.
ADVENTURE PROGRAMS:
• Re-opening of Challenge Course
• Skateboard Park
• Rock Climbing Programs
• Paintball Trips
• Biking Programs
SUPPORT SERVICES:
• High School Girl's Group
• Middle School Girl's Group
• Tuesday Girls Hour
• Youth Tracking and Outreach
• Holiday Giving Program
• Thanksgiving Program
• Personal Care Drive
• Crisis Intervention
• Information and Referral Services
• Job Bank
• Mediation
• NAYS/MSPCC Collaboration
SOCIAL/RECREATION PROGRAMS:
• 7th/8th grade Teenco
• 6th grade Teenco
• 8th grade Dress-up Dance
• Basketball Tourneys
• Fall Flag Football
• Joseph Walsh Summer League
• Black Knights Winter League
• Youth Center Classes
• NAYS/NABC 4th grade Basketball
SOCIAL/RECREATION PROGRAMS Cont'd:
• Crusaders Special Olympics
• Grandstand (Snack Shack)
• Lip-Synch Contest
• Field Trips
• Extensive Summer Programming (8 weeks)
STUDENT-RUN PROGRAMS:
• Youth Council
• Teenco Dance Committee
• Helping Hands
• Skateboard Committee
• Outing Club
• Step Team
• Tutoring
• Community Involvement Programs
SPECIAL EVENTS:
• Annual Spring Carnival
• Youth Appreciation Day
• End of School Party
• End of Summer Celebration
• NAYS/YMCA 3 on 3 Tourney
• Youth Center Fundraisers
COURT-RELATED PROGRAMS:
• Juvenile Diversion
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Gorman
Executive Director