The Breakwater Youth Corp (BYC) is hard at work!

The BYC has been hard at work this summer, bringing the Breakwater spirit to new spaces and projects on campus, as well as working to maintain and improve the special places we call home. This program offers a great way for our alums, qualified current students, and Portland area youth to give back and stay connected to our community, as well as learn how we keep our facilities maintained, safe, and beautiful over the summer.

This summer, the BYC is being lead by Breakwater 3rd and 4th grade teacher Jesse McDonoogh for the first time. Talking about the students he's been working with this summer Jesse shares "I can't tell you how proud I've been to have younger Breakwater campers witness the BYC model of citizenship and perseverance." Throughout the summer, Jesse has been incorporating "words of the day" such as persistence, initiative, ownership, and innovate (just to name a few) to inspire the BYC in their daily work.

BYC members have participated in a variety of projects including laying the foundation for a new garden area, hoisting a new basketball court, and getting the bike program in gear to be used this school year.  They have also done work at Jessieland, inspected wood chips and weeds on just about every inch of the playgrounds, and painted, hammered, and cleaned throughout our beloved buildings all the while gaining practical skills, furthering problem solving abilities, and cementing a social bond.  We are so proud of all of the work the BYC has done for the school throughout the summer and we can't wait to see what projects the group will take on in the final month before school is back in session!