The PORT Teen Center

February News

2012-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

You're invited to Sitting Pretty 2012: 100 paddles, 100 Artists

Sunday, March 25, 4:00-6:30pm

$10pp/$25family

Freeport Community Center: 53 Depot St., Freeport

Preview Paddles Here: http://www.theportteencenter.org/

For tickets or info: 207-865-6171

We Need Your Help

Please read this information abou the PORT's needs and financial situation. We need your backing to continue our mission of serving teens:

https://docs.google.com/a/rsu5.org/document/d/1pB6QvGhr1iiYpEDr9jv5J11iHo3cnz_B13JuHNc8Kxw/edit?hl=en_US#

February Break Center Hours:

CLOSED: M-F, February 20-24

Regular hours resume Monday, February 27th

A Tip from our Friends at Casco Bay C.A.N.

Snow Day Closure and Revised Midterms hours

2012-01-12T06:43:00.001-08:00

PORT CLOSED-Today, Thursday, 1/12 due to snow

Revised PORT hours during FHS Midterms:
Monday, 1/16: Closed for MLK Day
Tuesday, 1/17: Open 220-600pm
Wednesday- Monday, 1/18-1/23: 12-600pm

January Happenings!

2012-01-04T09:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Teens & Families,

Happy New Year to all! We ended this year with a flurry of activities. Thank you to all the teen and adult volunteers who helped out at LL Bean Giftwrapping, Drop & Shop Babysitting, and the Ca$H Club Dance. Your help raised over $800 for the PORT teen center in the week before Christmas.

January Happenings:
2011-12 Port Annual Fund Drive: We are having an excellent repsonse to our Annual Fund solicitation. Thank you to all our supporters. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to our center, please call Evan at (207) 865-6171.

Friday Night Dodgeball- 1/6: This event is free to all High School students. 8-930pm at Mast landing School Gym. You need a signed, once per school year waiver, so print one off our facebook page or bring a parent to the event.

PORT CLOSED-Martin Luther King Day: Monday, 1/16. Enjoy your time off, but take a moment to honor the dream: http://www.thekingcenter.org/

Friday Night Dodgeball-1/20: 8-930 @ MLS

Drop & Dine Babysitting Fundraiser: As a fundraiser, the PORT teen center and Laugh and Learn Childcare are cohosting this event designed to give parents a night off. Your young children will enjoy food and fun in the Laugh and Learn classrooms while being supervised by teen volunteers and Laugh and Learn teachers. 530-8pm. $15child/$10 each additional sibling. Pre-registration required. Call RCE at (207)865-6171.

Winter Break Hours

2011-12-22T07:59:00.001-08:00

Winter Break Hours:

Friday, Dec 23: 12-6pm

December, 24 through January, 2: CLOSED

We re-open on Tuesday, January, 3rd.

A special thank you to Teen DJ Thomas Dodge for doing a great job at the CA$H CLUB DANCE:

December Happenings:

2011-12-05T10:12:00.001-08:00

Hello Teens and Families:

December is an exciting and busy month for everyone. The PORT is no different. Have a look at our upcoming events. We'd love to have you at any of them. Also, if you would like to volunteer, we need help at all of these events.

Cash Club Dance featuring DJ Thomas Dodge:

Saturday, December 17. 8-11pm. 8-9pm arrival time. $3.00 at the door. 9-12th grades. Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St.

LL Bean Giftwrapping Fundraiser:

Monday, December 19th from 3-9pm. The PORT will be wrapping gifts at LL Bean's. Wrapping is free, but all tips are appreciated and go directly to the PORT. Look for us inside the entrance of the flagship store nearest the giant Bean Boot.

Drop and Shop Babysitting

Mon.-Wed., Dec 19-21. 530-800pm. The PORT and Laugh and Learn childcare are joining up for a fundraisers. Parents can bring their small children to Morse Street School's Laugh and Learn Classroom for an evening of babysitting. Laugh and Learn teachers and teen volunteers will be there to entertain and supervise your children. Kids will get dinner. $15 for first child, $10 for each additional sibling. PLEASE PRE-REGISTER 207-865-6171.

Thanks to all the Sitting Pretty artists

2011-11-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

Announcements and November tip of the month

2011-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

PORT Closures:
The PORT is CLOSED on Friday, Nov. 11 for Veteran's Day. Thank you to those who have served.

The PORT is Closed Wednesday-Friday, Novemebr 23-25 for the Thanksgiving Break. Gobble, Gobble!

Casco Bay Can's Tip of the month:

DRUG TAKE BACK EVENT: FREEPORT FIRE AND SAFETY

2011-10-26T08:35:00.001-07:00

Properly disposing of unwanted medications protects our teens and the environment:

Upcoming events and announcements

2011-09-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

The PORT teen center is CLOSED October 7-10th. Enjoy your holiday weekend.

FALL HAPPENINGS

2011-08-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Dear teens, friends and families,

The teen center is coming off of a fantastic summer with more trips and participants than ever. Thanks to the 43 teens who joined us for fun times such as rockclimbing, whitewater rafting, paintballing, camping in Acadia, and the Sunday River Ziplines. Please see the following announcements to stay current on our programs.

The teen center is open for the school year starting September 6th. Our new hours are M-F 2:20-6:00pm. We are free and open to all 7th-12th graders. 6th graders, look for “sixth grade welcome” days.

We are taking signups for all our fall programs. View and register for our free and reduced cost offerings for 6th-12th graders online at www.rsu5-rce.org OR call (207) 865-6171.

Lost & Found- We have quite a collection. Come claim your stuff from the teen center by October 1st or it will be donated.

Sitting Pretty 2012! We need artists to help us decorate the 100 canoe paddles just donated from LL Bean. Email Randall at randallwadethomas@gmail.com FMI.

I hope you all had a wonderful, safe, and healthy summer. Have a fun and productive start of the school year!

Sincerely,
Evan Kumagae

Congratulations to all!

2011-06-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

To all teens and families,

As the school year quickly comes to an end, the PORT congratulates all students for another year of accomplishments. We look forward to seeing returning students in the fall and wish the best to graduates embarking on the next adventure!

The teen center's last day for the year is Thurday, June, 16th. We will be open from noon to six.

The PORT has summer activities planned. View our Summer Brochure FMI:
http://www.rsu5-rce.org/PDF-Files/Summer2011/SummerBrochure2011.pdf

Have a safe and wonderful summer!
Evan

Dodgeball and Special Hours

2011-05-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Friday Night Dodgeball with the PORT. This Friday the 13th (yikes). 8-930 at Mast Landing School. Don't forget a waiver if you need one. FMI: 865-6171.

The PORT will close at 5:30 on Friday, May 20. Please plan accordingly.

PORT special hours

2011-04-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

The PORT will close at 6 this Friday, 4/29

The PORT will open at noon on Wednesday May 4 for Early Release.

Snow Closures Today

2011-04-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

SNOW CLOSURE FRIDAY APRIL 1,2011 Mother nature is playing a trick on us. The PORT teen center is CLOSED. Dodgeball this eveningis CANCELED. Stay warm and drive safely. Evan

PORT Closed on Thursdays & Lost and Found

2011-03-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

The PORT is CLOSED the following Thursdays:
March 3, 10, & 17.

Trailblazers meets at FMS on those days.

Lost & Found:
If you think you lost something at the PORT, come and get it soon. All leftover items will be donated on March 7th.

February Break Hours and Lost & Found

2011-02-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

February Break Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 12:00-6:00pm
Closed Monday and Friday

Lost & Found:
All items in the lost and found will be donated on Monday, March 7. Stop by before then if you are missing something.

PORT CLOSURES

2011-02-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

The PORT is closed today, Wednesday 2/2 for the SNOW: Stay Safe

The PORT is Closed tomorrow, Thursday 2/3: Trailblazers meets at FMS

PORT closures

2011-01-31T07:04:00.003-08:00

The Port will be closed Thursday, February 3rd & 17th, and Friday, February 11th.

Trailblazers will meet at Freeport Middle School.

We are open early on Wednesday, 1/26

2011-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

We are open for early release this Wednesday at 12. 6th graders are welcome.

Snow Day Cancelations- Friday 1/21

2011-01-21T03:04:00.000-08:00

SNOW DAY CANCELLATIONS- FRIDAY 1/21:

The PORT is closed for both Fuel up for Finals and the Afternoon.

Friday Night Dodgeball is CANCELED

Stay warm and safe,
Evan

Upcoming events:

2011-01-20T06:48:00.001-08:00

Hello all,

For complete information on any of the PORT's offerings, please call 207-865-6171 or visit www.rsu5-rce.org. Here are some upcoming events that you should know about:

Freeport Middle School:

Mangia Lasagna with Nicole Gagnon (Friday, 1/28)
Learn Lasagna Maestra, Nicole Gagnon's secret recipe and come home with a ready to bake lasagna and garlic bread!

February Trailblazers: WINDHAM SNOW PARK and Snowshoeing(2/3,11(friday),&17)
We'll spend two days snow shoeing and one day snow tubing at the Windham Snow Park.

March Trailblazers: BATH SKATE PARK (3/3,10,17)
We will visit the skate park in Bath for some instruction and skating on their elements!

FREEPORT HIGH SCHOOL:

Poplar Stream Falls Hut Trip (2/5&6):
This trip will take High School students on a overnight trip to the Carrabassett Valley. We will hike and explore the winter wonderland, spend the night in the new, heated huts, and return on Sunday.

Durham Community School grades 6-8

February Trailblazers: Windham Snow Park (Friday 2/18)
Come enjoy the groomed hills and power lifts with the PORT!

March Trailblazers: Bath Skate Park (3/24)
We'll visit the skatepark for some instruction and riding on their elements!

The PORT is closed for MLK day

2011-01-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

The PORT is closed on Monday 1/17 in honor of Dr. King! Enjoy the day off and remember what its for!

Follow the link and watch the famous "I have a dream speach":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

Snow Day

2011-01-12T07:03:00.001-08:00

The PORT is CLOSED for the SNOW today, Wednesday 1/12.

See you tomorrow!

Early Releasea nd MLK day

2011-01-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

THE PORT will open for early release tomorrow(Wednesday 1/12) at noon.

We are closed on Monday, 1/17 for MLK day.

See you today or see you next year!

2010-12-30T06:54:00.001-08:00

THe PORT is Open Today (Thursday 1/30)

Come down to the PORT today and enjoy it for the last time until next year!

We are closed Tomorrow (Friday 1/31)

Winter Break hours and events

2010-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

****THE PORT IS CLOSED ON MONDAY 12/27 FOR THE SNOW!***

Tuesday 12/28-Thursday 12/30: PORT open 230-600

Friday 12/31: Closed

PORT schedule

2010-12-13T07:34:00.000-08:00

PORT schedule this week:
Monday: 230-600
Tuesday: 230-600
Wednesday: Closed-Trailblazers meet in Durham
Thursday: Closed-Trailblazers meet at Freeport Middle
Friday: 230-700

Dodge Tonight(Friday 12/10)!

2010-12-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
The first Friday Night Dodgeball of the year is TONIGHT. 9-12th grade

Mast Landing School Gym- 8-9pm

Don't forget that EVERYONE needs a new waiver. Follow the link and have a parent sign it:https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1R1zKy05VyRa5rkWC0NELhMqR7x_5YC0_D8EhMR0E93I

See you there!
The PORT

PORT Special Hours 12/6-10

2010-12-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

M, Tu- 230-600

The PORT will open at noon on Wednesday, 12/8 for early release. 6th Grade welcome!

The PORT will be closed Thursday, 12/9. Trailblazers will meet at FMS.

Fri- 230-700

The PORT will be closed this Thursday

2010-11-30T07:08:00.001-08:00

The PORT will be closed this Thursday, 12/2. Rockclimbing Trailblazers will meet at Freeport Middle School.

THANKSGIVING WEEK HOURS

2010-11-16T08:58:00.001-08:00

Please make note of special hours for the Thanksgiving week.

11/22- OPEN 230-600
11/23- OPEN 230-600
11/24- CLOSED ALL DAY
11/25- CLOSED ALL DAY
11/26- CLOSED ALL DAY

Enjoy your family, food, and friends. Don't eat too much.

Evan

WE ARE OPEN TODAY! (Friday 11/12)

2010-11-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

The PORT is open until 700 today (Friday 11/12)

Come on down!

Thanks,
Evan

Schedule for the week of 11/8

2010-11-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the PORT schedule for the coming short school week.

M-Wed 230-600
Thursday (Veteran's day)CLOSED
Friday 230-700

See you here!

Evan

Important Stuff About the PORT

2010-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

1.
We open at 1230 tomorrow (Wednesday 10/27) for early release.

2.

The Halloween Concert
Saturday 10/30
5 local teen bands
8-11pm
The PORT, 53 Depot Street
$4/3/1 depending on how dress up you are

You must arrive between 800 and 845 pm

Friendly's Benefit Night

2010-10-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

EAT ICE CREAM AND HELP THE PORT!!!!

The PORT will close at 4:30 tomorrow (Tuesday 10/26) because I'll be at the Friendly's benefit night.

Friendly's Benefit Night
5-8pm
Tuesday, 10/26/2010
Freeport Friendly's

A portion of ALL sales go to the PORT.

VOTE to support our home!

2010-10-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Vote for Freeport!

Help Freeport Community Services (The PORT's home) earn a $100,000 grant.

Click on:
http://www.brightbuiltbarn.com/brightbuilt-retrofit/poll/

and vote for

FREEPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES!

It's that easy!

Closed Tomorrow but open Thursday

2010-10-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all

The PORT is closed Tomorrow (Wednesday 10/20). See you on Thursday!

Cheers,
Evan

Some PORT things

2010-10-13T06:52:00.001-07:00

1. The PORT is OPEN tomorrow (Thursday 10/14)

2. Trailblazers meets tomorrow at the middle school. I'll be outfront. If you don't see me, wait because I'm just lost in the crowd.

3. TEEN ADVISORY BOARD- if you haven't already, check your messages.

Thanks much!

Evan

PORT UPDATES!!!

2010-10-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

TRAILBLAZERS STARTS TODAY, 10/7!

The PORT is closed today...

BUT...

open at 1230 tomorrow. Come on down on the non student day!

Early Release Hours

2010-09-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

The PORT will be open at 1230 this Wednesday, 9/29, for early release.

Sixth Grade is welcome!

Off and running

2010-09-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

The PORT has been having a great start of the school year. Many old friends and some new ones have stopped by the PORT. Trailblazers are enjoying cycling with professional bike instructor, Brian Danz.

I'd like to give a special thanks to the Teen Advisory Board. If you are interested in being part of the leadership team, please contact me via facebook.

I NEED FRIENDS. Friend me on facebook: Evan Kumagae.

The PORT will be closed this Thursday, 9/23/2010

Trailblazers will still meet by the bike racks at the middle school!

Thanks,

Evan

Teen Advisory Board meetings!

2010-09-16T08:28:00.001-07:00

The TAB will meet this Monday, 9/20, at lunchtime. See you there!

And don't forget to friend me on facebook: Evan Kumagae

Cheers,
Evan

SPECIAL HOURS FOR EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY, 9/15

2010-09-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

The PORT will open at 12:30pm on Wednesday 9/15 for early release.

Sixth grade is encouraged to come on this day to learn what the PORT is all about.

Cheers,
Evan

I Scream, You Scream...

2010-08-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

With the start of the school year just around the corner, we at The PORT just want to take this opportunity to remind you of our annual Back-To-School Ice Cream Social!

Once again, our sponsors Ben & Jerry's have donated delicious ice cream to share with you. Details below:

Date: Tuesday, August 31st
Time: 2:30 til we run out of ice cream!
Place: The PORT
Who: Anyone in grades 7 & up

Stop in after school, after your mentor day, or after sports practice. We'll be scooping ice cream until 6:00 at the teen center!

If you know you're coming, why not RSVP on Facebook and invite some more friends?

August Trips

2010-08-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Just one more month left of summer, but we still have a few more trips left for you at The PORT!

Tomorrow we head down to Birch Hill in York for some paintball action. This is a new course for us, and we're all looking forward to checking it out. There's still room for a couple more people, so call RCE this afternoon if you'd like to sign up!

The last two trips in August are to Canobie Lake Park, which is a sweet amusement park in New Hampshire, and then we're heading down to Boston. Lots of space in both these trips, so please join us. More info can be found here.

By the way, we had 13 teens join us for last week's rafting trip... And a number of those went for a swim in the Kennebec River! Everyone had a great time, with perfect weather for rafting and some great hits on classic rapids like Magic Falls.

If we haven't seen you yet this summer, what are you waiting for? Only a few more weeks to join in what has been one of our best summers yet at The PORT Teen Center! :)

Gone, but hopefully not forgotten!

2010-07-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

Already the end of July? We've been having such a great time with our new "Teens on the Go" program that we haven't had much time to update the blog... But you can see lots of photos from our trips on our Facebook page -- check it out!

If you haven't joined us yet, we still have one more full week plus several one-day trips in August. Hope to see you soon!

SUMMER!

2010-06-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

Whoa, has it really been almost a month since we last updated this blog? A lot has happened in that time, but I guess it's kept me a little too busy to write!

For those of you who missed the news, summer is officially here. We are excited for our new "Teens on the Go" program, which offers trips for teens Monday-Thursday. Trips start next Monday! Coming up in July and August, trips include:

Paintball
All-you-can-eat picnic at the Portland Seadogs
Kayak to Fort Gorges in Casco Bay
Maine Rock Gym
Overnight camping trip to Acadia
Whitewater rafting
Boston by trolley
Canobie Lake State Park

And those are just a few! Complete information about the program can be found on the RSU5 Rec & Community Ed website. We hope you'll join us for some of these awesome trips... Please call if you have any questions about the summer program!

The PORT gets a Wii (Subtitle: Senior Project Shout-outs)

2010-05-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a couple of our FHS seniors, The PORT is psyched to announce the addition of a Nintendo Wii to our gaming systems!

Kegan Dyer held a hugely successful fundraiser with her "Skate for The PORT" at Happy Wheels. This event raised enough money to allow Kegan to purchase and donate a brand-new Wii plus four controllers, including Wii Motion Plus sensors.

Christine Tilton's senior project of "Silkscreening with Mike" included sales of a specially designed "bendy straws" t-shirt, proceeds from which were donated to the teen center. Thanks to this donation, we've been able to purchase some additional Wii games.

Currently, The PORT owns:
- Wii Sports
- Wii Sports Resort
- Mario Kart
- Super Smash Brothers Brawl
- Lego Indiana Jones 2

Thanks so much to Kegan for helping bring us up-to-date in the video game realm, and to Christine for her donation funding the purchase of additional games. We appreciate the generosity and support of these terrific seniors!

One last early release day...

2010-05-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Just a quick shout-out to everyone who stopped in to make The PORT a hopping place during this week's FMS Early Release day. Whether you went mini-golfing with us or spent the afternoon at the teen center, it was a great day!

And if you missed out, there's one final early release day coming up on Tuesday, June 1st. On tap for that day: Frisbee Golf at Pleasant Hill in Scarborough. Sign up at Rec & Community Ed by calling 865-6171. If disc golf just isn't your thing, as always, The PORT will open at 12:30 to grades 6-8. Hop on Bus #27 and come on down!

PORT Outdoors Maine Rock Gym

2010-05-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

Looking for a good end-of-the-year outing? The PORT Outdoors has planned a trip to the Maine Rock Gym for an afternoon of climbing on May 23rd. The plan is to depart at 12:30, start climbing at 1:00, and be back in Freeport by 5:00... Including a possible ice cream stop on the way home!
$10 gets your shoe and harness rental, and a climbing pass. (The rest of the cost is covered by our PORT Outdoors sponsor, L.L. Bean.)

Interested? Stop by The PORT or call 869-1036, or you can pick up all the paperwork at the FHS office!

Capt'n Eli's Blogging Fame

2010-05-05T07:24:00.001-07:00

For those who participated in last month's "Creating Comics" Trailblazers, you know that we enjoyed a terrific series of workshops with local comic artist Jay Piscopo. Turns out, Jay enjoyed the afternoons with The PORT as well. Check out some photos and a brief mention of our group on his blog.

Don't forget, this month Trailblazers is heading out to Wolfe's Neck Farm to do some gardening, build some birdhouses, and hopefully to hang out with this guy:

Teen Night with Casco Bay Y and Rippleffect

2010-05-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

So this past Friday, I participated in the first-ever "Teen Night" at the Casco Bay Y, open to area teens in grades 6-8. There was a terrific turnout, including a solid Freeport/Pownal representation, and everyone had a great time! I spent most of my time running the dodgeball station and hanging out in the airnasium basketball courts, but I did manage to get a few photos:

Fun with hula hoops

Rippleffect's rock wall

Bounce house obstacle course

"Say It Loud" project with Add Verb

2010-04-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

The PORT is excited to announce an upcoming partnership with the local arts education group Add Verb Productions! Starting in May, students in grades 6-8 will be invited to participate in a "Say It Loud" program that will meet on Wednesdays at the teen center.

"Say It Loud" uses the power of hip hop and spoken word to create a safe and supportive environment for teens to speak up, voice their opinions, and tell their point of view. To offer this program, Add Verb collaborates with local songwriters, poets, and hip-hop/spoken word artists to facilitate workshops and intensives to help youth create pieces that reflect their unique perspective.

The best part is that there is NO COST to Freeport teens to participate in these great workshops. We just encourage you to sign up ahead of time by calling Rec & Community Ed at 865-6171.

Want more information? Check out the MySpace page for the "Say It Loud" project.

April Break

2010-04-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

As always, we've got a wide variety of activities planned for April vacation week at The PORT. The basic schedule is posted below, but feel free to stop in or give us a call if you have any questions!

Thursday April 15th: The PORT will open at 12:30 for the early release day, and we've also got a bowling trip lined up through Rec & Community Ed! (You do need to pre-register for bowling, so call 865-6171 if interested.)

Friday April 16th: Open from 12-5, with Trailblazers comics class meeting at 3:00.

Monday April 19th: CLOSED for the Patriots Day Holiday

Tuesday April 20th: Open from 12-5, with Delectable Delights Baking starting a new made-from-scratch dessert at 1:00.

Wednesday April 21st: Open from 12-5, with paper crafting and paper toys starting at 1:00.

Thursday April 22nd: Open from 12-5, with Nintendo Wii on the big screen including Mario Kart and Wii Sports Resort.

Friday April 23rd: Open from 12-5, with a big screen movie and popcorn starting at 1:00.

Creating Comics

2010-04-08T14:58:00.001-07:00

Tuesday kicked off our latest session for Trailblazers, this month with comic artist Jay Piscopo. We're excited to be working with such a talented local artist who is also a great educator! This week's workshop focused primarily on using simple geometric shapes to create characters, including triangle Dracula and rectangle Frankenstein. Participants also got started on creating their own individual characters, which will eventually be turned into one- or two-page stories.

We're also psyched to have 12 middle school teens in this month's workshop, which is a new Trailblazers record! Stay tuned as we dive deeper into comic arts, and hopefully we'll be able to publish some teen work this month.

If you haven't yet joined us for one of these great middle school programs, the year is almost over... So check out our upcoming Gardening series with Wolfe's Neck Farm!

A Big Thank You!

2010-03-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

The PORT is proud to announce that this year's "Sitting Pretty: A Chairity Auction raised just over $7,000!

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make Sunday's event such a success! From those who purchased tickets and bid on chairs, to the individuals who donated food, to the musicians, and all the volunteers behind the scenes -- thank you to each and every one of you for your contribution. A special thanks to:

- All the artists who created such amazing chairs
- Thomaston Place Galleries and John Bottero for auctioneer services
- Chilton's Furniture, our chair sponsor
- Sherwin-Williams Yarmouth, our paint sponsor
- Colorgraphics!, our media sponsor

Without the support of such a terrific community, The PORT would not be able to thrive as a chem-free social option for area teens. We look forward to seeing all of you again at next year's event!

John Bottero, our auctioneer, starts the bidding on "George" by FHS senior Megan Gibson.

Sitting Pretty -- THIS Sunday!

2010-03-23T13:49:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to join us this Sunday from 4:00-6:30 pm for the second annual "Sitting Pretty: A Chairity Auction" at the Freeport Community Center. We have 45 terrific chairs for the live auction, silent auction, and raffle, and we're looking forward to delicious hors d'oeuvers as well.

And if you want to preview the chairs, you can see photos of them on our online photo gallery.

If you need more info or would like to reserve tickets, call 865-6171. See ya there!

"Life Happens Outside" Wilderness Conference

2010-03-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

The PORT is excited to take a group to a wilderness conference that is specifically for teens: the biennial Teens 2 Trails "Life Happens Outside". We hope you'll join us on Saturday, April 3rd for workshops including rock climbing, backcountry cooking, wilderness first aid basics, adventure racing... Plus an exhibit hall with programs and vendors for teens who enjoy the outdoors.

The cost to you is just the $10 conference fee, which includes 3 workshops, large group session, and lunch. The PORT Outdoors will cover the transportation to Windham High School for the day.

For more information, check out the conference website. To sign up, stop by Rec & Community Ed or the teen center.

Sitting Pretty Chair Pics

2010-03-08T12:56:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

Most of the chairs have returned, and we are really excited to share all of this fabulous artwork with you! If you'd like to preview the chairs that we'll have available for auction at the end of the month, check out our online photo gallery.

"Sitting Pretty: A Chairity Auction" will be Sunday, March 28th from 4:00-6:30 at the Freeport Community Center. Tickets are available now at Rec & Community Ed, 17 West St, or by calling 865-6171.

See you at the auction!

Trailblazers On Stage

2010-02-24T14:13:00.001-08:00

As winter winds down rather quickly, we here at The PORT are starting to get excited about the spring activities for our Trailblazers program. March's "On Stage" program will include a series of workshops with professional actors from the new Freeport Shakespeare Festival. Teens will have the chance to work on improv skills, practice reading scripts, play acting games, and more! If you're a performer already, or looking for a chance to learn more about acting, this is the month for you.

Trailblazers is open to anyone in grades 6-8, and will meet March 11th, 18th, and 25th. The cost for the month of activities is just $15; register through FRCE!

Sitting Pretty 2010

2010-02-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

Here at The PORT, we're starting to get excited for this year's "Sitting Pretty: A Chairity Auction!" This year's event promises to be bigger and better than last year, with a variety of rockers, dining chairs, and stools. Photos of artists hard at work have started to trickle in, and we wanted to share those with you:Abby Latulippe at work on "Heart Dreaming Chair"

Looking for more "Sitting Pretty"? Keep checking our online photo album for chair photos -- we'll post them as we receive them!

Delectable Delights

2010-02-03T06:54:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the kick-off to The PORT's new baking program: Delectable Delights. A mixed group of teens from the high school and middle school took over the ping pong table, turning it into a baking kitchen. The result? One big loaf and four mini loaves of made-from-scratch banana bread. Delicious!Missed out this time? Join us any Tuesday in February for more baking fun!

Flagstaff Lake Fun!

2010-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, 14 teens piled into the big red vans with Damien and myself, and headed up to the Carrabassett Valley for an overnight at the new Flagstaff Lake Hut. The weather was absolutely perfect for a weekend of snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, and yes, hanging out in the lodge!

Highlights of the trip include a hike across Flagstaff Lake itself, gorgeous views of Bigelow Mountain, delicious food prepared by the hut staff, and capture the flag after dark. Some teens enjoyed snowshoeing on an ungroomed trail around the lake, while others took advantage of the nicely groomed ski trails. Everyone enjoyed the time in the great outdoors!

Special thanks to Healthy Casco Bay for the grant funding that helped make this trip affordable to our teen participants!

Helmets & Ollies & Trucks?! Oh, my!

2010-01-15T13:09:00.000-08:00

The new year brings with it new adventures, and for the Trailblazers that means three Thursday afternoons worth of skateboarding at the Bath Youth Meetinghouse & Skatepark. This past Thursday marked our first trip to the park & it was a blast. The teens, once all geared up with at least a helmet, a board, & plenty of chutzpa, were able to gleam guidance & tips from a skating instructor. They then put their skills to the test on the park's many ramps, half & quarter pipes, & 6-foot bowl. A good time was certainly had by all & the next two trips look to be just as enjoyable.

Coming up at The PORT...

2010-01-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to provide an overview of some of the programs The PORT is running in the month of January. For more information about any of these, please feel free to call 865-6171 or email Sarah at davenports(at)rsu5.org

For students in grades 6-8:

- January Trailblazers is at the Bath Indoor Skate Park! We'll head north for each of the three session (January 14th, 21st, and 28th) to enjoy this great facility. Cost is $15 for the month.
- Early Release Ski Trip to Shawnee Peak on January 26th! We'll pick you up at school at 12:30 and be back to Freeport that evening. Cost is $25 for lift ticket only, $45 for lift ticket and rental.

For students in grades 9-12:
- Friday night dodgeball is back, January 15th and 29th at Mast Landing School. If you haven't already turned in a release form this year, you can download one from our Facebook group. We play from 8:00-9:00 -- don't miss it!
- 3rd Annual Fuel Up for Finals! The PORT will have extended hours during FHS mid-terms week, from 10am-6pm January 19th through 22nd. Join us for a break in between your exams, lots of free food, and a good time with friends.
- Maine Hut Trip to Flagstaff Lake Hut January 23rd and 24th. This PORT Outdoors trip is filling up fast, but we have room for a couple more. You can find the paperwork on Facebook, or stop by The PORT to pick up a copy. Cost is $25 for the weekend!

Hope we see you at one of these great programs, or feel free to drop in during our regular after-school hours this month!

A Brief Introduction

2009-12-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

After three weeks as the Teen Center's new supervisor, it seems about time that I post a brief introduction of myself. So...

Hi. My name's Damien Howell and I'm the new supervisor at the PORT Teen Center. Professionally, I have a background in education, primarily secondary English. Personally, I've called Freeport my home for the vast majority of my life, which, if anything, means I am a graduate of Freeport High School. In my free time, I pursue a wide range of hobbies and interests, which range from playing the guitar to Japanese culture, book arts to video games.

I am very happy to be a member of the PORT community and am excited about contributing to it in my own unique ways.

That said, I wish you all a Happy Holidays.

The PORT's Vacation Hours

2009-12-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

With school vacation coming up, we wanted to be sure you knew our operating hours for the break.

Dec. 23rd - Holiday Cookie Party for grades 9-12. From 12:00-4:00 we'll be decorating delicious holiday cookies and viewing that holiday favorite, Elf.
Dec. 24th & 25th - CLOSED
Dec. 28th - Movie Monday, open 12:00-4:00.
Dec. 29th - Pool Tournament Tuesday, open 12:00-4:00
Dec. 30th - Mariokart Wii Wednesday, open 12:00-4:00
Dec. 31st & Jan 1st - CLOSED

Stop by and say hello!

Delicious & Nutritious

2009-12-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

This month, the Trailblazers participants have been enjoying some great Asian cooking classes with local chef and educator Chris Toy. Teens have been able to participate in every aspect of meal prep, and enjoy eating their creations. Highlights so far include learning to roll our own egg rolls, as well as making a delicious won ton soup. Things have been getting a little messy in the FCS kitchen, but we've been having a lot of fun!

Dodgeball Fun

2009-12-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

The PORT held our first-ever dodgeball night for FHS students this past Friday night, and it was a great success! Over 30 teens turned out for a full hour of dodging, ducking, and diving at Mast Landing School:
If you missed out, plan to join us on December 18th from 8:00-9:00pm at Mast Landing School gym. You do need a release form to play, which can be downloaded from the Facebook group THE Dodgeball League. One form covers you for the whole school year, so what are you waiting for?

November Update

2009-11-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that fall is coming to a close and we haven't posted in a few weeks -- things have been busy here at The PORT! We wanted to take a minute and get everyone up-to-date about what's been happening, as well as share a few photos with you.

PORT Outdoors took our second trip, a hike of Tumbledown Mountain, on November 8th. It was the most beautiful day we could have asked for, with perfect weather and clear skies for great views! The hike was definitely challenging, but we conquered the summit. Just a couple of photos:
Trailblazers, meanwhile, have been enjoying some sessions at the Maine Rock Gym in Portland:
We also had a great movie day on Veterans' Day last week, with 20 students in attendance to watch both Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. All in all, November has been a great month here at The PORT.

Upcoming programs include Trailblazers: Delicious & Nutritious cooking classes, which you won't want to miss! Don't forget to register through FRCE. We'll also be launching our Friday night dodgeball games for high school students, so stay tuned for more info.

Pleasant Mountain Hike

2009-10-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Just wanted to report on the great time I had on Saturday, hiking Pleasant Mountain with the Trailblazers! Although we were concerned about the weather early on, the day ended up being beautiful. We followed the Southwest Ridge Trail all the way to the summit at 2006 feet, and along the way enjoyed amazing views of Sebago Lake and Moose Pond. Once we reached the top, we were even able to see snow-capped Mount Washington!

All of the guys were troopers, with this hike being almost 6 miles round trip. We had fun looking for frozen puddles and strange plants, and appreciating how each view was better than the next.

We're looking forward to an upcoming Leave No Trace workshop, and then Trailblazers Rock Climbing in November!

Sarah

Calling All Artists

2009-10-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Remember the great time that we had at last year's "Sitting Pretty: A Chairity Auction"? Believe it or not, plans are already underway for this year's chair auction!

And here is where you come in: we need chair artists! If you are a teen in grades 7-12, or if you are an interested adult in the community, we may have a chair for you. We also welcome artists who might be interested in working with a partner, so don't be shy! Chairs and paint will be available by the end of this month, and all chairs will need to be returned to the teen center by March 1, 2010. So if you want to participate in this great community event by painting a chair...

Middle school artists should talk with Ms. Gosselin.
High school artists should talk with Ms. Medsker.
Adult artists should email our artist coordinator, Louise Price. You can reach her at lprice(at)suscom-maine(dot)com.

If you have questions, give us a call or swing by The PORT!

Fall Hiking at The PORT

2009-10-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Since fall is shaping up to be such a beautiful season this year, we here at The PORT are working hard to take advantage of it -- and that means getting outside.

We kicked off the second Trailblazers session yesterday afternoon by taking 6 middle school students for an afternoon hike at Hedgehog Mountain. Highlights include playing a few rounds of Camouflage (hide-and-seek in the woods), finding a live salamander, and trying out a wide variety of walking sticks. The guys are really looking forward to our upcoming hike of Pleasant Mountain in Denmark, as well as a Leave No Trace workshop at the end of the month.

For PORT Outdoors, our next trip is also a hike: Tumbledown Mountain. After last spring's group was unable to reach the summit, our leadership team decided to once again challenge this classic Maine mountain. We're scheduled to depart at 8am on Sunday, November 8th and spend the day hiking in Mount Blue State Park. There is no cost to participate in this trip, and The PORT will cover both transportation and a picnic lunch. If you're interested in signing up, stop by the teen center to pick up a form or to ask any questions.

See you on the mountain!

Fall Rafting Adventures

2009-09-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

PORT Outdoors officially kicked off the year with our Whitewater Rafting Trip this past weekend, and we had a great time! After school let out on Friday, we packed our van and headed up to The Forks for an evening of (chilly!) camping. Luckily, we were able to build a great campfire for s'mores, as well as to enjoy the hot tub and lodge facilities at our campground.

Saturday morning, we headed out bright and early to raft the mighty Kennebec River! It was a big water release day, which meant that we were able to run some more challenging rapids than usual. And once the sun came out, almost everyone in our group went through some of the "swimmer's rapids". We'll be sure to post some photos of the rafting action once we have them.

If you missed this trip, but you're interested in joining us for our next adventure, stay tuned for a hike of Tumbledown Mountain in early November!

Fall Adventures

2009-09-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

We couldn't have had nicer weather for yesterday's final session of Trailblazers Sea Kayaking. We met up with an instructor from Seaspray Kayaking for a paddle out of Winslow Park. The teens learned a lot about eel grass and sea sponges, saw an egret and a great blue heron, and even tried a little bow walking. Everyone had a great time.
We leave this afternoon on our first PORT Outdoors trip of the year, whitewater rafting. We're looking forward to a fun, if chilly, evening at our campground and a great day of paddling tomorrow. Look for a post next week about our trip!

Trailblazers '09-'10

2009-09-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first session of Trailblazers for the 2009-2010 school year, and we couldn't have asked for a better day! 5 middle school teens joined us for an afternoon of sea kayaking near East End Beach in Portland. After learning a few basic strokes, we were able to jump right in and explore the area around the beach. Highlights of the afternoon include seeing an osprey nesting on an old railroad bridge, navigating around the rock jetty, and playing a fun game of "I Never". We're looking forward to more paddling fun next Thursday!

Getting loaded into our kayaks.

PORT Outdoors Trips

2009-09-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

Hey PORT Fans,

We here at The PORT are excited to officially announce two fall trips for PORT Outdoors!

Whitewater Rafting will be Friday, Sept. 25th and Saturday, Sept. 26th. We plan to leave after school on Friday and drive up to Caratunk, camping overnight at an activity center with pool and hot tub, game room, fire pits, and nice campsites for us. Saturday we'll raft all day, and then head back to Freeport. The cost to participants is only $40, which is a pretty sweet deal for rafting!

Tumbledown Mountain Hike will be on Sunday, Nov. 8th. We expect the views to be incredible, as most of the leaves will be gone by this time of year. Trails should be in good shape to allow us to summit this great mountain in western Maine, and we'll aim to have a picnic at the alpine pond.

For more info on either one of these trips, feel free to stop by The PORT! We're excited about this year's PORT Outdoors program, and can't wait to get outside!

Ice Cream Success

2009-09-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

The 3rd Annual Ice Cream Social was a great way to kick off the school year, with more than 60 teens in attendance! Delicious ice cream was enjoyed by all, along with some good games of ping-pong and air hockey. Special thanks to our sponsors, Ben & Jerry's of Freeport!

Free Ice Cream?

2009-08-21T12:44:00.001-07:00

Well, it's almost that time... Sports practices have begun, and school is just around the corner. For us at The PORT, that means only one thing:

Our 3rd Annual Ice Cream Social!

Join us on Monday, August 31st for a free ice cream social, sponsored by our local Ben & Jerry's! We'll be scooping all afternoon, so stop in after school or even after sports practice. If the weather is nice, we'll be outside the community center. If it's rainy, we'll head down to The PORT.

Either way, don't miss this great chance to kick off the school year, eat some free food, and hang out with us at The PORT!

Summertime!

2009-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

As summer is coming to a close, we want to remind you that there are still Teen Treks this week and next. If you're looking for something to do, join us for these last few trips: canoeing on the Saco River, disc golf and beach day, and Aquaboggan!

We also wanted to share a few photos from a recent trip to Funtown/Splashtown:

Boston Trip

2009-07-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day to sign up for next Wednesday's Boston trip! We'll head into Boston via train, stop by the New England Aquarium, take in an IMAX film, and spend time hanging out at Faneuil Hall. Don't miss out -- call us at FRCE (865-6171) or stop by to sign up!

Enjoying Boston 2008

Mt. Jackson and Mt. Webstah Hike

2009-07-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT bloggers,

Last week on Tuesday we made a trip into the White Mountains for some gnarly woodland hiking. Even though the weather was a little damp, we still managed to summit Mount Webster! Instead of continuing on to Mount Jackson, we ended up hiking the lengths of the Webster Cliffs. Special props go to Victor and Mackenzie for sticking it out through the rain and making the best of the trip!

-Duddy

Victor climbing technical terrain.

Sweaty mess Duddy at the summit.

Victor, mountain man.

Mackenzie, mountain girl.

Bird friend.

Getting Out with The PORT

2009-07-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Loving the sunshine? I know I am -- summer is here! I just wanted to take a minute to let you know about next week's Teen Treks, three different ways to get out and enjoy the summer.

Tuesday - Hiking Mt. Webster & Jackson in the White Mountains. This is a longer trip, leaving at 8am and returning at 6pm, but it's worth it! The views from the cliffs near Mt. Webster should be spectacular, and Mt. Jackson is one of New Hampshire's 4000-footers. Don't miss out on our best hike of the summer!

Wednesday - Westerly Winds Sports Park. You can hit the driving range, batting cages, mini golf, or play other sports like basketball, volleyball, horseshoes... The list goes on. It's an awesome (and active) way to spend a summer day!

Thursday - Water Country. Do I need to say more? If the warm weather is getting you down, join us to cool off on some water slides, or ride around the lazy river. Who can resist a full day at the water park?

To sign up, or for more info, call 865-6171 or stop by Freeport Rec & Community Ed at 17 West St.

And don't forget, stop by on Fridays from 10am-4pm. We're always up for a game of pool or ping-pong!

Teen Treks

2009-07-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

It seems as if we here at The PORT have gone to summer blogging hours, but we want to keep you up to date on what's happening.

Despite the weather, we've had a great time with Teen Treks in the past couple of weeks. Recent highlights include paintballing at a great course in Gorham, as well as a day of bowling and taking in the movie "Up". We're looking forward to next week, and hope you'll join us for one or all of these outings:

Tuesday - Paintball (including rental) at Bennett's All-Weather Paintball
Wednesday - Hiking at Morse Mountain and afternoon at the beach
Thursday - Lobster Cruise in Casco Bay

To sign up, or for more info, call 865-6171 or stop by Freeport Rec & Community Ed at 17 West St.

And don't forget, we're open at The PORT every Friday from 10-4 for pool, Playstation, ping-pong, air hockey, or shooting hoops (on the rare sunny afternoon). See you there!

Summer Hours

2009-06-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here at The PORT, as everywhere else in town, we are ready for summer... And we want to be sure you have the latest info about summer at the teen center. Our summer hours are:

Mondays - Closed
Tuesdays through Thursdays - Teen Treks (follow the link and then click on "Teen Treks" for a full description and more info!)
Fridays - Open 10am-4pm

Also, keep your eye out for some possible Friday night events, including bbqs and music. We'll be sure to post the dates here on our blog and our Facebook page, so don't miss it!

Concert Update

2009-06-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hey music fans,

The concert we hosted at the community center was a huge success this past weekend. All of the groups that played were extremely talented and EXTREMELY entertaining. Fans were able to experience a whole spectrum of different tunes, from hip-hop, to rock, to blues. Acts included A Modest Proposal, Wesdogg, Ian Leavitt & Friends, and The Loudest Mime. The show certainly had something for everyone. We hope that this will be the first of many teen concerts hosted by The PORT. Below are some pictures from this awesome and well-attended shindig.

-Matt

May Update

2009-05-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody,

We've been loving spring at The PORT, but in the midst of all our fun we haven't done a good job of keeping you up-to-date. So here's a quick review of what's been happening at the teen center in May...

Our final PORT Outdoors trip for the year was a Saturday mountain biking session with Back Country Excursions in Parsonsfield. The black flies were definitely out in force, but the cycling was awesome! We enjoyed a quick workshop about mountain bike basics and form before taking off to explore the trails. In the afternoon, the more ambitions members of our group challenged themselves on more difficult trails. Everyone came home sore, but happy.
We also held our final Trailblazers workshops of the year, with geocaching both on Mackworth Island and here in Freeport. The teens created their own geocache, "The Cornerstone", which should be up and running soon.

Although the school year is winding down, we're still going strong here at The PORT. We'll be open early for Tuesday's early release, looking to shoot some pool or some hoops (if the weather ever clears up!). We're also looking forward to hosting a concert with local high school musicians, including The Loudest Mime, on June 6th. Don't miss it!

And if you're looking for summer fun, check out our Teen Treks program. We'll be hiking in the White Mountains, playing paintball, going to Funtown/Splashtown, and taking the train into Boston... Just to name a few trips. More info can be found on the FRCE site by clicking on the Teen Treks link, or on our calendar.

We'll see you soon!

Trailblazers Love Geocaching!

2009-05-13T08:57:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of taking 6 Freeport Middle School students to the LL Bean Outdoor Discovery School on Lower Flying Point Road. We found six different geocache bottles, and even got to keep some of the treasures we found inside each one! Below is a photo chronicle of our amazing experience.

Duddy

Duuuuuuuude....Mountain Biking.

2009-05-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT Blog persons,

Just to remind all of you, next week on Saturday May 16th, The PORT Outdoors will be taking a trip to the Back Country Excursions mountain biking complex in Parsonsfield Maine. This trip guarantees to be awesome, and because there are trails for everybody from beginners to back-country shredders, anyone can come on the trip! The cost is ten dollars, and that includes everything you need to get out on the trail and ride. Stop by The PORT this week to sign up for the most awesome, rock ripping, butt kicking, experience of your life.

-Duddy

Spring at The PORT

2009-04-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT Bloggers,

With all the recent sunshine and with the month of May rapidly approaching, we are loving spring here at The PORT!

April Break was a great time with a wide variety of activities. Highlights include Tuesday's pool tournament and Wednesday's Madden Football tournament, with close games and very happy winners.
We've also been enjoying Trailblazers "Get Fit For Spring", which is wrapping up with a circuit training workout this afternoon. We've kickboxed and done a nutrition scavenger hunt, and just enjoyed different ways of getting fit.
Coming up next we're looking forward to our Trailblazers "Geocaching", so don't forget to sign up through FRCE for a month of high-tech treasure hunting. This will be our last Trailblazers of the 2008-2009 school year, so if you've been wondering what's happening at The PORT, check it out!

Also, we're really excited about our next PORT Outdoors trip, the Backcountry Mountain Biking Excursion. Check it out, and be sure to sign up at The PORT by May 8th!

We'll see you around this spring!

April Vaca Happenings

2009-04-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT Crew,

So for those of you headed off to foreign countries or warmer destinations over the school break, we wish you well... And we're a little jealous.

But not too jealous, because we do have some great stuff going on here at The PORT over April vacation. Check it out:

Thursday, April 16th - Open at 12:30 for FMS early release
Friday, April 17th - Open 12-6 for pool, ping-pong, etc.
CLOSED Monday, April 20th
Tuesday, April 21st - Open 12-6, Pool tournament with first-place prize from DeRosier's
Wednesday, April 22nd - Open 12-6, Playstation Madden Football tournament with first-place prize from Camp Toad
Thursday, April 23rd - Open 12-6, The return of the Freeport Treasure Hunt! (Wear sneakers and prepare to go out letterboxing!)
Friday, April 24th - Open 12-6, Movie marathon with recent release flicks

So if you're looking for some place fun to hang out, stop by The PORT! You're welcome to participate in the activity of the day, or just to hang out. Either way should be a good time, so we hope to see you there!

Sarah

Unleash Your C

2009-04-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, April 15th, The PORT will be welcoming the "Unleash Your C" tour to Freeport. Stop by for the chance to win free t-shirts, backpacks, and more!

Unleash Your C (or Unleash your Choice) is a project of the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine. The purpose of Unleash Your C is to provide an engaging and informative environment designed exclusively for youth to learn the power of the choices they make in their lives. For more information about this project, check out the Unleash Your C website.

The tour will be here as soon as school lets out on Wednesday, and stay through the afternoon, so we hope you'll be able to swing by and check it out!

It's Official (O"fish"ial?)

2009-04-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Someone should stop me, I know. This fish might be the worst thing that has ever happened here at The PORT in terms of the quality of my jokes!

But we did just want to let you know that the fish has finally been named through a very democratic process. Teen center patrons had approximately a week to submit fish names for consideration, and then the Teen Advisory Board took it to a vote this past Wednesday. Here's a quick photo of democracy in action:

And the chosen name... Marvin Raul Muffinhead. Here in the office we're calling him "M.r. Muffinhead" for short. :)

Chair Success!

2009-03-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

After all the build-up, we just wanted to let you know the outcome of "Sitting Pretty", our chair auction this past weekend.

What a great community event! We had a terrific turnout, estimated at around 200 people from across the Freeport community and the surrounding area. We received tremendous support from individuals who donated food; there were options for every palate! Additionally, local businesses Wicked Whoopies, Antonia's Pizzeria, and The Corsican Restaurant donated food for the evening.

We were really thankful to welcome Kaja Veilleux as our live auctioneer, which brought a lot of fun to the event.

In the end, The PORT was able to raise over $10,000 through the sales of tickets, the raffle, and the live and silent auction. We are thankful for everyone's support, and hope to host another great event next year!

Chairs Chairs Chairs!

2009-03-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT Teen Center Blog Buddies,

The chair auction is this weekend, and almost all of the chairs are here at The PORT. It really seems like we're going to have a great turnout on Sunday, so get yourself on down to the community center and check out the chair lineup! Tickets will be available at the door.

-Matt

Something's Fishy...

2009-03-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

Ok, it's a cheesy title, but we are pretty excited about our new fish at The PORT Teen Center! He'll be keeping Matt and I company in the office from now on, so stop by to meet our new friend.
We're open to suggestions for a name, although the final decision will be made by the Teen Advisory Board. What does he look like to you?

Chair Excitement!

2009-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the chairs on display all around Freeport? Many local businesses have been kind enough to showcase one or more of the hand-painted chairs that will be available at our auction gala in just a couple of weeks! Whether you're eating out, stopping at the bank, or out shopping, keep your eyes open for a sneak peek at these one-of-a-kind works of art.

Fiona Harbert & Emma Egan working together on a chair that is currently displayed at Freeport Middle School

If you haven't already done so, you may reserve tickets for the event through Freeport Rec & Community Ed by calling 865-6171. We hope you will join us for an evening of family fun, amazing art, and fabulous music in support of The PORT.

Cooooooooooooookie Carnival

2009-03-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

This past weekend many teen advisory board members stopped by to help out at The Cookie Carnival at Morse Street School. Volunteers took on such illustrious jobs as painting faces, selling pizza and chowder, counting tennis balls in a bucket, and scooping ice cream. Above are some photos of PORT teens helping out at this important community event. Special thanks to Mia Taggart, Mariah Vitali, David Vitali, Ian Morency, Erin Dillon, and Brianna Wellen for helping out.

-Matt

Tumbledown Mountain

2009-03-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

Hey PORT bloggers,

Next Saturday, March 21st, there will be yet another PORT outdoors trip. This time around we are going to Mount Blue State Park in Weld Maine to hike to the imposing, craggy, Everest-like peak of Tumbledown Mountain. You can register for the trip anytime at The PORT this week or next, and the cost is FREE. You read that correctly. You can accompany myself (Matt) on this amazing excursion for ZERO, count 'em, ZERO dollars. So get your snowshoes, hiking boots, and coat together and be ready for a super awesome time!

-Matt

Chair Update & Gallery

2009-03-05T13:26:00.001-08:00

Here at The PORT, we've been enjoying all of the chairs that have come in this week. The majority of the artists have completed work on their chairs and have delivered them to us. Keep an eye out, as you'll soon be seeing chairs displayed in businesses around town!

We've also created a photo gallery that includes a photo of each chair, for those who would like to "pre-shop" before the auction. Check it out!

Also, as we continue to hear from the artists about their process, we'll keep posting photos here. Below is a photo of Brina Dillon putting the finishing touches on her chair, "Sunset".

If you haven't already done so, you can reserve your tickets by calling Freeport Rec & Community Ed at 865-6171, or stop by the office at 17 West St. Don't miss this great event!