Random Photos from Winter Session

Here is a random assortment of pictures from our Winter session. We had a lot of fun!

Goodbye Winter!

Hello Blog Friends!

Yesterday was the last day of Winter session at Sheridan Beacons. We like to do it big on the last day of each session.

We recognize our young people for their accomplishments in the previous session. Some youth from each unit were recognized for their special contributions or achievements.

Here are our k-2 special award winners

And our 3-5 special award winners

Here are our 6-8 special award winners

But the awards did not stop there. Each young person who participates in Beacons got an award. Everyone was recognized for one of the YMCA's four core values, Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. The staff work together to decide which value each young person displays the most.

Here are some of our K-2 youth with their certificates
Then everyone at Beacons got an ice cream sandwich! The k-2 youth were really excited!
Even though some people needed to wash their hands after the ice cream! And everyone else enjoyed their ice cream, even though some people were feeling a little loopy!Then, before we knew it, it was time to go home. Here are some pictures of people leaving. (sob!) We'll see you all after Spring Break!

Beacons is WHAT?!?!

A Beacons Trip to First Amendment

Hello Blog world!

Beacons' Mural Madness group went on a trip yesterday! They got in the Y bus and headed to First Amendment Arts, which is an award-winning art gallery located in the studio, and run by Burlesque Design of North America, a Northeast Minneapolis-based design and screenprinting studio.

Our young artists learned about screen printing and different types of careers that someone can have as an artist. You don't have to paint canvases all day to be an artist, and our youth got a chance to see that in action!

They got to see some posters

And to see the paints they use to print on the posters, stickers and t-shirts

Then they hung out in the art gallery, checking out the landland art on display

And everyone enjoyed the disco ball!

Everyone got to take home a really cool small poster to cut out and put on their desk in a little scene!

Thank you First Amendment! We had a blast!!!!!!!!!!

DJ Turtleneck Visits Sheridan Beacons!

Last week, we had a very exciting visitor! DJ Turtleneck came into Sheridan as a guest speaker for our 6-8 Hip Hop History group. Beacons youth of all ages turned up to learn a little and watch while he taught us all about being a DJ.

Carnage just happened to be at Sheridan for the presentation, so he and Turtleneck freestyled together. Carnage is beatboxing behind the DJ. See if you can hear the two different sounds.

He showed us Juggling, where the DJ plays two records of the same song:

Then we had a good old fashioned Beacons dance party!

Have a great weekend, blog friends!

Mural Madness

The walls at the Beacons center are coming to life, thanks to the   3-5 mural group.  Here are some beginning shots of the first mural.

Updated Pictures to come as the mural is finished.

Beacons Island Awards Celebration!

Whoa! I can't believe program is over! We have so much to catch up on, blog friends!

The last day of program marked theBeacons Island Awards Celebration, where we recognized all of our Beacons leaders. Beacons students were recognized for their leadership, participation and all around awesomeness!


Our Junior Staff and LIT's helped transform the auditorium into an island paradise!

Check out these amazing decorations!! Our youth leaders made this skirt for the stage! They worked tirelessly creating the fringe and sticking on each flower by hand! Way to go!

All visitors to our Island celebration got a lei necklace. Our youth leaders handed them out to everyone!

Steve and Ryan planned and hosted the event. Here they are preparing to give out the first award!

Each winner received a Beacons lanyard and a coupon for any item free from the dollar menu at the McDonalds across the street! Here are some award winners! Congratulations!

What an awesome ending to such an amazing year!