The Olympic Peninsula YMCA has invested in middle school team-building projects in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Four grants were awarded this week from the YMCA Dennis Watson Spirit of TEAM Fund to support 2019 activities.

Grant awards ranged from $1,000 to $1,500 and were provided to:

• Stevens Middle School, to support 125 students in attending their annual Elwha field science and team-building day.

• Chimacum Middle School, to support a three-day team-building retreat to Cispus Learning Center for its entire sixth grade.

• Jefferson County 4-H, to support facilitator training at Gibbs Lake Challenge Course.

• YMCA of Jefferson County, to support the recruitment of challenge course mentors through the Building Futures Program.

The annual grant, now in its second year, is open to North Olympic Peninsula youth group leaders and teachers working with middle school students and “who have a program or project idea that upholds the ideals of the Y and promotes team-building, encourages inclusion or fosters good communication.”

The grant was developed to honor the legacy of Sequim resident Dennis Watson who died in December 2016. Watson devoted nearly 20 years to the YMCA as a board member, volunteer and financial supporter.

During his time with the Y, he led the charge for the YMCA Middle School Program T.E.A.M devoted to helping eighth grade students improve their communication and team-building skills, increase leadership skills, and grow as compassionate individuals.

Upon his death, a team of former co-workers, YMCA teen program alumni, friends, family and current Y staff worked together to create the Watson Memorial Fund and Grant.

Dan Lieberman, a Stevens Middle School teacher who was funded in 2018 to develop team-building and communications curriculum for his eighth grade students, thanked the YMCA for the grant.

“The YMCA Spirit of Team Watson Memorial Grant gave us the opportunity to think creatively about increasing school spirit, kindness and integrity amongst our students,” he said.

“It was wonderful to watch the collaboration unfold with students, teachers, and community members through this project.”

In the two years since the grant was conceived, the Y has awarded $8,500, said Christine Loewe, grant committee chair and former Port Angeles YMCA Teen Program director.

“We invite community members to help us sustain the fund through a donation,” she said.

”This grant gives community members the opportunity to take part in creating much needed new opportunities for local teens and in particular, gives former YMCA teen program participants the opportunity to pay it forward.”

For more information, see tinyurl.com/PDN-spirit ofteam or contact Gina Caliendo, YMCA marketing and communications director.

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Terry Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum and vice-president of Sound Publishing which owns the newspapers, serves on the Olympic Peninsula YMCA board of directors.