The Wells-Ogunquit Communities for Children Children’s Leadership Council works with a variety of community organizations, including the recreation department, the YMCA, the school district, adult education, the Rotary and other community groups and individuals. Wells-Ogunquit also had a Communities for Children VISTA volunteer to assist with the development of programs to serve youth.

A variety of programs have been developed that this group attributes to the C4C initiative. Community Connections of Wells-Ogunquit is a mentoring program managed by Rotary Clubs for junior high school students. The Wells-Ogunquit program is closely based on a model in Kennebunk of the same name. The Rotarians are funders, volunteer mentors, and make up the steering committee that evaluates the program, creates program policy, secures funding and recruits additional members. Wells-Ogunquit is in the process of creating the steering committee, which will have representation from the Children’s Leadership Council. The organizing group is also working with the school system.

The Wells Activity Center (WAC) is currently working with members of the CLC to assess the need of junior high school students during the after school hours. While the board of WAC is separate from the CLC, there is overlap of participants as well as a common purpose. Both WAC and CLC are aware that more after school programming is needed and desired by both youth and adults. They are conducting surveys and focus groups and recruiting junior high students for the Activity Center Board of Directors.

Wells-Ogunquit has benefited from a collaboration between their C4C VISTA volunteer and the VISTA who is assigned to the York C4C. Wells-Ogunquit profited from York’s experience with developing its own teen center. The VISTA also works closely with the Wells Parks and Recreation staff. The WAC will be the site of Community Connections of Wells-Ogunquit.

A Teen Parenting Group program began in January 2001. It grew out of a collaboration by two CLC members, one, the director of Adult Education in Wells-Ogunquit and the other, the director of Heart of a Parent, a children’s playgroup and parent support group. They are working with the Wells Activity Center to provide the program.

The Wells-Ogunquit CLC has created a Community Resources Database through the efforts of the VISTA volunteer. This lists all community nonprofits, town organizations and civic groups. The local school district is using the list to disseminate information about the district to local organizations. The CLC has also, for the first time, created a newsletter and a brochure. The newsletter was created by a CLC member and distributed to all elementary and junior high students and parents and placed at the public library and Town Office. The brochure was created based on a model from the Eliot Children’s Leadership Council and distributed to CLC members and placed at the public library.

Contact Wells-Ogunquit C4C: