In 2013-2014, the center had 8,180 visits to the facility by students and community members representing an overall 30% increase in usage from the prior year.
Sangeeta Appel is president of the Outback Board of Directors.
The $1.5 million facility was built in 2001 by parents and community members, and is in excellent condition, with two levels plus a loft area, a commercial grade kitchen and a recording studio.
This past year, by evidence of demand and participation, there has been a shift towards a community center model. Programming for middle and high school students has become much more varied programs rather than simply having open hours for social interaction. This shift was in response to the changing needs of today’s youth who typically have limited free time but are interested in being engaged in healthy, fun or enriching options after school or in social interactions on a weekend night. With this new orientation we saw a 23% increase in use by students.
122 programs and events consisting of educational classes, social events, leadership programs, workshops, parenting and college prep lectures, and community service activities were held in the center during the 2013-2014 year. Highlights from the past year include the Middle School Halloween Party, Decorating Christmas Cookies for Seniors, Family Band Night, new High School Ping Pong Club, new Study Skills Workshop, Culinary Summer Camp, SAT Prep course, High School Wounded Warrior Fundraising Dance, the Women in Transition Workshop series, and Intentional Parenting series, to name a few. There were also 26 non-profit organization rentals and 29 private rentals for special events.
The center has had much success with programs and usage but funding the operational costs of the center continue to be a challenge. Over the summer, Board members along with two Town Council members conducted site visits to three neighboring teen/youth centers to determine best practices and review their financial models. Each of these centers had a sizeable funding commitment from their respective town to sustain their center. Town support for the teen centers in Wilton, Westport and Darien ranged from $93,000 annually to fully funding the center (Westport). New Canaan Teen Center currently only receives $20, 000 as a grant from the town.
Teen/youth centers exist in thirteen of our neighboring towns.
In 2013, the Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut, Community Partners conducted a project for the Outback Teen Center to determine whether teens still needed a place of their own in New Canaan. Their findings determined a continued need for a center and that financial support from the town was essential to ensure financial stability. See attached chart on revenues.
For the last two years the Outback Board has investigated different models of operation and looked closely at the needs of the youth and community in town. After 13 years of operation, the Outback Board is proposing to rebrand the center to align with the current needs of the town’s youth.
The Outback Board is working with the town and other youth serving organizations to create a partnership to keep this valuable asset thriving. The Board is proposing reorienting the Outback Teen Center as a Youth and Family Community Center while focusing on the core mission which is to emphasize middle school and high school programming and family events. A portion of our community’s indoor recreational and enrichment needs are being well served by the adult and senior community center in town, Lapham. The Outback serves the youth and families in town by having a designated center for their social and enrichment needs.
The Board will be submitting a business plan to the Board of Selectmen and funding for the center will be determined through the town’s budget process.
—Sangeeta Appel, President, Outback Board of Directors
Sangeeta, thank you for providing this data! What can NC residents do to increase annual funding from the town?