2023 was an exciting year for the WC Teen Program filled with the return to several traditional Cabin activities, expansion of FREE rec programming to new communities and parks, and an epic anniversary party hosted at SCMP. 

Fifteen of the top highlights (as selected by Teen Program staff and participants) include:

1. RETURN TO THE GYM From MS Basketball League practices to Volleyball on Fridays, the Log Cabin Gym officially re-opened for all things teen program in January of 2023. ENORMOUS GRATITUDE to the King County Safety professionals, King County Public Health, and the talented King County Crafts Crew that helped research and install the new ventilation improvements.

2. CELEBRATING 30+ YEARS The WCTP officially turned thirty-two in 2023 and in consideration that the program had quietly reached three decades old with minimal hoopla a few years prior . . . staff and teens planned an epic kickball showdown to celebrate! You can catch up on the full reunion HERE.

3. LOG CABIN’S GOT TALENT season six Over seventy-five teens contributed their visual and performing art talents to the annual Log Cabin’s Got Talent Show. Look for a fresh and exciting arts and culture celebration in early 2024!

4. AT THE LOG CABIN PRODUCTIONS Still going strong, the WCTP youtube studio produced over fifty new videos in 2023. Next up, the Rec Aides are working on a podcast, a stop motion project, and a short horror film staged at the Log Cabin. Be the first to catch all the new vids by liking and subscribing over on the WCTP Youtube channel .

5. WCTP LEARNING GARDEN Enormous thanks to all of the King County crews and teams that supported the Learning Garden for another fantastic harvest! Staff and teens are already plotting (see what we did there?) the 2024 crops.

6. THIRTY-SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES It was a big year for the Teen Program on the HS commencement and college admission front! WE wish all the best for the recent grads, and for all the current students . . . the Cabin computer lab re-opens on January 9th to support with any homework help, college applications, and scholarship assistance needs.

7. NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE GRANT Teens and staff were thrilled to wrap up the Log Cabin’s Washington State Parks RCO grant with a camping trip to King County Parks own Tolt McDonald Park! 

8. PEACE N THE HOOD JOB FAIR and BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Over thirty employers and resource providers came out to support the 2023 job fair and basketball tournament. Stay tuned for 2024 event dates! 

9. TWENTY REC AIDES HIRED It was an epic year for the Recreation Aide Program with twenty-four Aides employed and twenty teens hired into their first time jobs! Recruitments for the 2024 season are scheduled in the spring.

10. FAMILY NIGHT OUT In 2023, the Fairy Tale Family Night Out sent participants questing through the park looking for dragons, fairies, misunderstood villains, and a unicorn. You can catch the full recap HERE. Night Out is always the first Tuesday in August, so save the date for Tuesday, Aug 6th!

11. EXPANSION to SKYWAY Sending extreme gratitude to the community of Skyway for welcoming the WCTP at so many West Hill events and programs. We were honored to meet so many families out at the park, the schools, the library and at several community events. More details HERE for the 2023 outreach. Plans are already underway for the Summer 2024 Program!

12. THREE SUMMER SACK LUNCH SITES SSL returned to not one, not two, but THREE unique sites in 2023. Thanks to all the families that came out to support the program at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park, Skyway Park and Steve Cox Memorial Park. Catch the full story HERE.

13. JOB LAUNCH EVENTS Our sincere thanks to all of the employers and training programs that presented at the 2023 Job Launch events including Pathways to working for King County and Pathways to working in Athletics!

14. SPOOKY TOWN HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL Spooky Town 2023 brought the largest Halloween Carnival attendance to date as well as the return of the ST Underground Tour! Check out all the highlights HERE. Negotiations are already underway for the next Halloween event on Saturday, Oct 26th.

15. RELAUNCH of the SOCCER PROGRAM And finally . . . Soccer is back! Catch up with Coach Abraham and the entire WCTP soccer club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm starting on January 9th!

Yeah. We were busy. We send gratitude to the WCTP staff, all the Log Cabin participants, and the entire WC community for an outstanding year in 2023. Here’s to a new set of adventures kicking off on Tuesday, Jan 9th!