THE GURTLER CENTER FOR FAMILIES, YOUTH AND CHILDREN

In 2001 First Congregational Church of Winter Park established the Gurtler Center for Families, Youth and Children. In 2003, First Congregational Church executive staff sponsored its first ever after school arts based pottery and computer program for at-risk middle school aged students. Since then, the Gurtler Center for Families, Youth and Children has been a continuously operating entity dedicated to utilizing the Gurtler Center to serve the creative and developmental needs of at risk youth,  children and families on the west side of Winter Park and the wider Central Florida
community.

Using the facilities of the Gurtler Center, resources obtained thorough foundation funding, and donations of facilities and administrative staff from First Congregational Church of Winter Park, the Gurtler Center for Families, Youth and Children operates two key programs known collectively as Jeremiah, with the ultimate goal of helping students develop the skills needed to be competitive in the 21st century's creative workforce and become active contributors to their communities.

The programs of Jeremiah, along with their goals and objectives are outlined below.

PROGRAM NAME

 KEY OBJECTIVES

 FREQUENCY

JEREMIAH PROJECT more...

After School Arts Based
Enrichment Program
For Middle And
High School Aged Students

Offer quality arts education in pottery.

Provide access to technological-logical resources that
help level the playing field for at risk teens by
helping them be competitive with peers. 

Drama that provides positive alternatives for youth
development.

Fall: 12 week semester
Spring: 12 week semester

JEREMIAH SUMMER CAMP  more...

Summer Reading Readiness
and Pottery Day-Camp

Improve and maintain students' reading, comprehension
and vocabulary skills  during critical"away from school" time.

Develop skills needed to be competitive in school by
leveling the playing field.

Create from the heart and build self-esteem and
self-confidence, and mold themselves in new ways.

Drama that provides positive alternatives for youth development.

 Monday through
Thursday during June

 

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