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Middleton Youth Center
Youth Center Fall Semester 2020 Schedule
COVID Update 11/19/2020: You have probably all heard about the recent COVID announcements and orders for Madison and Dane County and Governor Evers. Since the Youth Center is considered a childcare provider, none of the recent orders change our operations. We are permitted to and will continue operating in-person with groups of students of 15 or fewer.
To help us meet these guidelines, ONLY students who have regularly attended the Youth Center in recent weeks can attend in-person. If your student is signed up but hasn't attended in awhile, please contact us to see if we are able to accommodate them. We are currently reaching the 15-student limit and cannot take drop-in students.
We are following daily safety protocols at the Youth Center including:
- Students and staff have their temperatures checked when they arrive
- Students and staff wear masks at all times
- If students or staff need to eat a snack, they do so in a separate part of the room, distanced from others
- Hand sanitizer and regular hand-washing
- Starting next week, we will have a stand-alone air purifier that will continuously filter air in the space during the program
We are following safety protocols at the Youth Center including:
- Any students or staff with COVID symptoms will stay home and should get tested. They may return after receiving a negative test.
- Any students or staff who have a close exposure (6ft or closer for more than 15 minutes) will stay home and quarantine for 14 days.
- We will temporarily close the Youth Center and alert all impacted students and families if there is a positive case within the program. NO positive cases have directly impacted the Youth Center so far.
STAFF
Gabrielle Hinahara, Director
Gabrielle has directed the Middleton Youth Center since it’s reopening in 2014. She loves working with middle school students and finds this work very fulfilling. In particular, Gabrielle enjoys building relationships with the Youth Center’s students and families, supporting the staff and interns, and finding new ways to grow and improve the program. Gabrielle grew up in Middleton and went to college at UW-Madison. She studied environmental studies and Spanish and began working with young people through outdoor education and sustainable agriculture. Outside of her time at the Youth Center, she loves riding her bike, dancing, gardening, travelling, and spending time with the 12 housemates, friends, and kids that live in her co-op house.
John Hunter, Assistant Director
John was born in Madison and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 2012. Before working for the Middleton Youth Center starting in 2015, John worked for one year at the Bridge Lake Point Waunona (BLW) Community Center on the south side of Madison as a PASS AmerCorps Member. John’s interests include playing and watching sports, fishing, reading, and playing video games.
Hillary Davis, PASS AmeriCorps Member
Hillary grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2019 and studied Psychology & Family Services. She recently moved to Madison and is super excited to serve with the youth center! Hillary loves pizza rolls, cats, quality conversations, reading, and napping. She is looking forward to building relationships and empowering students this year.
Kyrsten Charles, UW Social Work Intern
Kyrsten grew up in Green Bay and is currently studying at UW-Madison. In May of 2020, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she studied Psychology and Human Development. Before interning at the Middleton Youth Center, Kyrsten was a Youth Behavioral Specialist at Innovative Services Inc. for two years. For fun, Kyrsten loves to create art, walk trails, listen to music, read, and hangout with friends and family. She also loves animals, especially her hedgehog, Sonic.
Akshita Pattnaik, High School Intern
Akshita was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and moved to Middleton when she was 5. She is now in 11th grade at Middleton High School! She is super excited to be working at the Youth Center for a second year. She always loves to meet new people and learn new things! In her free time, Akshita is often playing tennis, laughing with her friends, or playing one of the many instruments she plays. When she’s not doing any of those things, you can find her listening to music or watching her favorite shows on Netflix. Akshita’s parents were both born in India so she loves to celebrate and show off her culture! Akshita helps to lead Girl Scouts at the Youth Center.
Kaitlyn Winkers, UW Social Work Intern
Kaitlyn was raised in Fennimore, Wisconsin. She is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kaitlyn previously served as a paraprofessional, working with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her free time she enjoys cleaning, going for walks, playing with her nephews, and eating Chipotle. Kaitlyn is excited to continue working with children and building new relationships.