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Sedro-Woolley Rec Center Overview:
The Sedro-Woolley Rec Center (SWRC) is a dynamic drop-in program operated by the Skagit Valley Family YMCA. The City of Sedro-Woolley generously leases the old Central Skagit Library location to the Skagit Y for $1/year, giving the Y space to operate the drop-in center and Outreach programs.
The program is financially supported by Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth Street Outreach Services (SOS) Grant, the Jack and Shirley McIntyre Foundation, and grant funding from the City of Sedro-Woolley aimed at Outreach program operations. These funding sources allow the Skagit Y to assist unhoused, unaccompanied, and at-risk young people in Skagit County by providing individualized case management and resource connections.
The Rec Center isn’t just for those experiencing housing instability, however; many young people come to enjoy a free, safe, and welcoming environment to spend their time.
Skagit Y staff at the Rec Center are committed to encouraging young people to explore new hobbies, develop skills, tackle creative challenges, and simply have fun in a supportive setting. Open to all seventh through twelfth graders, the center is particularly focused on serving youth in Skagit County. A short intake interview helps the team get to know each youth better and determine how to best meet their needs. Each day, multiple Youth Advocates are on-site to supervise, connect with youth, prepare hearty meals, and provide resources.
The Rec Center offers a wide range of support services, including free meals and snacks, a take-what-you-need pantry for food and clothing, and partnerships with local organizations. Collaborators include Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe), Planned Parenthood, Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS), Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), the Sedro-Woolley Library, PFLAG, Underground Writing, United General, O.U.R. Journey, Sedro-Woolley Arts, Music, and Performance group (SWAMP), Northwest Youth Services, and more.
Beyond its event programming, the Rec Center is packed with activities to engage everyone, such as tabletop games, foosball, pool, table tennis, air hockey, an Xbox, Wii, high-speed internet access, TVs, a gaga ball pit, art supplies, books, and board games. There’s always something happening to make each visit enjoyable and meaningful.
2024 By the Numbers
The Rec Center was a busy place in 2024! Here are some totals from the year:
- 4,708 contacts (individual times that youth have been to the space)
- 249 unduplicated youth
- 4,454 individual meals
- 30 unhoused or unaccompanied youth enrolled in Street Outreach Services (SOS) Case Management
Sedro-Woolley Arts, Music, and Performance (SWAMP) Concert Series
In October 2024, the Sedro-Woolley Arts, Music, and Performance group known as “SWAMP” hosted its second concert at the Rec Center. The grunge and rock-themed event featured performances by youth bands After School Detention and Surreal, alongside established local artist Fanny Alger. The concert drew over 150 attendees—more than double the number of concertgoers at the first concert held in August 2024!
SWAMP held its third concert in January 2025, showcasing rappers and hip-hop artists Dank Zavala, Jonathan Blaze, Jairo D., and ECHOES. The event attracted over 100 attendees, continuing the momentum.
SWAMP’s next concert is scheduled for March 7, 2025, and will aim to feature only youth acts for the first time. Indie rock and grunge acts will take the stage, with the popular band Surreal returning to the Rec Center stage for their second performance.
Due to generous community support and increased interest from local youth artists, SWAMP plans to transition from hosting concerts every other month to holding them monthly. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events.
Fall Highlights
- The Rec Center hosted Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Winter Holiday parties for youth. Staff members and volunteers prepared delicious meals, organized games and activities, and had an amazing time celebrating the holidays together.
- The Rec Center received $100,000 in grant funding as part of the City of Sedro-Woolley’s 1590 fund, a fund established by a state House Bill for the operation, delivery, and evaluation of mental and behavioral health treatment programs and services or housing-related services. This funding will help Youth Outreach program service delivery at the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center to support vulnerable, at-risk youth in Skagit County in unstable housing situations, facing homelessness or in need of other social service support and care.
- The youth have been enthusiastic about our new ceramics program! Thanks to generous donations—including over 375 pounds of clay from Seattle Pottery Supply, glazes from Skagit Valley College, and Ware Boards from Cedar Lumber—the youth have created fun figurines, pinch pots, dinnerware, or whatever else their creative hearts desire!
- Rec Center staff participated in several valuable trainings to better support the youth we serve. Staff members attended sessions on Motivational Interviewing, Non-Violent Communication, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Data Collection, and others.
Community Engagement
We’ve been fortunate to have incredible community members bring engaging programs to our youth.
- Hillary Huggins, the Teen Service Specialist from Central Skagit Library, visits regularly to host crafts and Dungeons & Dragons sessions, which the youth absolutely love.
- Matt Maylon, the Executive Director of Underground Writing, provides creative writing workshops that the youth find deeply beneficial.
- Kayla Williams, a Bilingual Community Health Educator from Planned Parenthood, frequently conducts fun and educational sex/reproductive health sessions that keep youth engaged and informed.
- Northwest Youth Services returned to the Rec Center with another Trans Fashion Pop-Up, where youth could pick up free, fashionable, and gender-affirming clothing and accessories.
Thank you to all who partner with the Rec Center in support of Skagit youth!
How to Support the Rec Center
If you’d like to support the Skagit Y’s Sedro-Woolley Rec Center, there are several ways to give back or get involved:
- Spread the word: Help us reach more youth who could benefit from our space and services by sharing information about the Rec Center.
- Partner with us: We’re always looking for additional local partners to collaborate on programming or provide support. A special shoutout to West Coast Dumplings in Sedro-Woolley and Annie’s Pizza in Concrete for their incredible generosity in donating and discounting food that both the youth and staff adore!
- Donations: Drop off non-perishable food items, gently used clothing, furniture, hygiene supplies, school supplies, art supplies, or old/used/refurbished cell phones. Every bit helps!
- Amazon Wishlist: Purchase items directly from our Amazon Wishlist to meet our specific needs.
- Donate to the Skagit Y Impact Fund: Select “Outreach” as your designation to directly support our work.
Your contributions, big or small, help us make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve—thank you!
If you have any interest, questions, or concerns about our space, please contact us at 360-594-0544 or [email protected].
If you or somebody you know are between the ages of 12 and 25 and are in need of housing support, hygiene supplies, food, clothing, or other necessities, please contact Ky Parrott (Outreach Manager) at 360-523-0375 or [email protected] or Ed Iracheta (Care Coordinator) at 360-932-0073 or [email protected].
