The Wave Youth Center of Big Lake is ready for an expansion, and they’re aiming to build a new facility off of Co. Rd. 43, near Independence Elementary School.  

Currently, The Wave is working to fundraise for the project, hoping to have $300,000 by the end of September. The building will be 27,000 square feet so the organization has plenty of space to grow, though they intend to lease out a section of the building initially. 

The new building is necessary, as the youth center wants to be able to offer different spaces to the students, such as classroom areas, computer labs, quiet areas, office space for staff, and other areas. 

The Wave President Molly Schroeder said this is a great time for expansion, as the community is growing and new businesses – and families – move to the area. 

The Wave is looking for donors now, whether they be individuals from around the community who can spare a few dollars, or whether they are businesses who could donate funding or even materials to the project. As part of the fundraising effort, The Wave is hosting bi-weekly donor breakfasts, and will be offering naming rights for purchase. Schroeder says there are ample opportunities for all community members to get involved and help the project become a reality.

About The Wave Youth Center

The Wave Youth Center has been a part of the Big Lake community for the past three years, and they are currently located on Lake St. N, between Spirit Life Church and the Holiday Gas Station. The center works to give kids a safe place after school, and a place where they can learn things they might not learn about in school. Schroeder specifically noted visits from the police to talk about bullying, a visit from a professional beautician, demonstrations on 3-D printing from a Big Lake teacher, and presentations from mental health professionals on recognizing and managing anxiety. The Wave also likes to take the kids on field trips around the community. On one memorable trip, the students visited a local dog groomer. Sometimes, the trip is just about heading to a local restaurant for a yummy treat. The idea is to get the students out into the community. In that vein, students are also encouraged to pursue volunteerism and community engagement. Several students could be seen earlier this summer, running bingo at Spud Fest. One student, who was anxious about interacting with the crowd, asked to not participate in selling bingo cards at Spud Fest, but after speaking with The Wave staff, she was encouraged to give it a try. By the end of the day, the student was selling cards without issue and feeling a lot of self-confidence after overcoming her fear. 

“We’re looking to build a healthy community, starting with the youth,” said Schroeder. 

Donating

Those interested in donating may visit TheWaveYC.org/buildingproject, or can email President Molly Schroeder at Molly@TheWaveYC.org.