Youth Center

Grand Re-Opening
July 22nd, 2008

The Burt Township Board is pleased to announce the re-opening of the Youth Center. Dore' Stevens will serve as the Youth Director providing daily recreational and educational opportunities to children in Grand Marais. Ms. Stevens will start on Monday, July 21st with a lot of general housekeeping and sorting materials. She is looking for a few kids to help out with that project.

As previously announced, theTownship received two grants, $5000 from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and $500 from the Alger Regional Community Foundation to be used to hire a Youth Director. The township is providing an additional $5000 out of the Township Improvement millage. These funds will provide wages and payroll taxes for the Youth Director through July of 2009!

In order to provide continued services, fundraising is essential to the Youth Center. There will be a $1.00 per day fee charged to each child to help cover maintenance and utility costs. Ms. Stevens also has plans for the kids to hold a "rummage" sale and other projects to help raise funds for activities and materials. Hours will be determined by Ms. Stevens based on the activities planned, averaging 6 hours per day, Monday through Friday until school re-opens. Once school re-opens in the fall, the hours will be reduced to 2 hours after school and other times for special events as determined by Ms. Stevens. Ms. Stevens also hopes to work with the School Superintendant and Principle to coordinate programs and services.

Volunteer assistance is highly encouraged! Anyone wishing to help out with supervising the children and providing activities may contact Ms. Stevens through the Township Office.

Some of the planned activities include:

The Burt Township Youth Center was opened in 1998 to provide a place for the young people in Grand Marais.  The Youth Center, which is attached to the Community Center Building, offers a variety of events and activities.

Marilyn Johnson, after whom the Youth Center is named,  was a woman who believed in and loved all children. Even after her own children were grown, Marilyn stayed active at the school in Grand Marais. Always helping with the school pasty sales, in 1998 she won the "Lifetime Pasty Award" for her generous service to the Burt Township students and school.  

After her death in 1998, as a memorial to Marilyn, her family gave a donation to help fulfill her dreams of creating a safe, supervised environment for kids to "hang out".  Along with a grant from the Alger Regional Community Foundation and supporting funds from Burt Township the center was built, opened and named the Marilyn V. Johnson Memorial Youth Center.  Marilyn was everyone's Grandma and her spirit will always be a part of Grand Marais.

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