Ark expands Sycamore’s reach

Youth center opens new location In Wintersville

WINTERSVILLE -- Since it was founded around a decade ago, the Sycamore Youth Center has continued to expand across the area.

It grew by a little more Wednesday, when the ribbon was cut as part of the grand opening at its newest location, the Ark.

“We’re very excited to expand into the Wintersville area,” said Bobbyjon Bauman, Sycamore’s executive director.

When the Ark, which is located in the former Brentwood Methodist Church at 148 Stephens St., begins offering programs on Oct. 5, Sycamore will have grown to three locations, including downtown Steubenville and Mingo Junction.

There are a wide variety of after-school and weekend programs available through the center, with classes covering instruction in cooking and dancing. More than 500 young people come through the doors each week at the main location, at the corner of Fourth and North streets in downtown Steubenville. There are 64 after-school classes, Bauman added, and more than 100 volunteers who lend their expertise.

There are another 100 or so young people enrolled in the Mingo Junction program.

Bauman said he had been considering bringing programming to the church one day a week before he learned that the building had become available. The location, just a couple of blocks from Cross Creek Elementary School, made it a good fit.

For the Rev. Bill Westling, the decision to close the church that he had served as pastor for 21 years was bittersweet.

“When one door closes, another door opens,” Westling said just before the ribbon was cut. “The church had been going downhill for a long time, so when we decided to close this was the perfect opportunity for the building to be used for something great with the elementary school right there. It’s just perfect for them and the school, and we’re just blessed to be a part of it.”

Bauman explained that programs offered at the newest location will be similar to what’s offered at the Steubenville location and will start with elementary school pupils first, with middle and high school students to be added.

He said that’s the way the nonprofit Sycamore program was founded 13 years ago.

“I started the Sonshine Bible Club at First Westminster Presbyterian Church,” he said. “We ran there for about four years. We started with the little kids and then built up from there to take on junior high and then high school students. We’re going to do a similar thing here.”

The success of that initial Bible club led to the purchase of the church in downtown Steubenville and allowed Sycamore to begin to grow.

“This is what Wintersville needs for its community,” said Michelle Clum, program manager at Sycamore. “It’s a place where families can come together, where they can support each other and edify each other and their faith. It’s a place where children will be building memories. They will be learning about God and Christ, and they’ll also be learning different skills.

“There are art classes, music classes, dance classes, cooking classes and all of these wonderful things,” she added. “We’re teaching the kids about godliness, goodness, responsibility and integrity, so there’s a lot. It’s not just about the art classes and the cooking classes. As important as that is, we’re also forming their character. That’s the main thing we want to do here.”

Clum added that since the whole process of obtaining the building came about so quickly, word about the center’s opening has traveled a little slowly.

“But when people do hear about it, the excitement is just overwhelming, especially for the people who live in Wintersville and who might have difficulty getting to downtown,” she said. “This is going to be important for them and for all of the kids who live in the rural areas. It’s going to be easier for them to access the opportunities and things to do.”

Bauman said he and Clum would be splitting their time among the locations for now. He added that Bethann McCord and Kristina Gable of Crossroads Christian Church would be at the Wintersville site whenever it is open. They said they welcome the opportunity to serve as the center.

“I am super excited for the community and the children. I just love them and to be able to show them the love of Christ,” McCord said.

“I’ll be just loving the kids and spreading the Gospel,” Gable added. “It’s an opportunity to bring in kids of all ages and all abilities and to teach them different classes, from the Bible to cooking classes and art classes. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons said the board has given money from the opioid settlement fund to organizations like the Sycamore Center to ensure their positive programs can continue to reach young people from around the county.

“This is the type of thing they use it for. They’re expanding, and I’m glad to be here because I get to see the progress from that,” Timmons said. “We want it to go to places that we know are going to succeed, and Bobbyjon had a great track record. It’s just amazing how it continues to grow. It’s good for the kids, and that’s what the opioid money is for -- to help keep kids off the streets, and get them into these facilities where they can learn.”

It’s something that Dan Bove, a member of the board of education for the Indian Creek Local School District, said will be a benefit for the whole area.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids,” he explained. “Bobbyjon’s given so much to the community. We’re just appreciative that he’s expanding what he’s started. I think it’s just going to be nothing but positive moving forward for Indian Creek and the children in the county.”

Clum, who also helps coordinate volunteers for the Sycamore Center, said people interested in volunteering can contact her at (740) 409-2986.