What is a KaBOOM! Play Day? It is our chance to gather at our community’s favorite playground for fun games and service projects that celebrate and improve our play space. The Play Day at the Yachats Commons will be hosted by the Yachats Youth & Family Activities Program.  Simply by improving our play space and having fun we could win a $10,000 grant to further improve our play space.  Are you interested in improving the Yachats Commons playground? First, visit our Kaboom! Play Day website

Joining, commenting and posting increases our chances to become a grant finalist.  Then be ready to have the time of your life on September 18^th from 1-4 PM at the Yachats Commons Playground as we gather together and improve our play space.  Questions? Contact Cicely at ckbernard@gmail.com or call (541)547-4599.

To make a whole day of it, you can also attend the Waldport Community Center Play Day the same Saturday from 11:00 to 3:00. 

Musicians are rehearsing for the 4th Annual Musician’s Showcase to benefit local youth. The concert will be held August 31st at 7:00 pm at the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church. This year’s line-up includes eight musicians, ages 13-18, playing piano, violin, and guitar solos. Joining them, is Campanas del Mar, a 10-member handbell choir, directed by Marcia Wilcox.

Soloists are Milo Graamans, Tommy Jackson, Derek and Carlyn Jefferson, David Johnston, Reina Morgan, Katherine Rose and Andrew Thomas.This talented group is putting together a program which includes Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, Handel, Chopin, Joplin, and spirituals.

Admission is by donation ($5.00 suggested). All proceeds benefit the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program which provides important services to children and families in the Yachats area. For more information call, 547-4599.

OSU Master Gardeners have welcomed YYFAP to the Yachats Demonstration and Community Garden (located just across 7th street from the Yachats Presbyterian Church).

In mid- June, the plots were weeded by the Helping Hands group. Compost has been amended into the soil and beds have been made by volunteers, YYFAP kids of all ages, and residents of the Sea Aire Assisted Living. With all of the community support we have successfully grown starts from seeds.Those seedlings were planted in the garden and have been watered and tended by kids, staff, and volunteers. We have broccoli, kale, chard, fava beans, oregano, chives, and carrots!

We have harvested radishes, broccoli, and kale, which we are using for snack during the afterschool program- Rec PLUS, and anything extra will be donated to the Yachats Food pantry-located in the Yachats Commons. We hope to grow more food to share with our community including community events-Thanks everyone who helped make this possible!

Are you interested in helping in the garden? Join the effort every Wednesdays from 3:30-5pm, bring your gloves, your hand spade and meet us there.

If you cannot make it to the garden party but still want to make a difference. Please consider granting our plant wish list below.

YYFAP Community Garden Plant Wish List

• artichokes

• potatoes

• onions

• garlic

• leeks

• peas

• parsley

• basil

• lettuce

• beets

• strawberries

• nasturtiums

• pansies

• violets

• calendula

• dianthus

Questions? Contact Cicely a ckbernard@gmail.com or call (541) 547-4483.

Over 150 had their choice of cheeseburgers, veggieburgers (cooked on a meat-free grill) and hot dogs generously provided by the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church.  As the crowd came piling in, each person had the opportunity to participate in Human Bingo- a game to get to know your neigbors and also the Ultimate Skittles Challenge- a guessing game.

The Human Bingo winner was Lydia Martin. Lydia won a Yachats hat, (2) Yachats t-shirts, and a Yachats fleece vest provided by the Vistors’ Center and Paddy Kait. Great job Lydia! Thanks for having the courage and determination to fill the Human Bingo sheet full of signatures.

The Ultimate Skittles Challenge winner was Max Glen who guessed 756 and the actual amount of Skittles in the jar was 780. Congratulations Max! Your guessing skills are right on target.

Later in the evening, the hula hoop (the starting area) opened up for the Seed Spitting Contest. People lined up to test their spitting skills and most importantly their aim. Parents, retirees, visitors, toddlers, and kids lined up and had three chances to hit the bulls-eye.  As the line disappeared, Linda Yelm bravely raised her hand from the crowd and  entered the Seed Spitting Contest. She entered the hula-hoop and on her first try she hit the bulls-eye and victory was shouted by the crowd.

First Place Winner- Linda Yelm (won a board game)

Second Place Winner- Chad Young (won a herb starting kit)

Third Place Winner – Christian Cortez (won a board game)

As the evening was coming to a close the crowd headed to the field for one last game-tug-o-war. The teams tugged, grunted, and pulled with all their might. Although, only one team won, each team graciously congratulated each other and left with a smile from ear to ear.

If you would like to see glimpses of the Community BBQ check out the footage by Milo Graamans.

New Release! Duck Race Video by Milo Graamans

Community Scavenger Hunt in Yachats

All skill levels are invited to the first Community Scavenger Hunt in Yachats. Meet at the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program on Friday, August 27^th at 2:00 PM. From there, we will be forming groups and trekking our way into the community, to the beach, or nearby trails to complete the assigned missions. Groups will meet back at the Yachats Commons and present their findings in front of a panel of judges. The team with the most points will win grand prizes. But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Everyone is invited to an after community scavenger hunt party with root beer floats! Only $1 entry fee. Registration requested. Call to register at 541-547-4599.

HOT NEW La De Da footage produced by Milo Graamans

On July 11^th at the Newport Performing Art Center Milo Graamans and Alexander Rose raised $400 for the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program. Admission was by donation and they dedicated all the proceeds to benefit the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program.

Thanks to Graamans, Rose and generous donors help keep our mission strong and thriving.

Every donation provides a safe and supportive environment for children, helps to  advocate for youth and families, and to provide and encourage activities that integrate youth into the community.

Thank you for making the 5^th annual Duck Race a success! This year was our best year ever and we rose an astounding—–$5,400! Every duck counts as the proceeds benefit the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program. Thank all who participated -and especially the genuine support from the community who donated fabulous prizes. Check if you won:

1. Heceta Head Bed and Breakfast and Roca Mar Gift certificates: 604
2. Deane’s Ocean front Lodge, Drift Inn Restaurant gift certificate, kite and Goul From The Tidal Pool DVD: 631
3. Ambrosia Garden Bed and Breakfast, The Wine Place and Luna Sea Restaurant gift certificates: 1047
4. Bicycle and helmet: 713
5. Skateboard and helmet: 661
   Walking stick, book, and Sandmaster park rental: 669
   Ocean Beaches Glass Gallery Art: 1024
   Art from the Wave Gallery & Touchstone Gallery and Duckie Soap: 1042
   Jabookabee Candles and Village Bean gift certificate: 736
   Ukelele lessons with Jim D’Ville and Duckie Soap: 684
   Edge Glass Gallery Float: 517
   Yachats Village shopping gift certificates: 698
   Yachats Clothing from Paddy Kait and Visitor’s Center: 785
   Pearls-in-a-Fish Box from Toad Hall, Duckie Soap, and Natural Selection gift certificate: 723
   Bear Carving: 1008
   Books, craft package and Newport Aquarium tickets: 546
   South Beach Fish Market and  La Maison gift certificates and Duckie Soap: 593
   Sandland Adventure Passes, Sandmaster park rental, Cheese and Crackers gift certificate, and  toys from C & K Market: 715
   Distant Shores water pitcher, wind propeller and Garden Center gift certificate: 671
   YaTel Motel and Shirley’s gift baskets and Duckie Soap: 1035
   Heidi’s Homemade Food Restaurant gift certificate: 602
   Sandcastle toy and Sandland Adventure passes:1015
   Planet Earth book and Judi Colwell art print: 1058
   Topper’s chocolates: 220

Everyone is invited to a classic summer barbeque hosted by the Yachats Youth & Family Activities Program and the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church. Meet at the Yachats Commons picnic shelter on Friday, July 30th at 6:00 pm, for a summer evening of food and fun. Traditional picnic food will be provided by the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, and a variety of fun and silly outdoor games for all ages will be led by the Yachats Youth & Family Activities Program. This event is free. For more information, call (541) 547-4599.