ProgramDirectorDescription

Position Summary:

On Belay provides unique adventure-based programs that build trust, confidence, and community among young people who have or have had a family member with cancer.

Since its inception in 2004, the organization has grown from a small, volunteer-run program to a multifaceted organization. On Belay currently runs six program sessions throughout the year at ropes courses and climbing gyms throughout New England.

The major responsibility of the Program Director is to coordinate and manage On Belay programs.  Management of On Belay programs entails working with program locations, program facilitators, and participants, as well as participants’ families.  In addition, the Program Director will work closely with the Executive Director in several areas.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111206/NEWHAMPSHIRE10/111209927&template=mobileart

It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost here. We look forward to bringing even more On Belay programs to the families we serve in the year to come. Thanks to generous funding from The Boston Bruins Foundation, The New Hampshire Electric Co op Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities we are able to expand our operations beyond the Great Bay region of New Hampshire.

Here are the programs dates we have confirmed so far and few hints at what else is to come for 2012.

Friday, January 20th 5:30pm to 8:30pm at The Indoor Ascent Rock Gym ~ Dover, NH

Sunday, June 10th 9:30am to 4:00pm at YMCA Camp Lincoln ~ Kingston, NH

Sunday, September 23rd 9:30am to 4:00pm at YMCA Camp Lincoln ~ Kingston, NH

More dates coming soon including…a Plymouth, NH program this winter and other regionally based climbing gym programs.

2012 Programs

Caution: Gingerbread Construction. This isn’t your typical fundraising event. Yes, the event is an opportunity to generate critical scholarship funds to support programming for children who have a parent with or have lost a parent to cancer. But this is also an opportunity to bring together the various groups of people who make On Belay a vibrant, thriving community.

Last year over 300 people from northern New England joined the organization for this event. Attendees ranged in age from 2 to 80 years old. This group of confectionary architects included On Belay alumni, cancer survivors, University of New Hampshire volunteers, doctors, donors, program facilitators, and other members of the Seacoast community.

For this special afternoon all of these people rolled up their sleeves and put aside whatever other priorities they had or challenges they faced to build Gingerbread houses, and, more importantly, community.

This event was conceived by a group of On Belay program volunteers from the University of New Hampshire in the winter of 2009. The two girls who spearheaded the first event saw it as a way they could provide a little holiday magic for the community and for On Belay.

The buzz from last year’s event was so widespread it attracted local philanthropist and gingerbread house legend Trudy Brown to judge the event. The event also prompted coverage from Foster’s Daily Democrat newspaper:

http://www.wmur.com/chronicle/26046942/detail.html

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010712129881

All of the funds raised from “Caution: Gingerbread Construction” will go directly to provide programming to children in need and the relationships cultivated by this event will ensure the future financial and governance leadership of the organization.

On Belay programs serve over 150 families from 41 towns throughout New England, On Belay creates community for children affected by a parent’s cancer diagnosis, and the Gingerbread event helps expand that community with participants and volunteers from around the Seacoast and beyond.

Special thanks to the following businesses for this support this year:

Newmarket International

The Walmart Foundation