Footings and cement walls nearly complete

The construction project is moving along very well. We've been fortunate to have just very light snow thus far. The crew is working hard in the chilly weather.

The cement walls are nearly complete all the way around and steel structure should be going up just after Christmas.

You can keep an eye on the progress with regular pictures updated on the rock gym's Facebook site: The Edge - Halfmoon

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Nearly cleared and leveled

Just a few days of earth moving remain as we prepare to pour footings for our new building. By Christmas, we should be looking at a huge framework of steel out on the property and by Feb. 1 we should have an enclosed building with a cured slab.

Things are moving along nicely.

Keep up to date with our Facebook page....The Edge - Halfmoon.

I'm Sorry

"Thomas Jones, I'm Sorry"

"Brittney MacCann, I'm Sorry"

With lumps in their throats, students stood to offer apologies to their classmates. Those simple but powerful words were all they could muster as they fought off the tears. They were all that was necessary. The two parties knew what had happened and experienced reconciliation that day.

Last Thursday, we finished up our fifth Point Break workshop with the Colonie freshmen. Next we are off to Berne-Knox-Westerlo where we will take every student grade 7-12 through our middle school and high school anti-bullying and suicide prevention workshops.

The programs are now BOCES approved, which will open the doors for many many more schools who have desired to bring this to their school but were too tight on their budget.

We look forward to seeing a positive in as many schools as possible both here in the Capital District and around the Northeast.

Trees are coming down

The first trees fell on Monday as snow was falling. We have hit a tiny slow-up, as a bit more archaological digging has to be done on Wednesday, so we need to stay away from one corner. But things are happening fast here.

"Like" our climbing gym on Facebook (The Edge - Halfmoon) for tons of pictures and updates.

Clear to Clear

We have made it through the permit and paperwork and are set to go. We have hired Keller and Sons to do the clearing and site preperation and they should begin on Monday.

We also have our three banquets this week and Point Break events as well.

November will be extremely busy, but incredible things are happening all across the board.

More photos of trees coming down to follow....

Point Break delivering Hope to Kids in Sch'dy

This week we hosted three powerful Point Break sessions for Schenectady HS freshmen, as we work our way through the entire class. The fast paced day of games, discussions and teaching times keeps the kids engaged and learning crucial honest communication skills.

Each day seems to bring with it a different group of kids who are struggling with slightly different issues in their lives. One day, 90% of the room stepped forward saying that "Drugs or alcohol are or have been a problem in my family". Another day, 80% shared that they had seen domestic violence in their home. And a third day brought a group in which 75% had seriously considered hurting themselves by cutting, burning or other means as a way to deal with the pain in their lives.

In total this week, we hosted 215 students at our City Life Center, and by the end of the week, 16 of those had stepped forward to let their peers, teachers and guidance councilors know that they have a current plan for taking their lives and desire help.

Giving kids this outlet for taking off their masks and being real with the struggles and the pains in their lives allows them to begin the healing process, and we are so honored to be in a position to help kids address these deep wounds and to find hope.

Archaeological Survey reveals a Pre-Contact site

Wandering through the property right now is like floating through a sea of pink flags. Fifty feet in any direction is another pink flag and a little pile of dirt.

Our Edge climbing gym manager, Adam Catalano, arrived at the site on Monday around lunchtime to catch up with the archaelogical survey crew. After wandering for 15-20 minutes, he finally found them, nearly finished with what seems like several days worth of work.

Tracy, the foreman on the project, revealed that the test pits had uncovered three chert flakes, evidence that Native Americans had spent some time here making cutting tools and hunting as animals came down to the creek for a drink.

What does this mean???? Well, fortunately, the site is in the corner of what will be our parking lot, so if we give that area a 25' buffer and leave it undisturbed, we can move along with clearing land and erecting the building.

PRAISE GOD!

Keep checking back for pictures and documentation of the progress. We'll now race to get a slab in before the hard freeze.

Archaeological testing next week

We are excited to have contracted with Hartgen Archaeological Assoc. out of Rensselaer for our cultural relevancy site testing. With a staff of 40 individuals, Hartgen has grown to become the largest privately-owned cultural resource management firm in the Northeast and a recognized leader in the field. In their 30+ years of business, they have completed more than 300 surveys in Saratoga County including more than 30 surveys in the Town of Halfmoon alone.

The Phase I process involves researching of the property, which will be done this week, followed by the actual field testing, which is scheduled for next week. Up to fifty shovel pits will be dug in a grid pattern, covering the project area. Each shovelful of dirt will be screened for artifacts that may be of pre-contact (Native American) or historic significance.

Depending on the findings, a final report should be available within two or three weeks of the field work, and we will be notified of whether it is safe to proceed with excavation and construction.

Lets all pray for nice clean dirt.

DEC okays, but cultural tests to be done

It seems that with all exciting projects come both victories and snags along the way. In the realm of building projects, there are many hoops to jump through, from the town planning board, to the Department of Environmental Conservation and even the local historical society.

If you remember from the previous blog entry, there was a chance that we may have had to have test pits dug on our intended site in order to determine if this is a site of cultural significance. Well, we have infact been asked to hire a firm to do the cultural testing. We are currently receiving bids and hopefully can move through this process quickly.

On all other fronts, the project is moving along quickly. The DEC has signed off on our site work, our wetland delineations, storm drainage and sewer lines. These are all victories.

Please continue to pray for the cultural studies to go in our favor.

Contracted with Bast-Hatfield, plus item of prayer

After receiving several bids from area companies for the construction of a pre-fab steel building, we have contracted with Bast-Hatfield. They have a great reputation in our area and will build our facility with a three foot cement wall all the way around to further protect against water intrusion.

Big Item of Prayer here...

Trees should begin to come down shortly, assuming that the state and local agencies in charge of protecting culturally significant sights, are able to quickly sign off on our property as free from historical significance.

Because we are within a mile of a previous sight of significance, there is a chance that preliminary test pits could reveal something that needs attention. The test pits happen pretty quickly but if cultural digging needs to take place, this could set the construction back several months.

Although cultural significance is exciting, we are hoping for expedience in our building construction.

Teamed up with Rockwerx

Another Rockwerx masterpiece gym

CDYFC is very excited to have teamed up with the Northeast's premier builder of indoor climbing facilities, Rockwerx. Rockwerx has an incredible portfolio of amazing gyms all over the country and particularly here in the Northeast.
Their concrete over plywood structure allows for the feel and texture of real rock while still keeping reasonable costs and route setting flexibility.
The 10,000 square feet of climbing will be the largest and most incredible gym within 100 mile radius.
The design phase now begins with the expertise of both Rockwerx and CDYFC staff collaborating to create the perfect gym to meet the needs of our community and the mission of our facility.
Once complete, The Edge will surely be a destination for novice and advanced climbers of all ages here in the Greater Capital District.

Check back soon for updates on things like: land being cleared, contracts being signed and buildings flying up.

We've Been Approved!!

Great News!! Our building project was granted the approval by the town of Halfmoon planning board last night. This was an important step in order to proceed with our vision. In fact, without their approval we were dead in the water. The town meeting was very positive. The board voted unanimously for our project and seemed excited that we are building in their town.

Now we are submitting a request to DEC for a permit that allows us to tunnel under a creek to connect to the county's sewer system. Please pray that the process would not be held up. We also have to apply for a permit to clear the property and apply for a building permit. I am sure there are other permits that we have to apply for that I don't know about yet.

We are obviously excited about this vision God has granted to us. Please don't hesitate to call me if you would like more information about our YFC Recreation Center.

Building Update

Next Monday, June 14th, we will be presenting our YFC recreation building at a public meeting for the town of Half Moon. Please pray that we receive a favorable response and are granted the town planning board's approval.

Hopefully, the next day we will start clearing and grading the property, order the building and continue to raise funds. I'm not sure how the Lord will do this, but we will try to follow Him. If anyone has any questions regarding the building, please don't hesitate to call me.

Also, our giving the past two months has decreased considerably compared to last year. We continue to remain faithful to what God has called us to do... share the life changing hope that only comes from knowing Jesus Christ!

Thank you for your faithfulness to reach young people.

National Day of Prayer

Today is our national day of prayer. A time when we as a nation thank Our Father for his Hand on our country. This is one of my favorite quotes from one our founding fathers.

Mr President [George Washington, Constitutional Convention],

The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other--our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding.

We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?

In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.

All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.

And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel:

We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages.

And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service-- Ben Franklin

If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? Our founding fathers built this nation on this truth. Maybe, like Ben Franklin, we should implore His assistance and blessings everyday.

May God continue to Bless America!

John Richmond

Point Break Continues To Gain Interest

It has almost been 1 year since we've started Point Break. We have done 11 Point Breaks with about 1000 High school students attending and 2 Gotcha Back (our middle school program) that had 120 students attent. It has been such a great success, that we have 13 schools interested for next school year.

Please pray that God would continue to open the doors for this service. With this tool, we can play a part in changing the culture of our schools.

Also, take time to look at our new building plans. This new facility will be an incredible asset for the Christian community that will have a great impact on our young people.

Thank you for standing with us. We are so thankful to Him who has granted us great favor to continue to reach out to this generation.



John