WASHOUGAL — The Lone Wolf Jiu Jitsu Academy in Washougal and The Outpost, a network of ministries, churches, community members and other organizations, are preparing to launch a teen center that will focus on mentorship and bullying prevention.
The yet-to-be-named center will be open 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 19 at The Outpost, 573 30th St., Washougal, according to Don Stoner, Lone Wolf owner and lead instructor.
“This is my passion project. This is my goal. This is my everything right now,” Stoner said.
Stoner and Washougal resident Elliot Juarez are working to establish the teen center as a nonprofit.
“Parents have … told me some of the struggles that the kids are facing, and it became clear to me that we needed to do more at the community level,” Stoner said. “In the bigger picture, what we offer, I feel, needs to be offered to the community, and not just with jiujitsu, but with other things, like mentorship.”
The teen center will include space for tutoring; physical activities, including martial arts and yoga; and a small recording studio.
“A lot of the kids want to be rappers,” Stoner said. “They’re actually going to be able to come in and make their own CD.”
Stoner plans to bring local business owners and community members to the center to mentor teens.
Stoner also hopes the center will help teens who are being bullied.
“I talk to teachers and bus drivers, and it seems there’s a real issue right now with bullying,” Stoner said. “Through martial arts, we give them a positive outlet, we give them confidence, we give them a new identity, we build them up, and we support them. We let them know how special they are.”
Stoner’s goals fit well with the mission of The Outpost, according to coordinator and volunteer Pam Clark.
“This is another one of our goals for 2024 — to become self-working,” Clark said. “We have a ways to go, but we will get there.”
To register
To register for the teen center or for more information, email washougalmentors@gmail.com.
