As lifelong residents of Carlisle, we strive to actively support the residents and the broader community and to contribute as best we can to maintaining its status as an ideal area to raise a family.
We draw from our mutual educational and professional backgrounds to offer high quality, family friendly activities that are also enjoyable and accessible for casual visitors.
Our mission is to offer a local activity that educates and encourages a personal sense of accomplishment, while inspiring visitors to learn more about the arts and the creative process. To that end we encourage those who express interest in learning more to reach out to local arts groups, artists, and artisans. We intend to function as a gateway to the broader world of the arts wherever possible.
The Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce seeks to promote and foster responsible economic development. The Chamber accomplishes this goal by providing the necessary resources and opportunities for businesses to prosper. The Chamber fosters communication between partners to enhance networking opportunities and increase communal benefits. Additionally, the Chamber has a variety of committees and task forces targeting specific sectors of the Greater Carlisle economy in order to effectively and efficiently provide the best economic opportunities.
YWCA Carlisle is a non-profit, social justice centered agency that works to eliminate racism and empower women in the Carlisle community and beyond. YWCA operates programs for people of all genders, from preschool age into adulthood. Many of their program offerings focus on educating members of the Carlisle Community. For example, a youth program called “After School Homework Club” provides “a safe and enriching environment for students in grades kindergarten through fifth to complete their homework.” Many of their programs, like this one, are staffed by volunteers from the Carlisle and Dickinson communities. Other programs focus on teaching nutrition, sexual violence prevention, physical wellness, fitness, and respectful communication. There are many volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved, which can be found on the YWCA Carlisle website.
Carlisle Family YMCA offers classes to the greater Carlisle community that empower them to live healthier lives. Youth empowerment and development programs like “T.R.A.I.L,” which provides teens “the opportunity to develop skills in group organization, communication and social interaction through healthy, non-competitive group and individual adventure-based activities,” help foster a sustainable community of engaged, active citizens. Other opportunities, such as Home School Outdoor Education Days, empower home schooled children to explore the natural world through activities like canoeing, fishing, and archery. Carlisle Family YMCA also offers traditional fitness classes and other wellness courses for adults, which aim to build a healthier community. The organization as a whole is committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, all three of which are necessary in building a sustainable community.
An outdoor educational camp for youth rising into grades 4-6 is being offered at the Dickinson College Farm this summer. Dickinson College’s Center for Sustainability Education (CSE), Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), and Farm are coming together to provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to area children. D.I.G. campers will gain a better understanding and appreciation of our local resources by participating in hands-on learning experiences connecting them to renewable energy, stream health, sustainable agriculture and culinary discoveries. The camp is designed to foster a love of the outdoors, sense of place, skills in nature journaling and crafts, and practical experience in farming and science.
