Community center coming to Yacolt

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Marc Caughie is 59, but the Battle Ground School District teacher looks years younger because his workouts have left him lean and strong.

Now he wants to help others achieve the same health status. Caughie is opening a community center in Yacolt with everything from nutritional classes to dance, aerobics and yoga instruction and even workout equipment for people to use on their own.

“North County needs more than it has,” he said. “We have things about ready to go.”

Caughie is in final negotiations for the site, which will be big enough to hold several programs at once. He envisions a once-a-week health clinic and psychological services being offered when things are fully up and running.

“We’ll have different age groups in different rooms,” Caughie said. “I have instructors hired for most if it already. I also would like to hold community events there.”

There will be no cost to participants, other than nominal class participation fees required by instructors, he said. The facility will be staffed by volunteers and a full-time paid manager.

“We’re not wanting to make money on it,” Caughie said. “We want to provide a service.”

He’s been working on the project for the past year and has received nonprofit status. He has approval from Yacolt City Council members to operate in city hall until the larger space is available. Martial arts classes are already being offered.

Caughie, who has put much of his own money into the project, hopes the center will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. The early start will give working people a chance to exercise before heading to the office, he said.



The exercise equipment has been donated to the center and Caughie acknowledged it isn’t top-of-the-line “hard core” equipment.

“It’s for those people who want to get in shape,” he explained.

The center will have WiFi for those who want to bring laptop computers to the site.

The only thing standing in the way of full completion of Caughie’s project is financing.

“We are looking for money,” he said.

Those who want to contribute may send tax-deductible checks to Caughie at 2411 SW 11th St., Battle Ground, WA 98604. Checks should be payable to The Community Place.

Caughie believes the center can help teens avoid negative lifestyles, saying, “It will give them something positive to get involved in.”

Adults, and those in their senior years, also can benefit from healthful activities the center will offer. Caughie believes that fitness can improve a person’s well-being in many ways.

“Your quality of life is higher,” he said. “I believe life is for living.”