Sarnia-Lambton Rebound has grown significantly since launching its first program three decades ago.
Executive Director Carrie McEachran says the organization was created in 1984 to divert youth accused of petty crimes out of the court system, and is now a provincial leader in life skills facilitation, education and cognitive skill development.
"We've grown to 18 programs from that one, and we have programs in 17 communities all over Ontario," said McEachran.
She said the program ran out of a church basement in the 1980's when it was started by Sarnia residents, Dee Cox, Terry Fitzgerald and Barry Symington.
McEachran said after that, programs were run out of a local high school until Rebound moved to its current location in Sarnia, at The Dow Centre for Youth in 2008.
Sarnia-Lambton Rebound has offices in Petrolia and Forest and is the lead agency for The Hub, which provides support services for youth at risk.
Rebound is celebrating its 35th anniversary with an open house Saturday.
Past and present volunteers, board members, staff, community members and alumni are invited to drop by the centre, at 10 Lorne Crescent, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
