A skateboard can be a pretty intimidating piece of equipment when you have never stepped on one. There is the balance, the inevitable wobble, and the unnerving realization that the pavement is considerably less forgiving than a living room rug. But for the people behind C-LUV SKATES in Carlisle, learning to ride is only the beginning.
The local program is part of Skate2Empower, a youth-development initiative connecting Carlisle with a sister skateboarding community in Sinchal, Ecuador. The organizers want young people to have a place to practice new skills, express themselves creatively, and take part in something that belongs to their community.
A Carlisle program that welcomes beginners
Photo credit: Turner’s World Stories / Skate2Empower
C-LUV SKATES is the Carlisle sister chapter of SinchalSkates. Its first local season has wrapped up for 2026, with activities held primarily at the Carlisle Skatepark. The organizers say they generally expect to operate from April or May through September or early October, and plan to announce the 2027 schedule closer to spring.
During the season, activities include supervised skateboarding, free-skate time, and opportunities to learn about board setup and maintenance, teamwork, and community involvement. Kids do not need to know how to skateboard before participating, according to the organizers. That matters: the first step into a new activity can be the hardest one, especially when other kids seem to know exactly what they are doing.
The program is currently on its seasonal break, so families should follow its updates rather than expecting drop-in sessions this fall.
More than wheels and ramps
Jason Turner and Leisel Sempf, the organizers behind Turner’s World Stories and Skate2Empower, see skateboarding as a starting point for other kinds of learning. They describe plans for hands-on art, skateboard painting and customization, design, education, and community projects.
They also hope to build connections with Carlisle-area artists and initiatives, including Love Carlisle, Carlisle Rocks, and Carlisle Art Drop Day. Those are goals and potential collaborations, not confirmed program partnerships.
The larger idea is that a child who does not connect with one part of the program might find a place through drawing, building, writing, or helping with a community project. Not every kid wants to be the one attempting a trick in the middle of the skatepark. There is room for the kid who would rather design the board.
The connection to Ecuador
Photo credit: Turner’s World Stories / Skate2Empower
The sister program, SinchalSkates, began after Jason encountered children in Sinchal, Ecuador, sharing skateboards and even shoes while skating on a neglected basketball court, according to the organizers. They say it has grown to serve more than 20 young people.
The community has committed land for a new skatepark, and Jason is now in Ecuador working with local residents on the first stages of the project. A permanent park is still in development, not a finished facility. Meanwhile, Leisel is in Pennsylvania coordinating logistics, paperwork, outreach, and community connections.
It is an unusual link between two communities, but the premise is familiar to parents everywhere: give kids equipment, a place to belong, and adults willing to help them figure things out, and the activity can become much bigger than the equipment.
How families can get involved
Although Carlisle programming has ended for the season, families can follow Turner’s World Stories and Skate2Empower for 2027 dates, future events, and volunteer opportunities. The organizers say they welcome gently used skateboards, helmets, protective pads, skate shoes, and skate parts, as well as volunteers, community-project help, and financial support.
They report receiving a $2,000 community grant from Partnership for Better Health and equipment support from KEEN RAMPS and Gibbon-USA, including SlackBoard training equipment. They describe Skate2Empower as a nonprofit youth-development initiative they are continuing to build; its legal nonprofit status was not specified.
For families considering next season, the most important takeaway may be that prior skateboarding experience is not required. You can start with a wobbly first push and see where it goes.
Learn more through Turner’s World Stories on Facebook or contact the organizers at tws.turnersworldstories@gmail.com. The organization also maintains an Instagram account.
Photos courtesy of Turner’s World Stories / Skate2Empower, provided for this feature.
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