Group works to give area youth alternative activities
With almost a year of existence under its belt, members of the Moffat County Youth Services Council are pleased with its accomplishments. It has sponsored several activities that give youth a taste of what they can do instead of drugs and alcohol.
According to Grand Futures Director Kent Nielson, the council was established to coordinate youth services in Moffat County.
“Basically, we wrote a grant to Drug-Free Communities to create a group to involve different youth service organizations so we can meet and keep from duplicating services,” he said.
Youth Services Council had $2,000 of funding in its first year and will receive $1,500 in its second year. Grand Futures has included the Youth Services Council in its grant application for five years, but it has to be applied for each year.
The group meets each month and consists of members of several Moffat County organizations that deal with children. Youth Services Council has held focus groups with youth from pre-school to high school and tries to organize events that meet the needs students outlined.
“We try and get a good feeling about what kids in this community want to see,” Nielson said.
The council organized the “Splash” pizza party this summer for youth, giving students free access to the City Pool and pizza. The only requirement was that students fill out a questionnaire to participate. The Youth Services Council has also sponsored a field day for middle school students in City Park.
“That’s what they said they wanted,” Nielson said.
More than 60 students attended the event and played volleyball, basketball and participated in other activities.
On Sunday, Youth Services Council is sponsoring a dance for high school students beginning at 8 p.m. at Cassidy’s Bar in the Holiday Inn. The idea for the dance came from feedback from students, Nielson said.
“It needs to be something different or they won’t do it,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to come up with a recreation district or facility so we can tie all of our community resources together.”
Nielson would like youth to be involved on the Youth Services Council.
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