By Matt Marn, Published in Advance Newspapers December 6, 2010
Teens from a variety of Wyoming area schools are taking an active role in the community through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department’s Teen Council. The council is involved in planning events for all ages in the community, from teens to seniors and everyone in between.
Not only do these young leaders work with the council, but some also serve on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a part of the Wyoming Community Foundation that helps identify youth-centered needs in the community and reviews grant applications to decide how to disperse their available funding.
Members of the parks and recreation teen council have also begun to serve on the recently formed Wyoming Community Youth Coalition, a collaboration of area groups which provides programs and services to local youth.
Eric Tomkins, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department recreation supervisor, said teens from the council could surely serve in all capacities.
“There was no use in recreating the wheel,” he said. “Besides, the coalition’s intent of being a collaborative really made this idea a natural fit.”
Valarie Brochu, recreation programmer for the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department, said the teens on the council are a great resource – a great voice to find out what more to offer teens.
“When I first started here, I was given the task to start a teen board, and I was nervous. But it has worked really well. I’m proud of all of them. They’re great kids, they love to be involved. It’s one of the best parts of my job.”
Sydney Birge, a sophomore at Grand Rapids Preparatory school, was in eighth grade when her teacher gave her an application to join the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Teen Council, and she became one of the original members. Birge is now the vice-president.
“Our goal is to plan events for teens, give teens ways to help the community and be in a safe environment where they don’t have anything to worry about,” Birge said. “When I first started, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Being involved in the community, planning events, it’s a lot of work, but worth it when we see how it affects the community, and all the people we helped.”
Birge said the project the group worked on that meant the most to her was “Rethink the Drink,” a pair of homemade public service announcements, one directed toward teens, the other toward their parents, about the dangers of alcohol.
“If even a few teens saw that, if you could only help out a few people, it may save them,” she said.
Birge invited others in the community to consider joining the teen council, or start to volunteer in their own community.
“It may be daunting at first, but you meet a lot of people, and it’s worth it, giving back,” she said. “Not everyone listens to teens, but having a whole council for teens... it’s totally worth it.”
Louise McKenzie, a junior at Wyoming Park High School, is the president of the teen council. She said she was recruited thanks in part to her volunteer work in her community.
The teen council has a respected position in the community, McKenzie said.
“It’s an honor,” she said. “We have a voice now, people know how we feel. We go to board meetings, and the community knows we’re out there.”
The project of the teen council that had the biggest impact on McKenzie is the reverse mentoring program, where the council visits the Wyoming Senior Center twice monthly, helping seniors learn to use computers, cell phones and other technology.
“We help make them more efficient in the work world and in their personal lives,” she said.
The teen council’s next project is a teen luau from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Feb. 18. Ages 13 to 18 are welcome, McKenzie said, but must register to participate. Teens interested in attending should contact Wyoming Parks and Recreation for more information.
McKenzie also has advice for those teens hoping to get involved. “Don’t be afraid of adults,” she said.
“They’ve gone through the same things. If you have something, an idea, feel free to take it to an adult, someone with more experience. Also, get some of your friends behind you, and get something started.”
Written by Matt Marn, who can be reached at news@advancenewspapers.com
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