School Community Youth Coalition

Youth Leadership Council member Andrea Tripp (far right) shares with Teen Maze participants ‘what’s REALLY in the can’.

YLC participant Judy Ha shares information about the myths of hooka and other new, ‘harmless’ tobacco products.

Teen Maze Tobacco Prevention Room Leaders: (L to R) Brandi Avon, Andrea Tripp, Mikkel Waltman, Judy Ha, Abby Lock, Grahm Cathy, Cindy Houston, Makenna Kingery, & Dallas.

Brandi holds onto a giant ‘cigarette’ as a Teen Maze participant pulls formaldehyde, an ingredient used as a preservative in cigarettes, out of the tube.

Youth Leadership Council teens, ranging in age from freshmen to seniors, created and implemented tobacco prevention activities and education for the Tobacco Prevention room at the 2013 Teen Maze.

Teen Maze youth participants first entered the room where they were greeted by a (fake) smoke-shrouded youth tempting them to have a smoke. Then they moved to a table which held a giant cigarette and a giant chew tobacco can. Here the participants reached inside one or the other to pull out such items as rat poison, batteries and fiberglass, all of which are ingredients in both tobacco products. After emptying each container and learning of the not-so-friendly ingredients and additives that are in tobacco products the participants then got to test their understanding of the health risks of tobacco use. Some jumped rope while trying to breathe through a straw to demonstrate the issues of exercise and smoking. Others were given a demonstration on how hard it is to break the habit by trying to break one piece of thread wrapped around their hand, then five pieces of thread, then 12 pieces, twelve representing a pack. Each time it gets harder to quit.

Finally the participants moved to a table which held samples and information on new smokeless and spitless tobacco products and were showed examples of how big Tobacco companies intentionally target young people to become early users by using enticing packaging similar to candies as well as sugary flavorings. Here the participants answered questions on how they may avoid getting drawn into the sticky temptations of tobacco and were given resources of where to turn if they do, or someone they know does.

The Teen Maze was a 2 day event held on May 7th and 8th with 300 participants from 7 regional middle schools.

The School Community Youth Collaborative and partnering organizations from Dolores, Montezuma, and La Plata counties have been hard at work planning Teen Maze 2013.  The theme for this year’s Maze is ABC: Always Build Character.  The Teen Maze will be held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds May 7-8 and will once again serve regional  youth ranging from Naturita to Silverton.

Teen Maze 2013 will have a community night Monday, May 6th from 4pm-6pm at the fairgrounds, so be sure to save the date.  This is a great way for parents, community members, partners, and supporters to see what Teen Maze is all about.

And as always, we are looking for volunteers for Teen Maze.  Anyone interested can contact Tyra Hughes at tyra@scyclistens.org or call 970-529-0635.

It’s hard to believe, but December is right around the corner.  SCYC is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Jingle Bell Dash celebrating educators.  It’s true, we value education in Montezuma County, and we know our teachers work hard educating our kids, so let’s get together and make some noise for our awesome teachers!

This year the entry fee will go to support SCYC programs, and WE need your support, but we are wanting everyone to go out and raise money in support of your participation in the Jingle Bell Dash!  The money raised there will go to a winning school to support teacher needs.  How cool is that?

So save the date (December 15), lace your running shoes, polish your bells, and get ready to jingle up a storm for our awesome educators!

For full information, call 970.529.0635 or get all the details at: http://scycmontezuma.wix.com/jinglebelldash

Are you a youth who wants to have a voice in the community or an organization seeking more youth input or involvement?  Join us for a youth-adult partnership kick-off!  Connect with an organization that meets your interests, or recruit youth who want to get involved.

Meet & Greet
** Please RSVP before the event by contacting: traci@scyclistens.org **

Where? Southwest Open School in Cortez, CO
When?  Monday, Oct. 29th from 5:30-7:30pm
Why?  This is an opportunity to meet with youth who may want to serve on a board or committee or otherwise get involved in your organization.  Snacks will be served!
How much?  A $5 suggested donation will be collected at the door — Youth can attend for free!

The Meet & Greet will be followed by a Youth/Adult Partnership training.  Join Rebecca Larson from OMNI Institute for a day-long relationship and skill building training that will further develop partnerships between youth and adults who want to support one another in various capacities in the community.

Youth/Adult Partnership Training
** Please RSVP by Nov. 1 by contacting: traci@scyclistens.org **

Where?  Trinity Lutheran Church in Cortez, CO
When?  Tuesday, Nov. 13th from 8:30am – 4:00pm
Why?  By then end of these two events, youth will be ready to serve on a board or committee and organizations will be trained on how to effectively and actively involve youth in their leadership teams. Lunch will be served!
How much?  A $5 suggested donation will be collected at the door — Youth can attend for free!

This effort is a part of SCYC’s Youth Advisory Council.

Get to know your neighbors and plan for the future of  Cortez!

H&S Block Party PosterFINAL

Carrie helps clear fallen trees off trail.

On July 28th AmeriCorps members across the state were asked to participate in a day of service for their community. SCYC AmeriCorps member Cindy Houston spent her day of service working with 3 alumni’s from the Positive Youth Advocates program and their program facilitator, Carrie Schneider, counselor at Cortez Middle School. The group spent the day clearing trails at Fresh Start Horse Rescue located just outside Cortez.

Fresh Start Horse Rescue is a small, non-profit, family run organization that rescues horses from going to slaughter, horses that may be in abusive homes or situations, abandoned, or animals that can no longer be taken care of by their original families. Horses are taken in and rehabilitated back to health and fostered until they are adopted by a new loving human.  Fresh Start works closely with organizations in the community to provide equine therapy for children and adults with disabilities. Trail riding is a big part of the therapy they provide and most of the trails had become overgrown or blocked by downed trees and logs.  In order to provide a safe riding experience these trails needed some care. Cindy and the crew cleared approximately 1/4 mile of trail in just under 5 hours!

Many thanks to Carrie, Tyler, Cody and Judy for helping SCYC’s AmeriCorps member!

Tyler and Cody help prune back tree branches to provide horse and rider with safe passage.