July 30, 2003

Outreach programs

Third Level offers activites to keep youth involved in community

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

      Instead of sleeping in late and watching game shows and soap operas all day, seven area Interlochen youth attended a camp that gave them a sampling of activities ranging from sports to music to animal care.
      The mission of the week-long YEEHA camp - short for Youth Experiential Education and Healthy Alternatives week - was to provide a wide range of experiences that participants might not normally encounter. Third Level sponsored the camp, one of a variety of summer activities this year aimed at keeping youth involved with each other and the community.
      "When school is out it is harder to get the kids in so we wanted to make sure we could still connect with them in the summer," said Sara Dombrowski, a youth and family services counselor with Third Level. "We give them exposure to other options and things they would feel good about and I think it has just really broadened their perspective."
      Meeting every day from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., campers tried, tested and tasted many new things.
      "We've done yoga, self-defense, a drum circle and made paper mache doves for a peace march," said Shannen Clark of Interlochen, who attended the camp with her twin sister and younger sister. "I liked the variety of activities and food."
      While the camp was open to both boys and girls, participants wound up being all girls. Five of them Interlochen Community School classmates who will be moving up to Traverse City West Junior High School this fall.
      A slice of their week included Thursday morning's visit to the Cherryland Humane Society, catered lunch at The Dish, an expedition to Good News Music where the girls all tried a variety of instruments. The finale of the day was a round of disc golf at Northwestern Michigan College's course.
      "It's been fun, I like the music the best," said Franchesca Jenks, an eighth-grade student next year at West Junior High School.
      Third Level is also offering picnics around the five-county region this summer, providing food and a gathering place for youth at parks in Bellaire, Suttons Bay, Beulah, Kalkaska as well as Traverse City. The picnics are held two or three times a week and include youth counselors from Third Level, the organizations peer outreach coordinators as well as helpers from area schools. Attendance averages between 25-40 youth of all ages.
      "It gives kids a chance to go to a safe place to eat, hang out and just have fun," said Scott Machin, a street outreach coordinator with Third Level. "We have had some crisis contacts come out of these picnics."
      Another new Third Level program this year is two camping trips. Last week, seven area boys traveled to South Manitou Island for four days and three nights of camping, backpacking and learning opportunities - about themselves, others and nature.
      "We're just providing some healthy alternatives, places where they can face challenges, learn about nature and themselves," said Keith Oberle, a youth and family services counselor with Third Level. "It is hard work camping and there's a lot of challenges they have to overcome and figure out how to do things together instead of just thinking about number one."
      A trip for seven girls to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is scheduled for August. To keep the cost as low as possible for these trips, some of the gear used for the trips was loaned by the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District. The participants for both the male and female trips were chosen by referrals from Third Level youth and family service counselors or street outreach counselors.
      "Many of these kids have never had these opportunities before so they are learning from day one everything: how do you pack a pack, how do you walk with a pack, how do you plan for fresh water," Oberle noted.
      Upcoming Third Level picnics in Traverse City will be on Wednesday, August 6, at the Civic Center Skate Park and Wednesday, August 27, at the West End Beach volleyball courts. Both picnics start at 11 a.m. and run until approximately 2 p.m. For more information on these events or other Third Level programs, contact the Street Outreach Program representatives at 922-4800.