Youth Activities

What Defines An At Risk Youth?

Have you ever wondered which teenagers are at high risk for such behaviors as drug or alcohol use? How about which ones are susceptible to dropping out of school, becoming sexually promiscuous or even getting pregnant?

Or how about which ones will turn to violence, gangs, running away or suicide? And maybe you have even wondered which teens really do need help for their rebellious or disturbing adolescent behavior?

If you're a parent of a teen in our society today, then you're well aware of the fact that a major difficulty all parents of teens face is how to recognize the more subtle indicators of these types of behavioral problems and when and how to intervene. It's a known fact that one of the obstacles that can cause parents to delay getting help for their struggling adolescent is their confusion about the answer to this question... "What truly defines an at risk youth and when does a parent really need to seek intervention?"

This can be a troubling dilemma so many parents find themselves comparing their child to other children. Parents often vacillate between, "My kid isn't as bad as their kid!" and "Why can't my teen act like that so-and-so's child?"

Although it's tempting to compare your child to other adolescents or even to your own behavior when you were a teen in an attempt to measure the seriousness of the situation, this is not truly indicative of a teen's need for outside intervention. As parents of an adolescent you will be better off looking at your particular family's situation and actually deciding for yourself if your teenager is on a self-destructive path or just going through a phase.

This tactic can be most effective if you have the ability to be brutally honest with yourself and you're truly willing to pay attention to your youngster's behavior. In other words, you can't just bury your head in the sand or run from the disruptive situations. Or say things like "What problem? I don't see any problem."

This is not to say that parents should not avail themselves of support groups or other sources of information that might guide them in their choices. In fact, you definitely should use all the information and support available to you. It simply means that you know if your child is in trouble. Remember the saying "If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right." Although simple it actually is quite useful in these situations.

Now your next question just might be "What do I need to know so that I can pay attentions to my child's behavior? I don't have a clue where to begin" To actually pay attention to your teenager's behavior you need to know what the signs and symptoms are for these particularly disturbing behaviors. Knowing what to look for before a problem reaches the crisis point will give you a good chance of recognizing the problems before things get out of control.

So remember, get the facts for yourself. Trust your instincts and take action before the situation deteriorates and spirals out of control.

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Author: marbes

Camping and Outdoor Activities at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie, Texas

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No matter what time of the year it is, people are always looking for new camping and outdoor activities to partake in. This is especially true if they live in a colder climate and they want to experience warmer weather for a while.

Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie, Texas is open as early as March and as late as October. This leaves plenty of time for people with Spring Fever or Fall Blues to get away.

It is one of the places where people can experience outdoor fun during certain off-season months of the year. This park offers more options than other campgrounds and outdoor facilities do during the spring and fall months. Of course, guests are welcome during the summer months, too.

In addition, people can experience holiday fun that takes place in this area. Lynn Creek Park is home to the annual "Prairie Lights" which takes place from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve every year.

Lynn Creek Camping and Outdoor Activities

People who come to Lynn Creek in Grand Prairie, Texas often enjoy outdoor fun such as swimming at the beach, scheduling a barbeque picnic, play at the "SS Prairie Dog Mega-Playground (open 2007)," or participating in team sports. This park offers activities for both adult and children.

If the children would rather not swim, they can play on the massive playground nearby. Likewise, if couples would rather relax on the sandy beach than spend time in the water, that is their prerogative.

It is all about making this camping and outdoors trip what each traveler needs and wants. For example, Lynn Creek Park also includes a boat ramp area for those who participate in various water sports.

Some of these boating facilities are located at the nearby Joe Pool Lake area. Boats can also be docked at certain spots along the coastal areas of Cedar Hill State Park and Lloyd Park.

One of the pavilions used for barbeque picnics and other outside parties provide enough space for up to a couple of dozen people. One pavilion offers room for six picnic tables total while the other allows for up to eight picnic tables.

The "SS Prairie Dog Mega-Playground" and nearby area includes the following facilities: multiple steep-sloped children's slides, picnic areas, bathhouses, and shade structures.

Team sports played at Lynn Creek Park include volleyball, which takes place on a sandy court; and soccer, baseball, and basketball, which takes place in the grassy areas. Children, families, and large groups will never be unoccupied on this trip.

"Prairie Lights" Display

Quite a variety of camping and outdoor activity takes place within Grand Prairie, Texas parks. However, this area is also known for its "Prairie Lights" display.

This attraction consists of up to 3 million lights displayed. More than 100,000 visitors attend this spectacular Christmas and holiday lighting event, which takes place every single year.

This presentation includes a total of 600 light scenes which involve characters such as Santa, reindeer, candy canes, elves, and more. In addition, Hanukkah and Kwanza lighting displays can be found.

Other Facilities

Additional conveniences and facilities that are found within Lynn Creek and neighboring Grand Prairie parks include the following: concession stands, showers, restrooms, and amphitheatre. Anyone who arrives here is likely to feel right at home, even if it involves outdoor camping.

by ROBERT DONOWSKI

Christian Youth Groups - A Straight-Up Review

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Today with all the moral and spiritual corruption that takes place in our day and age, it is more imperative now than ever to make sure that our kids are spending their time among good moral and Christian influences. This way, they will not be exposed to the influences of many of their supposedly friends who do not live their lives in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ. A great way to insure that they do what is right is to get them to join Christian youth groups. These Christian youth groups will make sure that they are participate in responsible and educational opportunities after school instead of falling into trouble.

Though it took some time, my son Billie loves his Christian youth group. Today, they have a get-together with a bunch of other Christian youth groups in a fellowship camp way out in the country. His dad has come along as a chaperon, as have several of the other dads and moms from the Christian youth groups to make sure that everything goes safely and responsibly. Though I do not venture outdoors too often as compared to the rest of the family, I in reality almost wish that I was going. It will be so much fun for him, with exciting activities like fishing, boating, swimming, soccer, and of course sharing the word of God with the members of other Christian youth groups in joyous fellowship.

Normally when he is surfing the internet, I encourage him to interact with online Christian youth groups. Though he doesn't like these as much, but there are many advantages to them. Not only can he talk this way to Christians all over the country, but also all over the world. He can discover about projects going on in less fortunate areas to bring food, shelter, and the word of God to those who are suffering. Most important of all, he can keep away from some of the temptation of the internet that we can not always protect him from by using his computer time in a fun and morally responsible way – with other kids from Christian youth groups.

The best thing about Christian youth groups is that they give him something to do that doesn't involve peer pressure. My Billie is a good strong kid, and perhaps he could stand firm against the lure of drugs and alcohol, but he really shouldn't have to even be exposed to those kinds of influences, to say nothing of the other temptations that kids in their teens face. With Christian youth groups, he sure doesn't have to!

Linda E. Joy provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for family, home as well as related information.

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Youth Activities, Get Your Kids Involved!

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Most of the youth groups here in the US usually welcome kids from ages 6 to 12. Most youth groups activities are supported to plan, implement and evaluate the projects in which they will participate, thus they organize and implement their activities. Some are church affiliated and others community affiliated.

The main object of most all the youth groups is to furnish and have programs and activities lined out for the summer vacations. Many of the programs have dates and times published for meetings and in order to establish exact times that the programs will be implemented.

It is noteworthy that these youth activities fall within the context of plans to establish a Youth Chapter and a Youth Database. Our youth activities promote our values and help build lifelong friendships. Developing and promoting youth activities is an important part of most churches.

Volunteers are central to the success of these youth activity projects. Please check the information on weekly youth activities in your area. The Youth Activities Ministry focuses on developing the youth to be leaders, thinkers and planners.

Youth related events take place all over the country each month. Youth cooperations within the --and with other external partners, greatly enhance the work of many National Societies. In youth activities the goal is to show the children all around the country what their potential is and then walk along beside them as they try to reach it. Youth players, who are at least 9 and are capable of playing competitively, are eligible for the Tournament Travel Teams. Youth in grades 3 and 4 gather for youth activities once a week.

In most rural areas of America, and in conjunction with some of the religious sponsored youth groups. The students are sponsored by electric cooperatives - cooperatives who are committed to educating America's rural youth about America and the role electric cooperatives play in developing strong rural communities.

Participating in what is called the Youth Tour is a great way to learn about this great nation, develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, and make friendships that will last beyond the year. Students apply each fall and are selected in December preceding that year's Youth Tour.

If you have a passions or hobbies that you would like to share with youth during a single event or on an ongoing basis, or share an interest in areas mentioned above, please contact the leaders. For this purpose we also want to enhance networking among active youth groups regionally, nationally and internationally.

In our interventions for youth activities we expect to have excellent results for most of these. Group work involves discussion, healthy eating, cooking sessions, drama projects, peer mentoring sessions, dance & music. These are fundraisers and will help to support our group of students and adults

The direct beneficiaries will be the target group in general, particularly youth participating in student unions and other youth groups / organizations established, and initiated with potential for development.

In summary, it is easy for you and your friends to get involved in youth activities regardless of where you might be located. There are many groups within the cities as well as many more in rural areas. Only one thing to do, get involved. If you cannot easily find a group just call a church or electric co-op near you each should be able to point you in the right direction, and therefore you will develop lifelong friendships. Plus have the best summer vacation you have ever had.

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