Youth Activities

3 Tips to Select the Youth Camps for developing Skills and Having Fun

There may be hundreds of options today for your children aged between 3 to 15 years to develop their skills and have some fun time. However, nothing will replace the fun and opportunity to develop new skills available in the Youth camps. That is the reason why the Youth Camps are very popular today. Unlike olden days when the Youth camps where just meant for fun and spending the summer vacation, today the youth camps play an important role in developing leadership skills. However, the opportunity to develop skills along with fun is not available in all the youth camps out there. It is up to you to choose the best youth camp where your children can have some fun along with learning valuable skills. This article will help you to choose the best Youth camp for your children to spend their summer vacation.

Look for safety

Safety is an important aspect to be considered while choosing the Youth Camps. The candidates of the Youth Camps are supervised by the coaches of various activities. You should make sure that only a few students are assigned to one coach and this will enable him/ her to manage effectively. This will ensure the safety of your children too. You should also look for the safety amenities like first aid facilities provided by the Youth Camp of your choice. You should also make sure that the Youth Camp issues the safety equipment required for playing the sports like soccer and baseball. You can ensure the safety of your children in the Youth camps by referring to the safety records.

The Sports options

Most of the Youth Camps offer the opportunity to learn only soccer and baseball. It has to be noted that the best Youth Camps will teach the candidates with 11 sports of interest (say) Soccer, Baseball, Flag Football, Basketball, Tennis, Lacrosse, Golf, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Track & Field, and some special sports offered exclusively by the youth camps. Making your children join such Youth camps will provide them with the excellent opportunity to enjoy their summer vacation along with learning to play the sport of their choice.

Look for Youth Camps with well experienced Instructors

You will be well aware of the fact that sports like soccer and baseball requires great skills. These skills can be developed only if the instructor of the sport is well experienced. For example, the instructor of the soccer academy should have enough knowledge about the basic skills needed to play soccer. Signing up with such a soccer academy will help your child to learn the soccer game more effectively and maybe become a professional player in the future.

The various types of programs made available in these Youth Camps will be more exiting for your children. Signing up with the youth camps is the best gift that you can give your child during his vacation.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

About the Author:
The Author of this article knows the fact that not all the Youth Sports Camps available today will be able to provide the best lessons to play soccer. When it comes to choosing the best Sports Camp, he recommends Skyhawks. He has also written many articles on the basic skills for soccer (say) passing, shooting, and ball control.

Are Your Kids Involved In Youth Activities ?

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Are your kids involved in the youth activities that go on in your area each summer vacation? If not then you really need to check into the youth activities in your area whether church affiliated or rural Electric Co-ops.

You will find there will plenty of these for your kids to become involved with. I t is good for kids to become involved and also learn to shoulder some of the responsibility of the group they are involved with.

In many cases lifelong friendships are established to never be broken. 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 own 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 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. Activities range from puppet making to origami, printmaking to sand-play, face painting to paddleboats, movement activities to ethic crafts.
Youth leagues, camps & clinics, summer day camp, and more. Activities offer young people the opportunity to improve their health, become active and make a positive contribution through leadership in their community.

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

A great way to learn about this great nation is by participating in the programs sponsored by these rural electric Co-ops. The kid will learn to develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, and make friendships that will last for years.

Youth related events take place all over the country each month. Youth cooperations within the US 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.

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. All you need to do is get involved and enjoy yourself, invite friends to go along with you also. Might just be the best summer you have ever had.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

Are your kids involved in the youth activities that go on each summer vacation? If not then you really need to check into the youth activities in your area whether church affiliated or rural Electric Co-ops. You will find there will plenty of these for your kids to become involved with. It is good for kids to become involved.

About the Author:
Jim Woodall has 49yrs business exp. is into niche and internet mktg. Visit his website Youth Activities at: http://jwoodl.com/youth-activities lots video and news feeds there. Also make sure you get the 3 free eBooks at http://freegiveaways.jwoodl.com/index.html

How To Open A Youth Center

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Perhaps it is the dream of every community to put up a youth activities center for their teens. A lot of youths are now into some things that older people call dark activities. Just by looking at a teenager, you can immediately tell if he/she is troubled.

Teens who are too obsessed with youth-related fashions, drugs, alcohol, rock music, etc. are wrecking their lives, one way or another. If the community leaders want to provide the youth with more constructive and healthy activities, a youth activities center may be the answer.

So, how can a community open a youth activities center? First and foremost, the community should come up with a plan. The community leaders should be able to identify the right location for the activities center. Most communities are not able to put up an activities center due to budgetary constraints. Local government support is very important. The community leaders should consider asking help from the local government to fund their plans for putting up a youth activities center.

Once the area is secured, the building facility should be constructed. If the community leaders are able to solicit funds, construction is not a problem. After the center is finished, the staff should be hired. The community can even get volunteer services from the parents because the center is just for their teens. With the community and the parents helping one another, the youth activities center will be finished soon.

After everything has been organized, the various services of the center should be determined. Some of the things that the activities center can offer are counseling services, social activities, homework assistance, and a lot more. The center should be open to all the youths of the community who are willing to join. Other centers usually set an age limit, specifically 11 to 17 years old. Your center can also set age requirements although 11-17 is fine and this is usually the adolescent years.

The youth activities center should secure the necessary operating permits so that the center can operate smoothly and for it to be considered a legal facility. The center should set office hours when the office staffs are available. Make sure that the center has a telephone number, fax number, online site, and email address.

Since the youth activities center requires maintenance and has expenditure, the youth members should pay a one-time membership fee. Once they are a member, the youths can take part in the various youth activities like teen chat, counseling, homework assistance, music, video games, field trips, special events, movie nights, volunteer community programs, job training, crafts, arts, and sports (basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, etc).

The youth activities center should have youth leaders before it starts the full operation. The youth leaders will be responsible for the member youths. Leadership trainings should also be conducted so that when the time comes for the existing youth leaders to leave there will be new leaders to guide the group.

So there, now you know the different things that you have to take care of if you want to put up a youth activities center. It involves a lot of money, time, effort, and dedication. The community, parents, and the local government should join hands in order to make this plan a reality.

If a youth activities center is put up in a community, all the youths will be provided with an excellent facility where they can have all the fun.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

How can a community open a youth activities center? First and foremost, the community should come up with a plan. The community leaders should be able to identify the right location for the activities center. Most communities are not able to put up an activities center due to budgetary constraints.

About the Author:
1000s of Education,Training,Scholarship & Children Services.Click Here - WorldEducationPages.com, WorldTrainingPages.com, WorldScholarshipPages.comand WorldChildrenPages.com

Trends in Teen Summer Programs

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Programs have begun to differentiate themselves by offering special programs for “tweens”, community service camp options, career-oriented internships, academic study programs, language programs combined with other interests, and gap year programming.

“These new offerings are a result of teen program directors trying to cater to both parents’ wishes and teens interests,” says Carey Rivers, Co-Director, Tips on Trips and Camps (http://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com) in Washington, DC.

Summer schedules have to be planned around summer school, sports commitments, and family vacations. To adapt, teen programs are developing shorter programs that can accommodate the schedules of busy teens. They are also attempting to offer more “bang for the buck” by developing programs that incorporate many interests, such as language programs, community service, and adventure travel.

“Today your teen could choose one program in which he or she could combine multiple activities, like learning Spanish while in a community service program in Costa Rica,” says Ms. Rivers.

Tips on Trips and Camps offers these trends and unique programs for summer 2008 to help you and your child think outside the box:

Options for “Tweens” - Because teen program directors have realized that middle school age kids are looking for new and exciting programs, these “tweeners”

have a world of options open to them now. Now there are language programs for Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, marine science sailing programs in the British Virgin Islands and adventure travel programs, all customized by maturity level and educational experience.

Community Service - To teach our children the value of “giving back,” and completing high school community service requirements, your child can assist in the construction of new classrooms in India, work with orphans in Russia, on hurricane reconstruction on the Gulf Coast or teach tennis to underprivileged kids in urban areas.

Internships - If your child has a specific career interest and wants to gain experience in that field, he or she can work side by side with professionals in areas like Archaeology, Fashion Design, Medical Research and Strategic Studies. Career internships on college campuses are available in England, and in large U.S. cities, like New York City, Boston and Philadelphia. After their daily “work,” students can participate in evening activities, weekend excursions, and college visits for the participants.

Language programs - Though learning a foreign language is not a new concept, combining it with other interests is a new phenomenon. Many language programs abroad incorporate a home stay, where a student is matched with a family, which enriches the student’s experience through cultural exchange and community service. Teens can study painting, photography or cooking while learning Italian or study architecture in Switzerland while learning French. Your teen can also dabble in rare languages, like Arabic, Modern Greek, or Swedish right here in the U.S.

More Exotic & Intensive Teen Travel - Now a child can live with a host family in a rural village, hike to ancient ruins, and help build a school for kids -- all in a 4-week trip. With the trend toward the more exotic, you can find teen programs that travel to Senegal, Bolivia or Cambodia. While these programs used to be about visiting busy tourist attractions, some have morphed into mini think tanks, undertaking the study of global issues, such as health care and global health care issues in Ghana, or community development in El Salvador, or biodiversity in Madagascar.

College Campus Academic Study Programs - Academic programs are much in demand because they give high school students a taste of what it’s like to live on a college campus. In addition to academic study, programs offer SAT Prep, college tours, leadership programs, a range of sports programs, visits to local attractions as well as weekend excursions to nearby cities. Course studies range from architecture to advertising, economics to environmental science.

Gap Year Programming – The United States is one of the few countries in which kids follow a traditional path from high school to college to graduate school to profession. American students are mirroring the desire of their foreign counterparts and taking some time off between high school and college. They now even have a name for it – “the Odyssey.” Your graduate can sail around the world, live with a family in a rural village in Kenya, help teach in the village secondary school, offer extracurricular activities and initiate and participate in community service projects.

For more information on the different options and new choices available for teen summer programs, contact Tips on Trips and Camps.

About Tips on Trips and Camps
Tips on Trips and Camps (http://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com) is free summer camp advisory service founded in 1971 with offices in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York City, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Princeton, Westchester, Connecticut, Los Angeles, South Florida and Paris.Call-866-222-TIPS (8477) for more info.

Role Models for Your Teen

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The teen years are a critical time for role models in your children's lives. Often you will find teens have a hard time talking to their parents. This isn't always the case, but even in the closest families, teens often feel more comfortable talking to another trusted adult about some of the things going on in their lives.

Of course you would prefer your teen would go to an adult when they need to talk something important out, instead of relying on their friends who may not have the insight an older, more experienced adult would have.

Obviously you have no real control over who your teen goes to for advice, but there are a number of ways you can steer your teen in the right direction.

The best chance your teen has for interacting with other adults is in extracurricular activities. There are all kinds of activities your teen can be involved with, here are some that come to mind: church youth group, scouts, sports, music, school clubs, community service, just to name a few. Personally I don't encourage parents to involve their teens in so many activities that it leads to burnout for both the parents and the teen, but carefully selected activities led by good and capable leaders will enrich your teen's life in a way few things can, and will increase the likelihood that your teen will establish a relationship with one of the group leaders.

One word of caution, however. Talk to your teen about their activities and get a feel for yourself the effectiveness of the group leader. Not to say that they have to excel in every way, but just make sure that they are a good role model, and not a negative influence in your teen's life. There is the potential of bad leaders in any activity, including in a church setting, and it is the parents' responsibility to make sure their teen is in a positive atmosphere, influenced by mature leaders.

Involvement in group activities is especially great for teens of single parents. Teens who don't have regular contact with mature adults of both sexes often have a hard time later in normal adult relationships. Being exposed to "normal" at this age very much increases the teen's chances of growing into a well-adjusted adult. I have seen this often with boys who are raised by their moms with not much influence or negative influence from their dads.

Placed into group settings, with responsible adult male leaders, these teen boys have much less difficulty transitioning into adulthood. It also takes of a lot of the pressure off the often overworked mothers.

From my own experience, I have found that often other adults can help my teen in ways that I can't, mostly due to big differences in our personalities. I am more of a quiet introspective thinker, and my daughter is very outgoing, and has a lot of potential leadership qualities that are hard for me to help her develop because I do not possess those qualities myself. Knowing how important it is to help her develop her natural abilities at this impressionable age, I make sure there are other adults in her life who can help influence her in ways I can't. My daughter and I are very close, but there are just a lot of things that I can't help her with, so I encourage her in developing relationships with adults who do have those abilities.

My daughter and I both respect our different abilities. It is very easy to be critical of people who are not like us, and parents and teens very easily fall into this trap. The best thing to do is be honest about your own abilities, and of the abilities of your teen, and do whatever is necessary to find outside influences for your teen. The more you can help your teen develop their abilities now, the less they will have to do on their own later (often, the hard way).

And don't forget, you are a role model too. Get involved in the lives of your teen's friends, or volunteer to help in a group activity in some way, even if only occasionally. There are teens out there who really need to hear what you have to say.

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who publishes the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club, a weekly newsletter that contains quick, easy dinner ideas and money-saving household hints. To subscribe send a blank e-mail message to FreeRecipes-subscribe@egroups.com. Visit Creative Homemaking and in the Home and Garden section of Suite 101.

10 Fabulous Reasons Why Troubled Youth Need Military School

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When it comes to handling troubled teens, the public school system is not that well equipped. More often than not, many parents seek help from military schools in order to educate and discipline their derailed youngsters. Recently, military schools, which seemed to get out of the scene in the late 1960's and early 1970's, have started to be crowded with enrollees steadily.

Nowadays, its hard to make a teen get into a military academy. But why the boom of military school enrollments? Here are the 10 reasons behind this phenomenon:

1. Military Schools Have Become More Choosy

It's not that military schools, boot camps or any military-oriented programs used to be very undiscriminating back then. Only, nowadays, when a teen is overly unruly, a military school is most likely to not admit the youngster. This is because military programs are not leaning towards the forcing of teenagers to "clean up their act" if they, themselves don't really want to.

2. Military Schools Are Now More Geared Towards Imposing Proper Discipline to a Child

Traditionally, military schools are definitely known to be the house of disclinary actions in molding youth. Today, modern and more effective methods have been developed to improve the administration of proper discipline to teenagers. Teens will be subject to strong discipline but this does not entail they will be abused.

3. Military Schools Are Now More Focused in Giving Structure to a Child

The highly structured ambience provided by military schools can help channel the unfocused energies of an adolescent who has not achieved his or her full potential. The structured environment provided by military schools promotes the values of organization and self-management.

4. There are Military Schools that Offer Academics

They offer stringent and modernized academic program for the modern needs of teeners.

5. Military Schools are Tailored to Best Suit the Needs of a Teen

Teens have individual needs that must be met. This is supported by military schools. Through thorough assessment, military-oriented programs can be customized to best serve what each teenager needs. More and more military schools offer education that fits with smaller class sizes. There are those that provide more opportunities to work one on one with teachers and staff.

6. Military Schools Emphasize Fitness

With emphasis on physical fitness, military schools serve the purpose of being useful for teens whose parents consider to be "couch potatoes". Through various sports and other rigorous and yet very beneficial physical activities, definitely they will become more skillful and able-bodied than they used to be.

7. Military Schools Don't Stunt the Social Life of a Teen

In contrary to the dated notion about military schools, positive peer environment exists, which is enforced through honor code. From the very start, a military school is designed to provide a high level of comradeship. With a military school, a social life is possible without the distractions from the outside. This way cadets can do better in and out of the classroom, which leads to their academic success.

8. Military Schools Help Motivate Teens to Become Matured, Responsible Citizens

With a disciplined and structured context that is both physically and emotionally healthy, cadets are motivated to develop self-discipline and also to reach their full potential in every way - physically, intellectually and spiritually.

9. Military Schools Aid in the Moral Molding of Teens and the Learning of Other Important Values

Military-oriented programs are enhanced to provide good values, particularly those that will teach teenagers to have a dignified moral stance. Aside from leadership, discipline, and accountability, what could be more important than being able to inculcate solidarity and respect to a teen, not only for his superiors but also to his equals.

10. Military Schools Provide Other Long-Term Benefits

More benefits are offered to teenagers who came from a military school. Because of the values and skills learned, when teens have experience going through military school, the community is more inclined to giving them better consideration when it comes to employment, e.g., military jobs, and other community activities.

With these reasons, who can go wrong with going to a military school?

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Mary Murtha has BLS and M. Div degrees majoring in biblical studies and ethics. Her main web site is The content Corner at: http://www.thecontentcorner.com.

Training Activities For Youth Sports

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Training is required in all sport activities as you need to know the rules and how to play the game. Kids of different ages love games which involves running and some different type of activity. To name a few football, basketball, baseball and many more require training. In training you can make mistakes but they can be rectified there itself. While playing it is essential that you exercise to remain fit and healthy.

Warm up is the first session that you should do before starting any activity. Warm up helps your body to adjust according to the surroundings. This is essential because if you are not prepared for training or playing your body can pain the whole day. Small accidents can take place to like a sprain in the leg or even severe injury like internal bleeding or muscle pull. These injuries require hospitalization in quick time. So warming up before your game play or training is essential.

Training activities are different for every sport. You need to have the right gear and equipments for the desired sport. For basketball it is essential to have a court with basketball rings and markings on the court. It also requires light weighted shoes and a basketball. This game can be played indoors out outdoors too. Bad weather can obstruct its training. Basketball is usually played on wooden surface or on tar surface. There are wooden courts which are used extensively in the United States. In this sport shuttling and shooting training is given to increase performance.

Baseball requires lot of practice to have a perfect game. Training can be monotonous at times but this is the only place where you can improve your game. Baseball training requires lot of accessories and gears which you need to use while playing. From helmet to knee pads with gloves and the right slugger is all you require to play baseball. The pitcher and fielders require a special type of glove which is used for playing baseball. This glove helps the player to catch the ball.

Football skills are developed over a period of time. You need a lot of dedication toward football. Once for training you must be in the filed from all sides. Football requires less external gears. Studs and knee guard are the main one. The goal keeper requires extra glove to save the ball from goal. Football training can be conducted in any season, in wet football is fun.

About the Author

For more information visit Sportscapers University at houston youth football - You can also find more information and online training videos to help you improve your skills at katy youth football.

Group Activities For Baptist Youth

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There are different religions all over the world. But despite these different beliefs and religion, most people still get along well with others. Being a member of the Baptist Church does not necessarily make you some sort of alien.

Most Baptist Church youths are troubled because they often think that other religions will discriminate them. With the various Baptist Church youth activities, their minds will be enlightened.

The Baptist Church has a youth ministry wherein all interested youths can join. The purpose of the Baptist Church is just the same with other churches. They want to teach the youth of today about Christ the Savior. Aside from that, the youth ministry will also teach the members to be disciplined in their faith.

How can these goals be achieved? That is up to the leaders of the youth ministry. In most cases, the ministry conducts Bible studies, evangelism, fellowships, ministry opportunities, and other youth activities.

The parents also play a very important role in achieving the goals of the youth group. Their support is a must so that all the activities of the youth ministry can be achieved. The ministry will also work with the parents and at the same time support them to nurture, instill, and instruct the necessary Godly character to their teens.

During the school year, the youth ministry meets once a week and usually on Wednesdays. In the summer, the group meets several times a week because that is also the best time to conduct several activities.

If you want to know more about the Baptist Church, you can always log on to the net and search for the youth ministry. There is a lot of Baptist Church all over the world and you have to find one that is nearest your place of residence.

A good thing about the youth ministry of the Baptist Church is that most of them have online sites. If you have an internet connection at home, you can easily take part in forums and other online activities.

Perhaps you can also find a local Baptist Church. That way, you can easily monitor your kid's participation in the church. You can even go with your child when there are activities.

By encourgaring your kid to take active participation in the Baptist Church youth ministry, he/she can meet new friends in the area. The various activities like evangelism, fellowships, and ministry opportunities will help them a lot.

Your kid will be surrounded with good people who will always lead them nearest to Christ. Rest assured that whenever your kid goes out of the house, the Lord will be beside him. Your kid will be far from temptations and bad influence.

It is now time to start looking for a reputable Baptist Church youth ministry. If you want your kid to learn more about Christ and Godly ways, the best way is to become a member of a youth ministry.

Being a teen can be very difficult for your kid because this is the time of great adjustment. They often go through problems and peer pressure. The best way to keep your kid away from the temptations of the modern world is to let them be a member of a youth ministry.

Get involved; choose the right Baptist Church youth ministry and let your kid enjoy the various youth activities.

About the Author

1000s of Education,Training,Scholarship & Children Services.Click Here -
WorldEducationPages.com,
WorldTrainingPages.com,
WorldScholarshipPages.comand
WorldChildrenPages.com

When Kids Enter Weekends Exit

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Sleeping late during Saturdays probably belongs to the past if you have recently experienced the thrills of parenthood. Friends' visits are not anymore possible just after a phone-call and the latest movie or new cultural exhibit are not things you can now enjoy at the moment you thought about them. In addition, accepting a last minute party invitation or winding down with a long, leisurely brunch on Sunday after shopping is an activity you no longer have the pleasure of enjoying. These examples constitute some of the sacrifices you have to make since you have decided to become a parent, but the pleasure and feeling of accomplishment associated with the fact that you now have a child cannot be diminished because you have to adapt to the new circumstances and altering your weekend activities. Even if you may never get back that sleeping-in part, and staying late at your friends' birthday party, new opportunities are now revealed and you can explore them with your new family members; your kids.

Family weekends can be as noteworthy as those from your pre-kid days if you decide to invest some time to do a little bit of planning. In fact, a good weekend is distinguished from a bad one, if you know what you and your kids are going to do and arranging beforehand the kids' time and your schedule to find the free time you can both enjoy each others company. Parents that have decided to do the necessary planning state that the whole family has something to look forward to and discuss long after its completion. Traveling through the country side, purchasing tickets to go to the theater, visiting the local museums and landmarks, or taking a day trip to another town or neighborhood, are some of the fun ways you can alter your usual weekend time and invest some time to get to know each other instead of letting your kids play video-games or watch TV all day long.

On the other hand, it is best if you do not prearrange every minute of the weekend. Over-scheduling your weekend can make you feel exhausted instead of relaxed on Monday morning. Thus, even if you decide to do nothing out of the ordinary and just hang out in your pajamas with the kids on a weekend morning can be a valuable relaxation and bonding time. Unplug the TV, have a nutritional breakfast, teach your kids to read the news and laugh while playing board games of by reading comic stories and dressing up pretending to be a famous signer or actor.

Finally, you should not forget to schedule an adult activity over the weekend for you and your adult partner so as to receive the necessary dosage of socializing. Arrange to go out with friends if your parents or a babysitter can take care of the kids while you are away and always try to organize small but fun moments for you and your beloved ones when you feel the need of spending some quality time with your husband or wife. Having kids does not have to throw weekend fun out the door. Becoming a parent can actually open up the window to new possibilities and help you invest in yourself and the people you love the most.

Source: Free Articles

Autor: k_buchanan32

Should You Take Bear Spray On Your Camping Trip?

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It is always best to come prepared for anything and everything that life has to offer. Of course, the same idea applies to camping trips where, if you are lucky enough, you may get the best experience of your life (and not encounter any grizzlies).

Of course, it has also been said that luck is actually preparation getting to meet that ever elusive opportunity. So when out on a camping trip, how could you attract luck to your side without ever having to catch the attention of bears that may be gazing and grazing around the camp area.

1. Bear spray your way to safety

This may or may not be a good idea. Carrying a bear spray with you may be an effective way to feel safe and secure, however it is always not the best idea to bear spray the tent you are in as well as any of the areas near or surrounding you. It is also better if you do not bear spray any items that you regularly may be using.

2. Why bear sprays may be unsafe too

Believe it or not, it has been proven that bears are attracted to those items that have already been sprayed with bear spray. So even though a bear spray may come in handy when that moment comes (God forbid) that a grizzly bear happens to wander in your camp premises, spraying one before a bear does arrive may actually be calling them prematurely.

3. The best way to stay away from bears

The most convenient and logical way to stay a bit far away from any bears is to stay in a camping area that has no obvious and clear evidence of any forms or signs of bear activity. These signs include bear tracks, any forms of bear diggings as well as scat.

4. The best way to ward off bears

Fortunately, it is now a federal rule and regulation in camping trips that those campers who bring food must now suspend the food they bring on trees or that they should use boxes that are bear-proof.

Bears have been known to be very much attracted to odors that come from food. Therefore foods that are very odorous must best be not brought during camping or even cooked outdoors.

Camps should also be clean. Food must not be stored or cooked inside the tent, unless you want to wake up one morning with a grizzly bear staring at you.

There are now campsites that provide poles wherein food, gears used for cooking, and any articles that are scented may be suspended in place when it is not yet to be used. The same process also applies to deodorants, soap, and toiletries. Prevention and pro-activeness is always better than prevention. Packs of food must never be left unattended even for as short as a minute or so.

Bears have been known to become aggressive once they get that opportunity to obtain foods consumed by humans. They may in turn be aggressive to obtain similar types of food in the future and so they may pose a threat to the safety of humans. They may then have to be removed from the park or destroyed.

5. How to sleep well and keep food well

One hundred yards from where your food is located or hanging from is the minimum distance for one to sleep in. Of course, your sleeping area and gear must also be free from the odor of food and should also be clean. It is never a good idea to sleep in the clothes you have worn while cooking or eating. Keep these clothes inside a plastic bag and hang them in a considerable distance away from you.

6. Stay away from garbage

As much as possible, check out the area of where you will be spending the night. If there is a garbage nearby or any items of food scattered about that were left by other campers, it is highly recommended that you stay a good distance away from such an area. Double your distance at least. It would also be best that you report such an incident to the park rangers.

7. Report any bear incidents immediately

Even if your brush with bears was minor, always report them to the park ranger. The safety of other future campers, as well as your own, may depend on you. All in all, bear sprays are okay to use. But the best way to ward off bears is by being aware of how you camp and being cautious of the way you keep food and other bear-attracting items as neat and clean as possible.

Source: Free Articles

Autor: infocus

Camping Equipment For Your Trip

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There are tons of different items that could be classified as camping equipment, everything from the simplest pot or pan to the most complicated RV. Camping equipment doesnt have to seem like a chore to get together, but you should still give yourself plenty of time to make sure you have everything that you need. Never bring along equipment that you don't see yourself using, or don't expect to use for more than a short period of time.

1. Camping Equipment For Rustic Campers

Many campers are against camping equipment and follow the philosophy that they should rough it. That somehow, camping equipment goes against the very point of going camping in the first place - to get away from technology and civilization for a while. Even if you plan to live off the land, make sure you have an adequate supply of food rations on hand.

You will also want to make sure you bring along cooking utensils for over the campfire. You can get several different types of frying pans, skewers, and even bread toasters for over the campfire. If you are particularly fond of coffee in the morning, make sure to have your tin coffee pot and cups handy.

Everyone can get hurt while they are camping, and so a good to include a first aid kit with your camping equipment supplies. Keep some medications handy for any bouts you may end up having with the cold or flu. Just because you are out camping, doesnt mean you still cant be susceptible to all of the little things you are unprepared for.

Have a nice, warm, sleeping bag ready on hand for those rather brisk nights and a waterproof tent that you can take the top piece off and watch the stars. If you are really handy, youll have a radio with batteries in it, and perhaps not for the music itself, but to be informed of severe weather conditions that may be approaching.

The list of what you could use for camping equipment is endless and depends on how long you intend to camp for. Make sure you have an adequate supply of clothing on hand so you dont have to freeze to death if you fall in the lake accidentally.

2. Camping Equipment For Stylish People

Even though there is someone always present at public camping sites, it is a good idea to make sure you carry supplies with you in case of an accident. Depending on where you are camping, you could come across situations that would require medical attention. Of course, lets hope this isnt the case for anyone on your next camping trip. Its just better to be safe than sorry.

Unlike rustic camping, where it is a good idea to at have a lantern for night vision, you are pretty well set up with everything you could need to be modern. So all you need to take along are those spare items inside of your house that will make your camping trip more enjoyable. If you like to be at home more than rustic camping, you need to make sure you are prepared to make yourself comfortable.

You should always place being dry and warm as a first priority when camping. You can't do much of anything, after all, if you are suffering from hypothermia. People have done it for generations and you can do it for a few days too. It's easy to see why camping is a great activity for the whole family.

Source: Free Articles

Autor: infocus

How To Open A Youth Center

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Perhaps
it is the dream of every community to put up a youth activities center
for their teens. A lot of youths are now into some things that older
people call dark activities. Just by looking at a teenager, you can
immediately tell if he/she is troubled. Teens who are too obsessed with
youth-related fashions, drugs, alcohol, rock music, etc. are wrecking
their lives, one way or another. If the community leaders want to
provide the youth with more constructive and healthy activities, a
youth activities center may be the answer. So, how can a community open
a youth activities center? First and foremost, the community should
come up with a plan. The community leaders should be able to identify
the right location for the activities center. Most communities are not
able to put up an activities center due to budgetary constraints. Local
government support is very important. The community leaders should
consider asking help from the local government to fund their plans for
putting up a youth activities center. Once the area is secured, the
building facility should be constructed. If the community leaders are
able to solicit funds, construction is not a problem. After the center
is finished, the staff should be hired. The community can even get
volunteer services from the parents because the center is just for
their teens. With the community and the parents helping one another,
the youth activities center will be finished soon. After everything has
been organized, the various services of the center should be
determined. Some of the things that the activities center can offer are
counseling services, social activities, homework assistance, and a lot
more. The center should be open to all the youths of the community who
are willing to join. Other centers usually set an age limit,
specifically 11 to 17 years old. Your center can also set age
requirements although 11-17 is fine and this is usually the adolescent
years. The youth activities center should secure the necessary
operating permits so that the center can operate smoothly and for it to
be considered a legal facility. The center should set office hours when
the office staffs are available. Make sure that the center has a
telephone number, fax number, online site, and email address. Since the
youth activities center requires maintenance and has expenditure, the
youth members should pay a one-time membership fee. Once they are a
member, the youths can take part in the various youth activities like
teen chat, counseling, homework assistance, music, video games, field
trips, special events, movie nights, volunteer community programs, job
training, crafts, arts, and sports (basketball, volleyball, football,
swimming, etc). The youth activities center should have youth leaders
before it starts the full operation. The youth leaders will be
responsible for the member youths. Leadership trainings should also be
conducted so that when the time comes for the existing youth leaders to
leave there will be new leaders to guide the group. So there, now you
know the different things that you have to take care of if you want to
put up a youth activities center. It involves a lot of money, time,
effort, and dedication. The community, parents, and the local
government should join hands in order to make this plan a reality.
If a youth activities center is put up in a community, all the youths
will be provided with an excellent facility where they can have all the
fun.

Group Activities For Catholic Youth

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Being an adolescent is not easy. This is the time when you experience a
lot of pressure from people around you. You begin to explore things you
hardly know about and you often drift away from your family. If you
don't like what's happening and you feel that there is a need to change
your ways, then you should be involved in Catholic youth group
activities. Well of course, you have to be a Catholic so that there
will be no conflicts with regards to faith and beliefs. But anyway,
Catholic youth groups are open to all teenagers who want to be nearer
to Jesus Christ and His righteous ways. So why choose to become a
member of a Catholic youth group now? Perhaps you're already aware that
the world is filled with a lot of temptations; temptations that can
wreck your life forever. If you don't want to end up like all the
others, you must choose a youth group now. That way, you will grow with
faith in the Lord through the various experiences that will soon come
your way. As a member of a Catholic youth group, you will be able to
experience Jesus Christ in strangers and friends. Through acts of
charity and social justice, you can experience the The Holy Spirit. The
youth group will also conduct scripture reflections, liturgy, prayers,
and retreats so that all the members can experience God. The Catholic
youth groups all over the world have the same purpose and that is to
offer all the youths a fun and safe Christian environment. You will be
able to see your friends on a particular schedule every week. The
mission of all the youth groups is to energize the parish youths in
faith though various social activities, discussion topics, scripture
reflection, outreach, service, and other church-related actions. As
mentioned earlier, everyone is invited as long as you're a
teenager.There is a Catholic youth group for every parish; however, if
you are not from the parish or you're from another denomination, you're
still welcome. The youth activities usually vary every month but most
youth groups follow a basic structure which includes the following
opening prayer, scripture reflection, activity, open forum, and the
closing prayer. During the school year, the youth group usually meets
once every month and during special events or activities. Aside from
the church-related events, the youth group can even go scavenger
hunting, Lenten seder, and movie night outs. So you see, its not just
about learning about God and Christ, but it is also about having fun as
a teen. The big difference though is that you will be far from worldly
temptations like alcohol, drugs, and many others. You will be
surrounded with other teens who are responsible, disciplined, and
religious. The youth group has an activity coordinator and if ever your
group wants to suggest a certain new activity, you can easily contact
the authorized person. So you see, being a member of a catholic youth
group is fun and exciting. You will learn a lot every time the group
meets. You can now consider the youth group as your new peer group.
Now, your parents will not worry every time you go out because they are
sure that you're with good company.

Fast and Easy Money Making Fundraiser for your Child's Youth Activities

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Employing leisure activities to learn Spanish is a very effective strategy that may be used to learn the language. In fact, leisure activities speed up the language-learning process while also allowing the learners to enjoy a good time. Many people practice learning Spanish during their leisure hours because leisure activities promote learning, which may not be the case in a traditional class. Experts believe that a language can be learned better by taking away the formalities of the language-learning process.

What Makes Leisure Activities Effective?

Though it may seem ironical, language experts agree that leisure activities to learn Spanish are found to be effective because the learner makes less effort to learn the language. In fact, the easy approach towards learning is what makes leisure activities to learn Spanish a powerful tool that helps to embed the elements of language in the learner's mind. For example, a learner who uses audio tapes to listen to Spanish words or phrases in his/her leisure time has a better chance to absorb those words than someone who knows that he/she is making an effort to learn the language. The difference is of course the lack of psychological and emotional barriers that automatically surface when one is coerced to learn a language.

Leisure Activities Available to Learn Spanish

Many leisure activities to learn Spanish are easily available. For example, music tapes available from the web site musicalspanish could help one to practice words through popular musical numbers or tunes. Similarly, tapes available at the site spanishtapes can be used to listen to Spanish words and phrases while driving or relaxing. Some tapes even claim that they can teach the language when the learner is asleep!

Other leisure methods include spending time at informal workshops that concentrate on developing the language, trying to speak Spanish without the stress of strict grammatical rules, getting involved in interesting activities such as treks, group activities, or even a simple picnic while taking care to speak the language in whatever way possible. The creative possibilities are endless. In fact, any activity in which you converse with other people can become a Spanish learning opportunity.

It may be appreciated that leisure activities intended to help one learn Spanish are limited only by the imagination of the person who wants to learn it. Leisure-oriented activities help a learner to incorporate the learning routine into any activity at one's convenience and liking. Similarly, incorporating the learning process into leisure makes learning fast, enjoyable, and lasting.

Source: Free Articles

YOUTH WHO VOLUNTEER GET BETTER GRADES AND BECOME ACTIVE

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High School volunteering has reached the highest levels in
the past 50 years. Those who volunteer as youth, and who
have seen their parents volunteer, become the most generous
adults for charitable and philanthropic causes.

Why Is It Important for Youth to Volunteer? Independent Sector,a
leading organization doing research on charity and philanthropy in the United States,have determined that youth who volunteer are twice as likely to volunteer as
adults. In the United States, 6 out of 10 volunteers, started volunteering by age 14.

Why is involvement in volunteerism so beneficial for teenagers?
70% of teens that volunteer report that volunteering give
them a new perspective on community issues. As a result of their volunteer efforts, teens also reported doing better in school,improved grades,developing new career goals, and learning about new career options.

Other significant benefits included learning how to respect others,learning how to be helpful and kind,understanding people who are different from themselves,
developing leadership skills,becoming more patient, and understanding the qualities of good citizenship.

From their volunteer experiences teens learn how to solve community problems. They gain an enhanced understanding of good citizenship, and became more aware of community problems. Teen further learned more about how government and voluntary organizations work.

What is the important conclusion on teen volunteerism?

- Adults who began volunteering as youth, are twice as
likely to volunteer, as compared to those who did not
volunteer when they were younger.

- 44% of adults volunteer.

- 2/3 of these volunteers began volunteering when they were
young.

Encourage a young person to get involved in the community
today!

Note: Statistics obtained from Independent Sector, a
leading organization doing research on charity and
philanthropy in the United States. www.independentsector.org

Source: Free Articles

Educational Activities Which Keeps Young Visitors Happy!

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In any waiting room, the children are going to be at the very least cranky and at the worst, nervous and scared on top of possibly feeling ill. It is extremely important in any waiting room situation to provide children with some sort of distraction or entertainment, but in a hospital or clinic situation, it is absolutely vital. The child's guardian will be busy dealing with paperwork and will have little ability to entertain a restless child. Waiting room toys can be a great way to make sure the parents can do what they need to do.

One place to start is an activity table. Activity tables come in a variety of educational models, so the child can learn as well as play. The size of the activity table will make it difficult for a child to walk off with it and it will also reduce mess for staff when the time comes for cleanup. This is also a device that encourages quiet play, rather than toy drums or keyboards. Activity tables are designed for toddlers and preschoolers and with their bright colors and educational aspect, they will be ideal for a waiting room. Activity tables also have the advantage of being entirely enclosed, making clean-up a breeze.

Wooden activity cubes are another good choice for any waiting area. These self-contained activity centers are excellent for grabbing a child's attention. A multitude of activities can be combined into one unit, lending a great deal of versatility to a small amount of space. In addition, many wooden activity cubes can be surrounded with small chairs, allowing several children to play with it at once. This maximizes your space and gives the children a chance to play with each other.

In pediatric waiting rooms, especially, it is very important to set the right tone. Pediatric clinic toys should encourage a restful attitude in a child, encouraging them to relax and be trusting. Educational toys are ideal, pleasing both parent and child, and can even give the doctor and the child something to talk about during the session. It is very important that children who are in a medical situation trust and respect the person who is
examining them, and one way to do that is set them at ease from the very moment they walk in the door. If the child associates the office with fun toys and bright colors, he or she might be less nervous the next time a visit has to occur, making the situation easier on everyone.

Waiting area activities toys can also set the mood. While quiet is probably ideal, there is a huge difference between a quiet sullen waiting room and a bright enthusiastic one. One way to affect the mood of your waiting room is through the toys you keep there. If you can make them fun and entertaining, your customers will be grateful and so will their children.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author

Marina Neiman, author and mother of two, writes for 1888Toys.com - Children Educational Toys Store, featuring classic toys with truly developmental value. To learn more about this subject visit: http://www.1888Toys.com

7 Signs Your Teenager is at Risk for Violent Behavior

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In the last week alone, four shootings/murders made headlines. They shared something shocking in common ? the alleged offender was a teenager.

1. A teenager was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the shooting of five people at a club.
2. Sentencing for a 16-year-old boy who admitted stabbing his mother 111 times was postponed.
3. The first of four teenagers to be tried in the killing of a Chinese restaurant deliveryman was found guilty of first-degree murder.
4. A teen in a middle school shoots two classmates, but is stopped by hero teacher.

Dr. Kathryn Seifert a youth and family violence and trauma expert who has over 30 years of experience believes that a recent study sheds light on the issue of teen violence. While some behavioral (aggressive) disorders have a biological base, they may also have roots in childhood maltreatment and in exposure to violence. The overlap between behavioral disorders and histories of childhood trauma is greater than has been previously recognized,? said Seifert. While not all traumatized children become aggressive, there are warning signs that can help parents determine if their child needs to get professional help.

Using recent studies, other scientific data, and 30 years of experience, Dr. Seifert has created 7 questions to determine if your teenager may be at risk of committing violent or aggressive behavior. The more questions to which you answer yes, the more likely it is that your child needs professional help. If the answer to 6 or 7 questions is ?yes?, then data shows that your teenager may be at risk of aggressive or violent behavior and needs immediate professional attention.

1. Has your child or teen witnessed or been a victim of violence?
2. Has the child in your care been abused, neglected or abandoned by a family member?
3. Has your child been cruel to animals?
4. Has your child had moderate to severe behavior problems (such as stealing, punching holes in walls, or staying out all night without permission) that began before the age of 13?
5. When your child hurts or injures someone does he feel sorry he/she got caught, rather than sorry for the harm caused to his/her victim.
6. In the past, has your child assaulted another person that was not in self-defense? (This is particularly important if it was a younger, weaker child or a parent, policeman, or teacher.)
7. Has you child had severe learning and/or behavior problems in school for more than a year?

Dr. Seifert warns that although these questions can be easily answered, their answers should not be taken lightly. Adults and caregivers need to take immediate action to seek help for families and teens that have experienced traumatic experiences. Without professional help, such as counseling from organizations like Dr. Seifert?s firm, Eastern Shore Psychological Services, many teens may never get the help they need. And without help, a troubled teenager could become the next headline. With the proper interventions, youth violence is preventable.

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About the Author

Dr. Kathryn Seifert has over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. She has authored the CARE and numerous articles. Dr. Seifert has lectured internationally on youth and family violence and trauma. http://careforusall.com