Colorado Army National Guard Child & Youth Program 2015 Annual Report THE CENTENNIAL STATE COARNG Established in 1903 3900 Guardsmen, 30 Armories, 24 Communities and 1 Dynamic Youth Program!
Colorado has 25 ski resorts for a combined total of 301 lifts, 2134 trails and 37,322 skiable acres. In 1989, a one-day adult lift ticket to Winter Park could be purchased from ~$20-$30. In 2015, a ticket there costs ~$90-$120. Youth Program Mission Statement To bridge Colorado National Guard youth developmental needs and interests through innovative programming and to promote resiliency and readiness. Santa Shop DEC 2014 Centennial, CO Vision Statement To become the first choice among service members when they are seeking youth programming for ages 6-18. To be a presence throughout the state where service members reside by duplicating the youth program operation by a process of recruiting, training and empowering volunteers to execute programming in their respective residential areas. Thank you for making the trip to Copper Mountain so memorable for Courtney! She can t stop talking about it! It was a huge growing up opportunity and she keeps saying Need to focus on the good things and not the bad. Great job and thanks for all you and your staff do!!! -SSG Jason Frydendall 140 MX AGE Element Goals Continue to further our effective reach to underserved populations of service members throughout the state Meet and collaborate with four Readiness Non-commissioned Officers in targeted quadrants of the state who can assist with building a volunteer group to execute youth programs in those locales Prepare and distribute an annual program guide in January of each year that will list not only COARNG activities & summer camps but those of our partners as well Partner with Military Child Education Coalition to conduct a teach the teachers quarterly training in various schools around the state which will increase understanding of the impact of deployment on youth Delivery the highest quality and most cost effective programming in 4 core service areas: 1) Art, Recreation & Leisure 2) Sports, Fitness & Health 3) Life Skills, Citizenship & Leadership 4) Academic Support & Mentoring
Glenwood Springs is the largest natural hot springs pool in the world. Stretching 2 city blocks and 100 feet in width, the main pool alone holds 1,071,000 gallons of water that is 90 degrees year round. This was one of President Teddy Roosevelt s favorite stops. The legendary Doc Holiday died here at the Hotel Glenwood from Tuberculosis on November 8th, 1887. 2015 Program Highlights MOMC Celebration at The Island Apr 2015 A Year of Firsts This year was our first time to: Realize a 77% increase in supplemental funding by utilizing our 4-H and Air National Guard partnerships Obtain Geographical Information Systems Training for the LCYPC which, when employed, will set a new benchmark in business practices in the CYS industry Run a parent & youth camp with Cottonwood Institute Host a radical Month of the Military Child event involving 30 parents, 70 youth, 8 partner programs, and 20 volunteers and included a tribute ceremony, games, food, a mini-rave and last but not least-a one stop shop for summer camp sign ups for over 15 different weeks of camp to choose from Celebrate the National 4-H Science Day, Rockets to the Rescue, which combined participants from traditional 4-H cubs and Guard & Active Duty military youth Conduct our first Love & Logic parenting workshop in February 2015 from which parents departed with many parenting resources in hand Initiate a sports program for Guard youth through a partnership with one of Colorado s most prestigious collegiate institutions, Denver University Urban Ranchers Camp JULY 2015 Aurora, CO MOMC Celebration at The Island Apr 2015 Yellow Ribbon Sustainment Event FEB 2015 Aurora, CO Summer Kick-off & Graduation Celebration JUNE 2015 Aurora, CO Copper Mountain Camp JUNE 2015 Copper Mtn, CO
Built in 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge was the highest suspension bridge in the world until 2001 and remains the highest bridge in the USA. The bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet. In 1980, a world record bungee jump was performed from this platform on the show That s Incredible!. Best Practices/New Initiatives for 2015 The CYP has recruited the support and participation of every department within the Family Program s office suite. Over ten contracted Family Program staff and eight uniformed Service Members have volunteered in the program this year and are now advocates for the program to their customers and unit members. The CYP has developed an annual volunteer program that touches on topics such as: positive youth development, empathy, working with children who have special needs, suicide prevention and more. Additions to the Master Registration List continue and the list now contains over 450 customers who we advertise programs to. As a result, not one of our 35+ youth events has been cancelled to due lack of participation. CYP staff was a major contributor to the recent accreditation process and from that experience have raised the bar in several of its business practices such as volunteer coordination and administrative practices. Youth Participation 6-12yrs 13-18yrs Army Guard 304 140 Army Active 1 0 Air Guard 428 140 Air Active 60 19 Totals 793 299 Total Youth Served 1092 I want to say what an amazing job the whole team did last weekend. The reviews were excellent, and it was obvious that the kids had a great time. -CH (CPT) Matthew Sullivan Asst. Full-Time Support Chaplain Regarding September s Family Strong Bonds Event Volunteer Participation Number of Adults 114 Hours Worked 1061 Current Statutory 7 Building Community Capacity The CYP, along with an invested group of youth, adults, volunteers, civic groups, military and private organizations, have joined forces to create a statewide network of support for military youth. Colorado military youth and families have gained an exceptional amount of support through these partnerships. The Army Guard Chaplains Group provides Family Strong Bonds Events twice a year Buckley Air Force Base continues to be a key partner with whom the COARNG CYP continues to share resources, such as equipment, transportation and access to one another s customers. The Youth Advisory Council and Keystone Clubs continue to support one another's goals and objectives The Denver University s Athletic Department provides student athlete-led sports clinics for Guard Youth The Youth Program is continuously establishing new partnerships with organizations throughout the state, currently totaling over 55 partners and resources Camp Shady Brook in Deckers, CO July/Aug 2015 140th Yellow Ribbon in Keystone, CO Aug 2015
Great Sand Dunes National Park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising about 750 feet and covers ~19,000 acres. This is over half of the skiable acres of the combined resorts in the state. If you hike a minimum of 1.5 miles over the dunes, you can pitch a tent for the night to catch some serene astronomical views. Youth Leadership Development The purpose of the Colorado National Guard (CONG) Child and Youth Program (CYP) Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is to develop young leaders who can mentor other youth experiencing similar life situations, educate the community about their experiences and have fun! The YAC also advises and assists the CYP Coordinators in matters relating to Family readiness, specifically youth-related issues or concerns in order to better the opportunities and experiences of Guard youth in Colorado. There are currently 13 active council members. In 2015, the YAC focused primarily on establishing a partnership with the Colorado State University 4-H Extension. They: Helped support a local 4-H Kickoff event in Colorado Springs at the USAF Academy and participated in games, rocketry, cooking and STEM activities Attended the 4-H District Retreat Participated in the State 4-H Conference in June 2 YAC members served as teen clerks at the Colorado State Fair 1 YAC member was a teen camp counselor for Caballeros & Clovers Camp in June 2 YAC members attended the Grab the Torch Institute in Denver I think the Youth Program is an amazing opportunity to connect with people who understand you and the difficulties in your life. The adults in the program are exceptional and make connecting, adjusting, and reaching out to others seem like second nature. I love the Youth Program and all they do for military kids. -Gio Galloway Military Youth The YAC is currently working on adopting a multi-media tool that will allow them to meet monthly via their phones/laptops/tablets. This will help to break down the barriers of both distance and time and will increase opportunities for members to communicate. G-Company Yellow Ribbon in Beaver Creek, Apr 2015 To Regional Youth Symposium in WY, June 2015 Volunteers The CYP volunteers assist the CONG CYP staff in providing quality programming that focuses on resilience, mutual support, leadership and developing circles of new friends with common bonds. Events range from single day activities and workshops to overnight stays in various locations. In 2015, the CONG CYP had 114 volunteers (7 of which are statutory) totaling 1,061 hours of volunteer time. Being able to help plan and facilitate youth activities for the Colorado National Guard Child and Youth Program has been a deeply rewarding experience. It's so exciting to get to know the kids in just a few days and do everything I can to make sure they're having fun and learning how to handle the unique stresses of being a military-connected youth through engaging lessons on stress management and healthy lifestyle habits. Challenging the kids to step outside of their comfort zone and engage in unique physical and mental obstacles has also helped me become a better counselor in my day-to-day work. -Brittany Johnstone, CYP Volunteer 140th Christmas Holiday Party at Buckley AFB, Dec
Red Rocks is famous for being the premier amphitheater in the USA and informally branded as the musician s gateway to the west. 1000 s of artists have performed here over the last 100 years during the ongoing summer concert series. The stage as it is today, was finished in 1941. Additionally during summer, Film on the Rocks is where audiences can view retro movies. The stage was also the start and finish for the television show, The Amazing Race in its 2006 episode aired on CBS. WEBSITE: www.congfamilyreadiness.net www.facebook.com/congyouthprogram Text Messaging Service: 81010 @allstatey Youth programs has done a phenomenal job collaborating with Military OneSource. Together we have been able to identify new resources for one another to benefit the lives of service members and their families." -Timothy Frazier Colorado Military OneSource Consultant For More Information, Please Contact: Lance Ellis, LCYPC 720-250-1195 Lance.k.ellis2.ctr@mail.mil Nicole Sundin, CYPC 720-250-1412 Nicole.l.sundin.ctr@mail.mil 12200 East Briarwood Avenue Suite 160 Centennial, CO 80112