Youth groups

From the numerous sporting-event related groups around the Valley to youth groups at churches and religious organizations to after-school groups such as the Boys and Girls Club, Mat-Su has got youth activities covered.

For children seeking to be involved in sports-related activities, choices abound. The Mat-Su Youth Football, Hockey, Soccer and Basketball groups are going strong in the Valley, along with Pop Warner Football and youth Little League organizations.

During every season, children can find a sport to play and learn skills such as hand-eye coordination, teamwork and personal discipline.

If your child prefers competitive activities but isn't a fan of team sports, Mat-Su is home to a large population of Boy and Girl Scouts, and has a fairly large 4-H base. These groups focus on life skills and can be tailored to fit the desires of nearly any child, whether the interest is in building small engines or fashion design.

For more information about 4-H groups in the Valley, contact the Alaska Cooperative Extension 4-H program at 745-3360. For more information about Boy Scouts, call 357-9547. The Girl Scouts Susitna Council can be reached by calling 376-3822.

With the Valley's large youth population, local churches and religious organizations have made an effort to reach out to youth in our community also.

Nearly every church has a youth group or teen program, and many are cultivating involved community members by raising funds to travel to third-world countries and help build needed community structures.

Valley churches are plentiful -- for more information about church groups in the Valley, check yellow pages listings.

Nonprofit after-school organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club have been growing strong in the Valley in the past few years.

The club recently moved into a new 8,600 square-foot facility on Bogard Road and offers several in-school programs for elementary and middle-school students. Some of the services provided include after-school tutoring, craft classes and game rooms, not to mention summer programs that include field trips, career days and other learning tools.

For more information about programs offered, contact the Boys and Girls Club at 746-7577.

More specific programs that can help youth develop skills and knowledge that may be useful in their future career are also available. Many of these programs can be identified by talking to school guidance counselors or teachers.

Mat-Su Youth Court is one example of these programs. The group teaches students about the Alaska court system and works to curb youth criminal activity by having first-time misdemeanor offenders be represented, prosecuted, judged and sentenced by their peers.

The court handled 166 cases last year, sentencing offenders to community work service, letters of apology, jail visits and financial restitution for crimes committed.

For more information about Youth Court, call 373-9045.