Any activity ideas for at-risk youth?

Question

I would like some simple, easy to do ideas for at-risk youth. I want to think of a project idea that they can do...like crafts or something. They are 11-18 years old, so it cannot be cheesy. Does anyone have ideas that are not only fun, but have some MEANING? I am an intern at a youth service club, and I want to lead a project.


Thanks.

Answer 1

its the time of year to plant and nurture a garden

Answer 2

The best thing they need is a good role model!!! I would ask people from the community to give mini life skill seminars. How to maintenance a car, how to mow and maintain someones yard, the day in the life of an EMT, the day in the life of an youth service intern, car detailing, how to manage money or how to be a health inspector etc... Get them to think past their life of risk..and help them find a gift they can work towards. If you are creative you can always find ways to turn it into a game/competition as well. Most people will do it for free!

Answer 3

Get them together to do something for the community. Like cleaning up the local park or helping elderly with yard work or reading to younger kids at the library. Does it have to be at a specific place? (can they not go other places?) If so, have them make get well cards for other kids who are in the hospital.
A few other ideas....... have them volunteer at the spay an neuture clinic. They need people to sit and keep an eye on the animals as they are waking up from surgery. Kids learn to care that way. Or volunteer at the local animal shelter.

Answer 4

After college classes for toddlers is a huge thought. We had constructive non-eating institutions with dancing, whilst i became youthful. i ask your self what occurred to them. There are some international places that could decrease your finger off in case you stole some thing. And in case you leave a digital camera outdoors on a city bench, it is going to likely be there 3 days later. feels like an aberrant regulation, however the strictness of punishment does look to make some people extra adherent to the regulation. As for my own own section, there are huge-unfold thefts interior of a 10 mile radius. i'd desire to basically desire for the regulation enforcers, and city, county and state governments that they'd discover the money to punish, rehabilitate and help those people. a great canine is sweet. (LOL)

Answer 5

I run a program for homeless youth between the ages of 5-17 and here are some of our most popular projects.

Designing a t-shirt or tie dye

Soap making

Wood craft paining, you can buy pre-made shapes and boxes to paint.

We also do trivial challenges, and we break the kids into teams, and they really enjoy it, but we do reward prizes to everyone.

Freeze dance is also a favorite, I download new but edited hip hop songs to dance to, then when the music stops they have to freeze, and we keep eliminating until we have one winner, then we start all over.

The kids love being creative, and like to express themselves through art, movement, and music, maybe it will work for your kids too....Good luck!!!

Answer 6

You've got lots of good suggestions already, these may cross over a bit and are all art forms I personally do so feel free to email me with questions:

Tie-dye = use procion mx dyes, you can get them in small quantities at craft stores or in larger quantities at a much better price directly from Jaquard, they have a website. These dyes are cold water dyes, so there's no boiling liquids and you can dye anything made of 100% cotton, I get lots of the stuff I dye at thrift stores. A fun and different way to use this dye is to start with a colored shirt, use a 1bleach to 3water solution on the pleated/twisted/bunched/tied shirt to bleach out parts then dye it back up. The kids will LOVE to wear shirts they have made and to give them to friends and family.

Polymer clay - lots of colors, bakes hard in the oven, you can make jewelry, refrig magnets, small sculptures and decorative items. I got the young guys invovled by showthing them how to make skull beads and bone beads. There are plenty of books out on various projects for this.

Stained glass mosaic - You'll need pistol grip cutter, breaking pliers, mosaic nippers (the kind with two carbide wheels, not the tile kind) plus glass (maybe local stained glass artists will donate scraps??) plus some long bent nose tweezers, several sets of carbide wheel mosaic nippers and some 'crafters pick' glue and you can have them glue small pieces of stained glass into patterns on flat glass sheets (start with about 10x10 - your local window store may donate small pieces) or thrift store tumblers or vases, let the glue dry til it's completely clear and grout it - beautiful decorative objects. I demo this tecnique at our county fair every year and have crowds around me the whole time...

Quilting - using thrift store clothes cut up can be really fun and it's really cheap. Bright prints and plaids, use all 100% cotton. A great way to teach recycling and reuse.

Broken plate or tile mosaic, best to be done outside...flower pots and stepping stones make great bases, use regular tile grout to finish off - be sure everyone is wearing latex gloves to prevent nicks and cuts...

Folk painting on old furniture, get something sturdy at a thrift store, yard sale or from around the house, sand the finish a bit so it will take paint and paint it with bright and wild colors...

None of this stuff is cheesy, and I do all of it so if you have questions feel free to email...

Answer 7

You can never go wrong with horses. Most at-risk youths have never been exposed to them. The horses show them a world they didn't knew existed. Most of the youths will probably never ride again, but they will all know that their world is bigger than they thought. And they ALL have fun!

Answer 8

One project you could do is have them cut up magazines and make a collage. I have my junior high students do an outline of their head, title it, "What's in Your Head?" and have them build the collage inside the head. They cut out things that make them who they are, words that express their deepest feelings. It is poster sized so the head is large. I always have them do at least 1/3 of it in words. It is very theraputic for them to express what maybe they don't show the worlds. They usually all come out beautifully and they are quite proud of them! God bless you for your desire to help them!

Answer 9

Flag Football or Basketball. You dont need to be good at both but it helps build teamwork and helps kids make friends.

Answer 10

they say these types of children should be exposed to nature and wildlife. how about a day at the zoo or the park. or they can go camping for 1 night.