Sponsored content It takes a village to help kids succeed in school and life hool and summer programs benefit kids from all backgrounds O From making homemade Pop-Tarts to elf defense elasses to groupskádays to isits from poppies, the children and teens nrolled in Aspen Youth Center programa re experiencing what being akid is all about Aspen Youth Center offers these free programss toall children in 4th to 12th grade, from Aspen to Parachute and beyond. During the school year, Aspen Youth Center is open Monday throogh Friday from 10a.m. to6pm, dingwhich two structared progras-such as cook ing, art, STEM, agility training, dodgeball game rooes tounaments and more- and free play time are offered. During the ner, the hours are 9a.m.to 6p.m. amd lude 5 daily staff-led programs plus free play t It doesnt matter where you live or if you come every day or only a few times a year, all are weloome and it's free for everyone said Aspen Youth Center Executive Director COMMON RISKS, REGARDLESS OF UNDS Regardless of a kid's background, Idham- mar said all youth ane 'inherently at risk Oftentimes a lack offunds andjor lack of Ruby Clare, and Ronan hang out at Aspen Youth Center almost every single day BENEFITS FORTHEENTIRE COMMUNITY Patiiation in afterschool prograns islives outside of their families who care oreen tosee the potential in every vouth supervision are the reasons that lids on staff are passionate about their work. Local youth need to know there are people in their lives Idhanmar said. "My goal has always we want to make a change in these kids nvolved in activities they often are bored, and boredom can lead to all kinds ofbadociated with all kinds of positive statis choloes them, she said and make sure that we doeverything in our tics. These programs can improve things such as students' arademie performane, ch and every day we are trying to makeato se then live up tothat potentisal dlassroom behavior, school attendance, difference, sometimeslng,sometimes small, and beyond. The existence of programs like ours elays the early use or akcohol, dru adacademic aspirations, physical activity and igarettes It also redaces junvenile delin dietary habits, accoeding to the lsrageney aency and recidivism and teen pregnan Woeking Group on Youth Programs (youth. Idhammsar said. Also, all kids ean facea ariety of trauma from death in the family to divorce to bullying, these things cross racial, religjous, and fnancial lines. Kids the summeetime, Aspen Youth Center are resilient if they have mentors, familyhas resilency and STEM (science, techne and rele models who help them learn how engineering and mathematics curric- o be rsilient. We are bere for the kids to FREE SERVICES n 2010, Aspen Youth Center staff and board dedicated programming to be free. FOR ALL gow), a collaboration of 2o federal agencies that promotes positive outcomes for youth.Idhammar said there's a common misperception that a donor paid for the pro- grams to be forever free. The truth is, we had a donor give the money to be free to all kids in 2010, just for that year, she said. Every year since, we have had to find the money through ulum) programs, as well as space for kids elebrate their triumphs and help the todo hoenework and read. These programs vari ous fundraising efforts. We have to fundralse approximately $320 for one youth to attend AYC for one year With more than 2,250 participants, this is no small feat. While some of the sum er outdoor programs have a cost, kids are never turned away due to financial can help redbace the summer achievement ap, whoch is a learning loss that is common The Amercan Drog and Alcohol Survey in during the summer for kids who dont 19s7 is what ickef the initial fundraiscontiooe to learn between ing efforts that eventually formed the Aspen Youth Cester That survey of sth thrh Afterschool and summer programs also sehool graders revealed that drug and alcohol provide community and e 12th graders eevealed that drug and aleobol sage by local youth were significanty igher than state, regional and natsna provide community and ecoomikc benehits, We work really hard to have our budget stretch each year and spend S.79 of ev- ery $1 on our programs," Idhammar said. "Our two big events each year include Family Feud Aspen, a hlarious game show benefit, and Aether Games, where Paentscncerned about their children's afterschool eare miss an average ofeight days of work per year, and this decreased Today, kids face a variety ofissues Vaping s increasingly beconming a bigger problen in terms of substance issues,"she said However, having a place to be when they are out of school helps reduce vaping and other issoes such as bullying worker productivity costs businesses toadults compete in classic field day games and the kids are the refs. s300 billion annually, according to a 2006 For more information about the Famly Feud fundralser, which is Friday, Feb. 8 at Hotel Jerome, visit aspenyouthcenter.org. The event is sold out, but donation study by Brandels University. All of these reasons are just part of why Idhammar andall ofAspen Youth Centers can be made directly to Aspen Youth Center via their website How Does it Work? Your donation of $100 or more qualifies you for a 50% Colorado Child Care Tax Credit. All donations are federally Your Gift will keep US FOREVER FREE! Aspen Youth Center is supporhive ploce where youth connect, learn& grow during their out of school hours for FREE ASPEN YOUTH CENTER