Tomorrow’s future leaders and volunteers are making a difference in our community today through a St. Cloud Area School District 742 program called Youth as Resources.

 

Youth as Resources (YAR) encourages youth leadership and increases student knowledge of service learning. A youth board of directors who review and approve grants from $50 to $1,000 for youth led projects operate the program, which is funded through District 742 Community Education.

 

To become a member, students need to be recommended by a teacher. 

 

This year’s Clearview YAR members are sixth graders Hazel S., Samantha B., Kayli C., Andres C. and Hailey K.

 

“It’s kind-of like student council but for the entire district,” explained Andres C. “I was on student council last year and really liked it. I wanted to be a part of things on a bigger scale this year.”

 

“I really liked student council and thought it would be fun to be a part of something bigger,” said Kayli C. “We write grants for causes and fundraisers we want to do for the community.”

 

“We talk about what we can do to help the community and the schools,” said Andres. “It’s a place where we can give money to people who need it.”

 

YAR grant application projects must have originated from youth who will also be helping to carry the projects out. The proposals must be for assisting people in need, with projects that include things such as fostering diversity and respect, empowering youth, helping with basic needs, and raising awareness and education identified as priorities.

 

One of this year’s projects was a grant to obtain benches for the Clearview Forest, written by Hailey K. with the help of sixth grade teacher Mrs. Clymer.

 

Another grant awarded this year was a “spaghetti grant” for Oak Hill School, so students had money to serve spaghetti to the community.

 

Members of Youth as Resources also work on numerous projects themselves throughout their communities. 

 

The group recently made fleece tie blankets they donated to Place of Hope, and made 36 chemo caps for Coborn’s Cancer Center to give to women who have lost their hair due to treatment.

 

“We learned how to sew and then we learned how to sew the hats,” said Andres.

 

Clearview YAR students meet once a month with members from the entire district. They raise money throughout the year to help support the organization; this year one of their fundraising activities was selling coupon books.

 

“Students learn leadership skills through Youth as Resources,” said coordinator Diane Ohmann. “They take turns being the chair, and we try to teach Roberts Rules of Order.”

 

“You learn how to be a leader,” said Kayli.

 

Originally funded through the United Way, the district began YAR on its own eight years ago. Ohman said she’s hoping to bring one of the program’s first sixth graders, who graduated last year, back to speak to the current group about how YAR has helped him succeed in college, so students can see first hand how the organization can benefit them.

 

Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. It can help improve students’ values and responsible behavior, academics and civic participation, and promotes a sense of connectedness in school and communities.