YWCA Muskoka is running a summit for 120 youth in grades 9 and 10 from across Muskoka. Students have been invited from Muskoka’s four high schools, the Muskoka Alternate Education and Training Centres, Community Living, The Door in Huntsville and the Near North District School Board. The Muskoka Youth Summit is being held on Wednesday, November 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Dominic Secondary School in Bracebridge; students will be bussed their from their respective schools.
The Muskoka Youth Summit came to be through a group of youth-serving organizations around the region determined to develop opportunities for Muskoka’s youth to grow, learn and flourish. Together they created a survey that was distributed to over 250 youth to address their needs from their perspective. Using those survey results, they have created a youth summit with a primary theme of overcoming the fear of the future.
The day will begin with a guest keynote speaker Blake Fly. Blake is a motivational speaker that travels all over Canada and the US to speak with high school and post-secondary aged students on topics such as transition, developing a positive reputation, quality vs. quantity of friendships, and how to ask for help without the fear of getting made fun of. The YWCA is thrilled to have Blake attend the event to talk to youth about why high school matters and how to navigate through these years to make the fear of the future a little less intimidating.
Other themes identified in the survey included stresses around financial literacy, a need to learn how to party safely and how to help a friend in need. Workshops will be run throughout the day by the following organizations: YWCA Muskoka, The Door Huntsville, Family Connexions, YMCA Employment, Muskoka Community Foundation, CMHA Muskoka, the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit and YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka.
Ten other youth serving organizations will have booths set up at lunchtime including the Tay SOS group (Transitional Aged Youth Systems of Support), Pride Muskoka and the Metis Nation of Ontario.
Follow other initiatives for Muskoka Youth on a new social media platform — an Instagram account aimed to enhance life in Muskoka for young adults by providing information for accessible activities and programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and personal development. Follow @muskokayouth and keep an eye out for ongoing contests and prizes!
This initiative is made possible by YWCA Muskoka, Muskoka Community Foundation, Canada 150, Tay SOS, RBC, and the Muskoka Youth Advisory Committee.
YWCA Muskoka champions positive change for women and girls. For more information about this and other programs, please go on-line to www.ywcamuskoka.com or call YWCA Muskoka at 705 645 9827.
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