Fun-filled nights for teens just got that much better thanks to a $2,000 donation to the Twisted Tuesdays program.
It鈥檚 the third year TD Bank has supported the weekly activity nights for teens organized by Community Outreach Services (COS), however this year the banking giant partnered with the Jasper Rotary Club to double the donation.
鈥淵oung people are our future, and at TD, we believe that every young person should have the opportunities and support they need to reach their full potential,鈥� Jasper branch manager Gregory Bezaire said. 鈥淎 positive future for young people is interlinked with their learning and skills development; whether through reading, music, arts or theatre 鈥� and we hope to reach an even larger number of teens in the community this summer.鈥�
Anna DeClercq, who runs the weekly program for 12 to 17 year olds, said she hoped the support will translate into more teens taking part.
鈥淚 used to run the program on a total shoestring of whatever COS would allow me to push the budget for the summer,鈥� DeClercq said as some of the older teens in the park ran through the second annual ad-hoc pizza box ollie competition, July 4. 鈥淚t was kind of based on how many kids showed up and if you鈥檙e getting good engagement people are more willing to put money into events.鈥�
DeClercq said it all started when some teens expressed that they were having a little more trouble engaging socially in the summer. Many aren鈥檛 old enough for a summer job yet, and not everyone can afford the volleyball, basketball and hockey camps that come to Jasper.
鈥淲e wanted to create something that was free, easily accessible and gave kids different experiences all summer, and to connect them to local resources, like the skate park, and to get to know other adult role models in the community.鈥�
Future Tuesdays promise a night of chocolate making next week on July 11, an Amazing Race-themed challenge around town a week later and a Taco Tuesday and Nerf war to close out July.
August will bring paint and ice cream night, pastapoalooza with local dietician Kirsten Oilund, stand up paddleboarding at Lake Edith, barista tips and an outdoor movie evening to finish the summer on Aug. 29.
鈥淲e also want to promote screen-free,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want kids not to be video gaming all summer. Banff and other communities are really working toward engaging youth in activities that don鈥檛 involve their screens.鈥�
For more information about the free events find Anna COS DeClercq on Facebook.
Craig Gilbert
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