Post on 09-May-2018
Utah National Guard
Youth Program
A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 2
UTNG KIDS ARE
THE BEST OF THE BEST
U T A H A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 2
m i s s i o n
Provide quality, wholesome programming focused on life skills, critical thinking, team work and healthy lifestyle choices, that sustain and enhance UTNG military youth’s lives before,
during and after deployments.
P r o g r a m g o a l s
1. Build confident and resilient youth and teens through quality programming.
2. Connect with partner organizations to expand our programs to geographically dispersed youth and families.
3. Be available to youth at all times, including after school and week ends.
4. Provide diverse programming that promotes critical thinking and life skills.
5. Provide leadership and mentoring opportunities.
FLL Robotics—Regional and state competition paricipant
4H-Try Team Mentoring program participant
Mom and Me classes
After school cooking and sewing clubs
3 Youth Councils serving central and southern Utah
Merit Badge Courses—Robotics, Environmental Science
After school science classes
Youth Camps
Regional and State Youth Symposiums
Morocco / Utah Cultural Youth Exchange
2012 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Y O U T H C A M P S
180 youth participated in UTNG youth camps in 2012, learning
rappelling, team building, science and crafts. Youth also sleep in
barracks, eat in mess halls and participate in D&C and forma-
tions. Friendships are continued and new ones made at this an-
nual event. Many youth have attended camp for 8 yrs. Youth
Counselors are from our state youth council and this provides
excellent mentoring opportunities.
“ Youth camp has been a huge part of mY life. i look forward to
it every year. Seeing my friends from all over the state is my
favorite thing.” Jessica, 18, st. george ut
UTNG CYP and 4H partnered to start a robotic program a few years
ago. Starting with basic “We-Do” lego robots and culminating with a
First Lego League Mindstorm Lego team in 2012. The “GUARD
BOTS” met weekly from September to January to complete many
tasks for their Regional qualifier. Robotics is only part of this
competition. Core values and research play a heavy role in scoring.
Team Guard Bots learned early that team work was the key to success.
The Guard Bots scored the highest team total at Regional’s to
advance to the State FLL event. At the state competition they
placed in the top 20 out of 50 teams. After the teams finish at
Regional’s, LCYPC Kelly Barnes had to pay up on his bet and his
head was shaved.
GO GUARD BOTS !!
“what do I like about youth camp ?
Its just plain AWESOME.” Walter,
11, Vernal,UT
Caleb Allen, 10, Lindon, Ut said “ I liked
the crafts and lunch, but I will never
forget the rubber chicken.”
The Rubber Chicken is the most prestigious and coveted award given at UTNG
youth camps. The chicken is given to the best group of the day to display on their
guidons. The camper of the week is given this award for a job well done.
R O B O T I C S
J U N I O R M A S T E R G A R D E N I N G
Meeting weekly from May through August, youth participated in the UTNG JMG club. Planting the garden and watching it
grow is just a small part of what happens in this program. Youth were introduced to all aspects of gardening including plant
growth and development, ecology, landscape, career exploration, insects and disease. Program was held at the Youth Center
at AGCW, where dedicated space was provided for our garden. Youth mentors also donated many volunteer hours to this
project. Youth were able to harvest vegetables and herbs throughout the year. We even grew worms !!
A f t e r s c h o o l c l u b s
With deployments and many “two working parent” homes, we have focused on teaching our youth to
become self sufficient. Our bi-monthly cooking club provides these tools through understanding how to
cook with easy recipes, as well as making those meals healthy. Our bi-monthly sewing club teaches how to
sew on a button, iron and sew many different fun, useful items. Our science classes teach kids how to solve
problems and use their “thinking” caps. Empowering or youth with fundamental life skills, critical thinking
and leadership opportunities is and will continue to be the focus of our program development.
“Utah State University Extension 4-H has partnered with Utah National Guard Youth Programs for a
number of years to utilize the strengths of both organizations to better serve the military youth we serve. We have found them to be extremely responsive to any requests and willing partners. We fre-quently work together on classes, camps and events that serve military youth and families. Without their assistance the 4-H Military programs would not be effective.”
Dave Francis, 4H Military Liaison, OMK Director
C o m m u n i t y C a p a c i t y a n d v o l u n t e e r s
VOLUNTEERS
152 volunteers donated 1680 hours to UTNG CYP. Parents, youth, VSO’s and
outside organizations assisted us with anything from building robots to assisting
at our annual Trunk or treat event. Our success is based on their participation.
PARTNERS
Del Taco of Utah again generously donated $20,000 to the UTNG Charitable Trust, ear marked
for the CYP. Total donation over $100,000 over 5 years.
WADSWORTH CONSTRUCTION continued their donations to the UTNG Charitable Trust
earmarked for the CYP
Part of these donations are used to support our Moroccan / Utah Cultural Youth Exchange
4H and OMK partnered as well as sponsored stand alone events that benefited the UTNG CYP.
4H sponsored a week long “Lights, camera, cooking” program. They provided robot kits and
programming to our geographically dispersed population. Our relationship with 4H is the most
valuable asset we have. They served 625 youth in 2012
MCEC held a LINN-1 in St. George Ut, where the 222 FA had just returned from deployment
American Red Cross donated supplies for merit badge classes and camp backpacks
Utah State University provided interns to assist with a week long science camp
Americorp Vista volunteered at camps and Yellow Ribbon events
Y O U T H A N D T E E N S
2267 Air and Army National Guard Youth were served by the UTNG CYP in 2012
52 of these are involved in monthly youth council meetings across the state.
13 Yellow Ribbon events and briefings. 621 ARNG and ANG youth attended these
events. 203 volunteers assisted with YRP.
Y o u c a n f i n d u s o n t h e w e b
Like us on Facebook !
Search UTNGKIDS or utngkids@gmail.com
You can also find us @ www.ut.ngb.army.mil/family
KELLY BARNES - LEAD YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
17800 S. CAMP WILLIAMS RD #8050 RIVERTON, UTAH 84065
801 878-5796 OFFICE 801 878-5581 FAX
801 879-3676 CELL 801 716-9239 CELL
Jon.k.barnes.ctr@us.army.mil
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
CONNIE PACKER - YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
17800 S. CAMP WILLIAMS RD # 8050 RIVERTON, UT 84065
801 878-5331 Office 801 878-5581 Fax
801 879-3612 Cell 801 369-3676 Cell
Conniegene.packer.ctr@us.army.mil
“The Utah National Guard Kids program has excellent summer camps, amazing monthly youth group
meetings, and provides a large variety of specialized activities and camps throughout the year. There is
free counseling available to the youth, and a caring atmosphere that allows the kids to feel like they
belong. The program director and his coworkers obviously have a great desire to serve the youth to the
best of their ability, and devote a lot of extra time and effort for our children. The impact that the overall
program has had on our family, and specifically our children has been profound. We count the UTNG
Kids Program as an enormous blessing in our lives. “
Kassie Leavitt, wife of SSG Jeff Leavitt, 144th AMSC