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

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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