YouthQuest Highlights: June 2017

CARNIVAL EARNED BY ACCELERATED READING

The Accelerated Reading program at Freeman Elementary is designed to help kids improve their reading scores throughout the school year. The students read books and take quizzes on what they read to earn points. After hitting their goal of 1,600 points, staff from YouthQuest, Community Education and Freeman’s day school partnered together to hold the carnival for the students. The carnival included games, snow cone machines, an ice cream sundae station, dunk tank, face painting, bounce houses and an inflatable obstacle course.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

A great business mind can come at an early age, and students at Durant-Tuuri-Mott are learning the importance of handling money, budgeting and the basics of running a business. As part of the YouthQuest Business Clubs, the students use fake money they earn from student-run businesses to spend with other businesses. The students chose what businesses they wanted to start, including a lemonade stand, movie theater, jewelry store and a café. Some students even decided to start their business as professional athletes and earn their money based on their behavior.

STUDENTS VS STAFF

Physical fitness is a huge focus of what happens with YouthQuest. This month, students at Pierce Elementary faced off against staff in a dodge ball game. The students came up with their own chants, raps and step routines to represent their grade at a pep rally before the game. Later in the month, the students also traveled to Northwestern High School to participate in the track and basketball skills event.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MAGIC

People of all ages are fascinated by the world of magic and the art behind it. The Wonderful World of Magic, a club at Randels and Dye elementary schools, not only teaches the kids how to perform different magic tricks, but also how to put on a show. The students are introduced to performing in front of audiences, professionalism (in case the trick goes wrong), teamwork and the art of selling the trick. Engagement is the main focus when choosing lessons for the students.

SUMMER ON THE ROAD

The only interaction many kids have with wildlife is seeing them at a zoo, but thanks to Summer on the Road, students got up close and personal. Students visited For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum where they challenged each other on a nature scavenger hunt looking for animal tracks like deer, raccoon and rabbits. They explored different habitats such as trees, holes, nests, water and rocks. The students also learned the lifecycle and habitat of the butterfly from beginning to end in the butterfly house.

YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21^st Century Community Learning Centers.