SERVICES
YOUNG HIKERS PROGRAM
The Young Hikers Program aspires to
introduce youth (under the age of 29) to the joys and benefits
of hiking, through a variety of mediums such as Youth Hike
Leader Certification, Youth Risk Management Training and
youth volunteer opportunities.
The Young Hikers Program promotes hiking as a way of improving health, gaining
valuable leadership experience, fulfilling school academic requirements, and
earning fulfilling awards.
Why is there a Need for Such a Program?
Recently, news reports have declared that Ontario 's children are in trouble.
Child obesity in Ontario is on the rise and leads to other fundamental concerns
including the increasing cost of health care and the decrease of healthy
child development (physical and mental). Compounded with this discovery are
the recent announcements of recreation facility closures in Ontario including
swimming pools, rinks, and outdoor education centres. The onus for child
recreation falls on the family in the after school hours that continue to
dwindle as work demands increase. Many families cannot afford potentially
expensive organized sports such as hockey, soccer and martial arts. Physical
activity and recreation which was once a healthy part of a child's school
day, is becoming less and less a priority in Ontario schools. The time for
non-profit organizations to assist the youth in Ontario is now. Programs,
such as the Young Hiker Program, offer a community solution to dwindling
budgets and lack of services for Ontario 's youth.
Statistics indicate that:
-
Over half of children and youth
aged 5-17 are not active enough for optimal growth and
development. Canadian
Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
-
Physical
activity improves self-esteem, enhances psychological
well-being, overcomes boredom and provides positive leisure
pursuits. Canadian
Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
-
64% of Canadians are not
active enough to reap the health benefits of a physical lifestyle. Canadian
Medical Association Journal 163(11).
-
$2.1 billion, or about 2.5%
of the total direct health care costs, can be attributed to physical
inactivity. Canadian Medical Association Journal 163(11).
-
Almost
half of all schools (46%) do not have a policy to provide daily
physical education classes to students. Canadian Fitness
and Lifestyle Institute 2001.
-
63% of Canadian children
meet minimal standards for physical activity. Heart
and Stroke Foundation of Canada 1998.
- From 1981 to 1996
the prevalence of overweight increased by 92% in boys and by
57% in girls. Moreover, during that same time frame, the prevalence
of obesity has more than doubled in both boys and girls. Canadian
Medical Association Journal.
Goals
of the Program
-
To introduce hiking to youth as
an easy, fun, and low cost recreational activity
-
To
get youth interested in hiking as a way to explore
nature, to get physically fit, and to learn leadership
skills
-
To provide youth based service providers
with valuable resources and certifications that assist
them in the development and delivery of quality youth
programs and lessons
-
To provide local hiking and trail
clubs with a program that can be implemented in their
local community
-
To raise the profile of hiking in
Ontario by preparing youth for memberships in hiking
clubs
-
To raise the profile of Hike Ontario
as the source for hiking support, education and representation
in Ontario
-
To assist government in their goals
of improving youth health in Ontario
-
To create a self-sustaining
program fuelled by youth for youth.
|
Hike Ontario
's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) In order to achieve our goal of developing
and maintaining a province wide network of trained and well
prepared young hikers in Ontario, Hike Ontario has established
a Youth Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council provides advice to Hike Ontario on various
issues such as program planning and priorities. The input of
the Advisory Council is a fundamental key in ensuring that
the Young Hiker Program activities and policy recommendations
respond to the needs of youth under the age of 30.
If you are aged 12 to 29 and are interested
in becoming a member of the Advisory Committee, or would like
more information on this fantastic opportunity, please contact:
Kathleen Ketchum, YHP Program Coordinator
kv.ketchum@sympatico.ca
Fax:
613-961-7940
Phone: 613-961-7939
Opportunities for Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Volunteers:
- Leadership and skills development: on-going training and
support
- Safe Hiking Certificate Course - at provincial and/or regional
orientation
- Youth Advisory Council (YAC) training
(advocacy, media skills, group skills…) - at provincial
and/or regional orientation
- Youth Hike Leader Certificate Course –after
1 year of volunteer service
- On-going skills development geared to needs of YAC members
(provincial meetings/conferences once/year, regional meetings
4 times/year, on-line and tele-conferences weekly)
- Support of Provincial Coordinator, Regional Adult Advisors
and experienced youth mentors
Leadership and skills opportunities:
- facilitating (YAC meetings, training
sessions, information sessions in the community…)
- action planning (all aspects of the Young Hikers Program
and related activities)
- leading/mentoring other youth (as
YAC members, in hiking and walking activities, in their
learning and fun…)
- working with a group of like-minded youth from across the
province (provincial meetings/conferences once/year, regional
meetings 4 times/year, on-line and teleconferences weekly)
- graphic design and publishing, website
development, video production (produce media releases,
design the website, edit/enhance activity resource kits…)
- policy-making (inform policy of Hike Ontario as it relates
to youth, impact provincial and regional trails management
and youth health and recreation issues)
- sharing your valued ideas, skills and experience
Skills transfer opportunities:
- acquired skills and experience sought after by employers,
award and scholarship programs, community agencies seeking
experienced volunteers
- competencies gained will impact on a wide array of education,
career and life skills needs
|
