Kuu-us Crisis Service is offering free youth activities in Port Alberni throughout the summer with a new program called West Coast Wave Makers.
The program features something different nearly every night of the week, from cultural Monday nights to LGBTQ Wednesdays, workshops, field trips, hikes, games, paint nights and other activities.
“It’s a place to come, free food, lifeskills workshops, special activities,” said Elia Nicholson-Nave, executive director of Kuu-us Crisis Line Services. “There’s field trips, prizes, game nights.
“It’s for youth to know they can have fun without drugs or alcohol. It’s a gap in service for youth,” Nicholson-Nave said.
“We’re getting too many calls about youth addictions, too much social media, and not enough hanging out with each other in a mindful way.”
The program has been in the works since February 2017, and is modeled on ideas that youth came up with. The ADSS Leadership class put together a survey for youth in grades 8–12 asking things like what they would like to see in the program and what would make them come back. The outcome of the survey helped develop what the program looks like.
“This was strictly designed by youth,” Nicholson-Nave said.
“We’re going to be doing local and out-of-town field trips,” said Amanda Stevenson, one of the Kuu-us staff members facilitating Wave Makers activities along with Celine Sauve and Angela Webster. Transportation for field trips has been donated by Alberni Island Shuttle. Numerous other local businesses have also made donations for this program.
“We are very excited for this to be starting,” Stevenson said.
Wave Makers events in two different age groups (11–14 years and 15–18 years) are happening every night of the week except Tuesdays.
For more information or to participate, call Kuu-us at 250-723-2040 or e-mail kuu-usyouthproject@shaw.ca.