Youth Strengthening Youth Program

The 4 day summer retreat at Singin River Ranch is the first part of YSYP that students participate in. It's usually in late June. About 50 Asian/Pacific Islander high school students and 6 adults go. The students include biracial, adopted, Pakistani, Indian and other Asian ethnic groups. They must be recommended by their school counselors as showing leadership potential. At retreat students learn, meet people, and have fun. We have had workshops on gangs, counseling skills, sexual harrassment, alcohol and drugs abuse, team work, empathy, HIV/AIDS, and heritage among other topics. Meeting people and making friends is almost impossible to avoid at camp. We have lots of get-to-know-you activities. Students often make lasting friendships at camp. Whether learning or meeting people, it's hard not to have fun at camp. We have lots of time for games, hiking, sports, or just hanging out. A typical day at camp will include two or three workshops, sports tournaments (volleyball, tennis, basketball), team-building activities, "ice-breakers" or activities to get to know other campers, games, 3 meals, and free time. On some days, there will be a campfire, dance, talent show, or skits. Regardless of what's scheduled for that day, everyone has fun and everyone is included. The retreat is paid for by a grant from the Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. If all this sounds good, and you want to join, contact your school counselor. He/she can send us a recommendation. Send them to this website if they have any questions. See you at camp!
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Winter retreat lasts about 2 days at Singin River Ranch. Winter retreat is for students who have already gone to the summer retreat and joined YSYP. It's a much smaller retreat with a different atmosphere. Winter retreat is focused more on team building and strengthening the friendships already formed throughout the year. There are workshops at winter retreat, but they are much more personalized and interactive.
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Leadership Training occurs bi-monthly at the APDC building. It's about 2 hours long and to be considered active in YSYP, you must go quite frequently. It's open to anyone who wants to come. At training we have fun with team building exercises. We also have presentations, some student-led, some with guest speakers, on topics such as depression and suicide, family, and cultural differences. We get to know each other and share our experiences, thoughts and feelings in a space where everyone's opinion is respected. Together we use all these things to learn how to help other people, and help ourselves at the same time.
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