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Past Programs

 

Still Going On

The following programs were created with the help of Loudoun Youth Inc. While Loudoun Youth Inc. is no longer directly involved, they continue to operate and serve youth throughout the community.

Athlete-to-Athleta

An anti-gang program created to show local high school students the value of giving back while connecting them to their home school via soccer. Participants have the opportunity to play in a soccer tournament while also collecting and packaging soccer equipment to ship to fellow Latin American youth soccer enthusiasts. In 2008-2009, thousands of pieces of soccer equipment were sent to benefit youth throughout Costa Rica. For more information visit www.a-2-a.org.

Boys & Girls Club of Loudoun

Boys & Girls Club of Loudoun currently hosts three middle school, after-school sites in Loudoun County at Sterling Middle, Stone Hill Middle and Simpson Middle. Boys & Girls Club is also a partner with Loudoun Youth Inc in the After Dark gang prevention program. For more information visit www.bgcloudoun.org.

Claude Moore Park Teen Nights

After-hours youth activities held on Friday and Saturday nights at Claude Moore Park Recreation Center. Conducted by Loudoun County Parks. For more information, click here.

Creative Youth Theatre Foundation

This partnership between the Loudoun Youth Initiative and Creative Youth Theatre Foundation led to the development of “Normal”, a teen-written, teen-produced, and teen-acted play about bullying. Performances took place in 10 venues throughout Loudoun County and averaged 150 audience members for each show. For more information on current programs, click here.

Freedom High School All Night Graduation

An all-night graduation program for Freedom High School’s first graduating class. All Night Graduation provided a safe, supervised and fun celebration to keep kids off the streets and out of their cars at a time when exuberance is high and many accidents occurs. For more information, click here.

Project Discovery

A college preparatory and drop out prevention program. Project Discovery serves the economically disadvantaged who are potentially the first generation of college students in their families. Conducted by Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Youth Services division in partnership with Dominion High School in Sterling, this program stresses studying skills, test taking skills, decision-making and goal-setting. For more information, contact the Youth Services division at 703-777-0343 or prcs@loudoun.gov.

Road Dawg

A summer camp for up and coming 6th graders in the Sterling and Ashburn areas. The camps foster awareness in gang and violence resistance and team building by using interactive activities, field trips and introducing the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program. Conducted by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office. For more information, contact the Sheriff's Office at 703-777-0407.

The Vibe @ Purcellville Teen Center

Founded in 2004, the Purcellville Teen Center hosts an average of 250 students every Friday night. To find out more about the VIBE check out www.the-teen-center.com.

Teen Center at Cascades Library

A nationally recognized, innovative program for youth that is conducted every Friday night at the Cascades Library. To find out more about this award winning program, click here.

Website for Teens, by Teens

www.loudounteens.org is hosted by the Loudoun Youth Initiative. The youth driven website, which went live in 2005, reflects the vision and creativity of Loudoun County teens and incorporates their regular input in both content and direction.

Youth After School Programs (YAS)

A program offered through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services for middle school age youth across Loudoun County. Conducted by The Loudoun Youth Initiative and the Advisory Commission on Youth, this program experienced enrollment increases over 300% in the first year.

Previous Programs

The following programs are no longer operating. Many of these programs have evolved or been combined into other programs.

After Dark/Gang Prevention

Funded through a Department of Justice grant, Loudoun Youth administered a $200,000 gang prevention program in 2007-2008. The program included after-school programming and summer campes in three Loudoun County middle schools, financial support for other after-school programs at county high schools and middles schools, a Friday night soccer program at the Dulles Sports Plex and middle school teen nights. Partners included the Boys & Girls Club of Loudoun, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, Loudoun County, and the Gang Response Intervention Team (GRIT).

Battle of the Bands

An All-Star Battle of the Bands that gives high school “garage band” musicians their very own “American Idol” opportunity. Conducted in partnership with the Loudoun Foundation and the Loudoun Youth Initiative, this landmark program has awarded more than $16,000 worth of musical equipment to winning bands. Plus, winners have the opportunity to collaborate creatively with major recording artists, record their music in professional studios and appear locally on cable television. Loudoun Youth is currently hosting a similar program in conjunction with Youth Fest 2010.

Listening to Youth

The cornerstone of the Loudoun Youth Initiative, recognized in 2006 by the National Association of County Information Officers with a Superior Award – the only Superior Award received and the top honor – in its population category under “Special Projects: Public Participation”. This three-part community outreach campaign provided the input used to develop recommendations and the action plan for the Loudoun Youth Initiative. This was the precursor to Step Up Loudoun!

People In Places (PIP)

A youth designed, organized and operated program that assists young people from western Loudoun County with transportation options for approved activities. Conducted in partnership with Loudoun Youth Initiative, PIP is able to take Loudoun County teens to events, activities and programs that they might not otherwise be able to attend. This was the precursor to the Loudoun Youth bus which currently provides discounted transportation to youth organizations.

Rachel's Challenge

An anti-bullying and awareness program presented at 7 high schools in Loudoun County. Conducted by Loudoun Youth Initiative, the program is named for Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed at Columbine. Members of her family lead the program, traveling around the country speaking with high school students

Suicide Prevention

A coalition, including Dominion Hospital, CrisisLink, and Loudoun County Mental Health, to distribute information to youth regarding teen suicide and depression. The program honors the memory of Tania English and other students from the Broad Run High School community who have died by suicide.

USO

A program of the Youth Advisory Council of the Loudoun Youth Initiative. More than 60 students participated in last year’s stuffing of care packages for the troops.

Youth in Government Day

A Loudoun Youth Initiative event that includes youth from every high school in Loudoun County as well as Notre Dame Academy and the Foxcroft School. Students spend time learning directly from county government department directors and staff as well as interacting directly with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. They have the opportunity to participate in the Board of Supervisor’s business meeting.

Youth Leadership Training

Programs that Loudoun youth have, or will have, the opportunity to participate in by being members of the Youth Membership Network of the Youth Advisory Council:

  • Leadership Experience Conference
  • Leading with Assets, a Search Institute workshop
  • Girls Take Charge, organized by Learning to Lead
  • FedEx International Junior Leadership Conference
  • Youth Leadership Conference, Villanova University
  • National Youth Summit
  • James Malinchak Seminar, co-author “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul” and author of “Teenagers: Tips for Success”