Rural Youth Gains Ground

WAITSBURG – From pumpkin producers to pool plungers, Rural Youth Enrichment Services (RYES) is intent on giving local kids a helping hand.

RYES is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2009, with the goal of providing a wide variety of activities to youth of all ages, with a primary emphasis on entrepreneurial activities, self-sustaining gardening, green technologies, and bringing arts and music into the community.

"The original view was that we would provide the programs ourselves, but that has morphed as we realized that you burn people out. Now we're letting people come to us," said RYES board member Kathy Carpenter.

Since its inception, RYES has grown to serve as an umbrella organization to four independent groups focusing on music, gardening, art and recreation.

Kate Hockersmith leads the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP) which provides kids with bluegrass lessons and performance opportunities. Kids use acoustic instruments to participate in music lessons, play together in bluegrass jams, perform at community events, and travel to bluegrass music festivals.

Gayle Broom teaches kids about gardening through one of the most dramatic gardening projects possible – growing giant pumpkins. Through the Giant Pumpkin Project, kids participate in every aspect of farming involved in growing a tiny seed into a gigantic gourd to compete in the fair. Over time, the program could expand to include organic and container gardening.

Larry Johnson is leading community members in raising funds for the Waitsburg City Pool through the Friends of the Pool (FOP) program. The group recently raised over $1,200 through a pie baking contest held during the Pioneer Fall Festival. The FOP works towards pool improvements, enrichment activities, scholarships for lifeguard certifications, summer pass scholarships, and more.

Suze Wood's Open Studio Art for Kids will provide an opportunity for kids to explore a variety of art mediums and learn art fundamentals through fun, relaxed classes, community events, and open houses.

"From pencils to printmaking, art can help kids develop creative problem-solving skills, improve fine motor skills, and give them another method of communicating with their world," Wood said.

"We're really excited that Rural Youth is growing," Carpenter said. "More people are coming to understand that if you have a kid focus, that's what we're all about. We're trying to bring a wide variety of activities to kids with all kinds of different interests.

"We live in an arty community. We want kids who really enjoy art to be able to get out there and improve. It's not really a part of the schools – the focus has not been on that – and we'd like to see kids get introduced to that.

"We're also looking at recreational-type activities, which would include the pool," she added. "Things that keep kids busy, for the kids that are looking for something different. The school is good with sports, and they have knowledge bowl and youth & government, but there is still a need that we would like to fill."

RYES provides insurance and covers administrative expenses like copying and printing to groups organized under its umbrella. Those groups may then apply for grants, though RYES, thereby avoiding the cost and red-tape involved in obtaining 501(c)3 non-profit status on their own.

Carpenter said RYES is happy to provide direction and assistance in seeking out and applying for grant funds. The board encourages anyone interested in working with and providing opportunities for kids to get involved. RYES board members are: Ann Walsh, Kate Hockersmith, Deb Callahan, and Carpenter.

"We're encouraging people who enjoy working with kids and that have a particular skill they'd like to share to contact us," Carpenter said.

RYES has a new website at http://www.ruralyes.org where readers can learn more about each project, buy tickets to fundraisers (such as the upcoming bluegrass concert), and contact program providers or RYES board members. Individuals may also make donations to RYES or directly to a specific program through the website.

To learn more about RYES, to donate or volunteer, or to buy event tickets, visit the RYES website or contact any one of the RYES board members or project leaders. Kathy Carpenter can be reached at 337-6131.