New News:
Crawford County recently updated their County Recreation Plan. They contacted stakeholders and organizations from around the county to ensure that needs of all of the different groups were addressed in the document. In addition to the obvious advantages of local groups brainstorming together, and communicating with each other, this written plan can provide valuable documentation when groups and organizations apply for grant funds.
Some of the individuals that have been attending the County Recreation Plan stakeholders meetings represent youth organizations, and others are there to share the concerns of older residents. Many of these attendees are the same people who were invited to participate in the Crawford PLAYs meetings. We decided that the advantages of merging these two groups outweighed the disadvantages, so we are now a sub-committee of that group. We will continue to maintain this youth-focused website, and hopefully in the future have the funds to provide a stipend to a new youth webmaster. If you have any insights to offer either of these groups, please plan to attend the next meeting, or share your opinions through <info@crawfordplays.com>.
The Chamber of Commerce website <http://www.graylingchamber.com/id13.html> will continue to have events posted for all age groups.
Our Name:
When our group was first getting started, we just referred to ourselves as "Youth Serving Organizations." Soon we decided that we needed a name and chose "Caring for Crawford Kids." Many people thought that we were a day care group, so our title finally became Crawford PLAYs, with the PLAY acronym standing for Positive Leisure Activities for Youth.
Organizational History:
In late 2007, a small group of youth workers had a conversation about the infinite possibilities if we all communicated better and worked together more often in the interest of our youth. Possible outcomes could be to create a common calendar, increase collaboration and find ways to work together on projects that could be of benefit to the youth that we serve. Resources are diminishing and we are all trying to do more with less. There might be times when resources could be pooled and programs could become more effective. They invited adults and youth from many groups and organizations to have a conversation about working together. These conversations became monthly meetings and the possibilities are only beginning to take shape.
The first major task the group decided on was to create a survey to help local organizations know what kind of activities and opportunities would be of interest to our youth. One thousand sixty-five surveys were completed and tabulated. A summary, or full copy of the results may be obtained from Crawford County MSU Extension. The top five activity choices reported:
1)
Public Swimming Pool
2) Sports
Complex/Gym
3)
Open Gym
4) Water Sports
5)
Dance
Having a busy schedule was listed as the number one reason to not participate in local activities, followed by lack of personal interest and the cost of the activity.
Students reported their parent/guardian would support their choices of activities. Many youth and parents reported that they would be willing to assist with activities.
More information about this survey is available here.
The following organizations have contributed their time, ideas or assistance with this venture:
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
City of Grayling
County of Crawford
Crawford AuSable School District
Crawford County Collaborative Body
Crawford County Department of Human Services
Crawford County Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative
Crawford County Probate Court
Crawford County United Way
Crawford/Roscommon Child Protection Council
Crawford County Library
Early On Council
Grayling Cooperative Pre-school
Grayling High School Student Senate
Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce
Grayling Parks & Recreation
Grayling Recreation Authority
Grayling Youth Booster Club
Kenquest House
MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development
MSU Extension Building Strong Families Program
NEMCSA Head Start
Nicole Persing Photography
River House, Inc.
Please send comments, suggestions, corrections and updates to info@crawfordPLAYs.com
CrawfordPLAYs.com
is designed and maintained by Crawford County
MSU Extension
Sponsored Links:
Crawford AuSable School District
