The St. Vrain Youth as Resources (YAR) board is a group of teenagers dedicated to improving their community.

A nationwide program with only one Colorado board, YAR's current St. Vrain board members are Caitlin Dennis, Alaina Ferris, Max Horowitz-Burdick, Susanna Hovestol, Mikah Jaschke, Ryan Kennedy, Megan Schoenbauer, Claudia Velazquez, Amy Vue, Peter Wessels and Karen Wolf.

They have worked on a variety of projects, including stenciling neighborhood storm drains with pollutant warnings for the Watershed Approach to Stream Health program. They have mentored and taught computer skills to youth at Casa de la Esperanza, a migrant housing development. They also have volunteered on behalf of Habitat for Humanity and Rhythm on the River.

In addition, YAR provides grants of up to $500 for youth to plan and carry out service projects. Youth groups or individuals come to YAR, write a grant proposal, and go through an interview process. Then the YAR board decides if the project is worthwhile and serves the community.

Recently, YAR sponsored Skyline High School's after-prom event and a battle of the bands at Club Breakdown. A YAR grant paid for supplies for a tae kwon do class for Casa de la Esperanza youth, and supplied dresses for a local ethnic dance team.
"Another grant helped a school-approved underground student newspaper buy printer cartridges," YAR board member Alaina Ferris said.

Board members can pursue personal projects through YAR like Megan Schoenbauer did with Bake for Goodness' Sake. "Using our high school's home ec labs, volunteers baked items to donate to the OUR Center," she said.

"They're awesome," YAR adviser Susan Zimmerman said of the group, "and a great group of people that take on more than can possibly be accomplished even with all the things they have going on. I look forward to doing things with this group."

For information about volunteering with Youth as Resources or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.