Young people should be able to shape the world around them and build the future they deserve. As adults, we work as allies and collaborate on youth-led efforts by encouraging and holding space for their work. Local groups of teens and pre-teens are re-defining what it means to be a voice for change.
Youth Got This
The Regional Youth Got This Summit was created to help give youth the power to confidently be themselves, share their voices, make a difference, and make the right choices. The goal of the summit is to provide a safe, fun, and positive environment in which youth can discover their own personal leadership strengths. This youth summit is an opportunity for youth across the five-county region to participate in teambuilding activities, learn communication skills, work to discover their leadership strengths, and build a mental library of healthy coping skills.
Concrete
Prevention Posse
Concrete Prevention Posse (CPP) is a youth coalition that brings 7th–12th grade students together to work towards improving their community. Students meet weekly to develop ways of reaching their fellow peers with messages supporting mental and physical wellbeing; promoting alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention education; and providing programming that offers connection. CPP members care deeply about their peers, school, and community and work hard to create the positive changes they want to see. A few of their accomplishments include bringing guest speakers to present at school events, taking part in youth leadership conferences (even going all the way to Texas!), creating a student resource guide, effectively improving awareness of school and community resources, holding regular substance use prevention activities like Red Ribbon Week, and hosting fun jam nights!
How members feel
about being part of CPP
Peer to Peer
Youth Cannabis and Tobacco Prevention
Peer 2 Peer is a youth cannabis and tobacco prevention program created by United General staff to train high school and middle school students as peer educators for their community. Groups of students wanting to become peer educators will attend a free and fun all-day training alongside their adult advisor. During this training, students will be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and presentation skills to teach younger peers and community members about topics such as prevention science, media literacy, stress and anxiety coping mechanisms, the effects of cannabis and tobacco, and much more! Since its creation in the 2019-2020 school year, the Peer 2 Peer program has successfully trained over 200 students and their adult advisors from across the 5-County North Sound Region. If you’re interested in empowering the youth in your community to become peer educators, please contact us for upcoming dates and information!
CAMP Club
Cubs Advocating for Mental Health and Prevention (CAMP) is open to high school age students in the Sedro-Woolley area. Like RISE, the adult group in Sedro-Woolley, CAMP is an active and collaborative club that welcomes everyone to the table. CAMP is involved on social media and reaches out to their followers and fellow students with positive messages and ideas for self-care, substance free fun events and mental health promotion! Since starting in 2016 (formerly known as WISH club), the group has learned about prevention science, facilitated activities for RISE, performed assessments of neighborhood stores on tobacco, vape, and alcohol advertising, and created activities for Sedro-Woolley High School students to practice positive skills.
Youth United: Varsity in Volunteerism
Varsity in Volunteerism (ViV) encourages and recognizes high school students to give back to their communities through service. Participating youth can earn a Varsity letter by joining their school’s ViV club and completing at least 100 hours of volunteer service. A partnership of United General District 304 and the United Way of Skagit County, the Youth United: ViV program is available for students to participate in at all six public high schools in Skagit County.
Want to know more about how ViV works? Check out the website here.