Summer activities planned

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The Boyle Street Co-op is seeking donations to help them help inner city youth through their Summer Youth Rec Program, which will run through July and August and provide weekly activities for Edmonton's underprivileged youth.

"They're kind of lacking with some of these opportunities, so we're trying to provide opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise be able to attend," said Eithan Carter, youth rec co-ordinator for the Boyle Street Co-op youth unit. "We're kind of limited to the kinds of things we can do because we don't have any resources right now. Financially we're just trying to get things done in kindness and any donations we can get. That's kind of the hard part but we're coming along."

The Boyle Street Co-op is a community agency that provides support for people living in poverty and the donations they receive will determine how successful the summer program will be.

The events for July are already planned and will include a trip to a park to participate in traditional crafts and activities and also trips to the Provincial Museum of Alberta, the Odyssium and to Lac Ste. Anne, all of which come at no cost to the youth. Other activities they would like to offer include horseback riding, rock climbing and canoeing.

"We're trying to get some healthy activities going because a lot of the youth have different addictions problems or social problems or they're at home or just being on the street," said Carter.

"It's kind of a chance just to get them out of the inner city and out of the nasty environment and just have them out there to do something that's a little bit more positive."

Young people can drop by the Boyle Street Co-op and ask questions about the activities, or drop by and just hang out. The co-op will have a movie night every Friday. Carter said that both the summer program and movie nights are well attended.

"They can come here and we'll have snacks and stuff and they can play pool and watch a movie and just hang out on Friday afternoons. It seems to be really good; you see them everyday and a lot of them just keep coming back, so I think they enjoy it," said Carter. "It's sort of a nice setting. Someplace for them to hang out and we try to have things for them to do. I think there's a real good response."