Helping you get involved in your community

For nearly 3 1/2 years, Young Saint Louis.com has been telling about the interesting things St. Louis area kids do. This fall, we're setting up a new "early warning" system so you can get personally involved in those activities you enjoy.

For instance, the Challenger Education Center won't begin its public space exploration sessions until November. But, your teacher or parents ought to make reservations now.

In the September edition, YSL.com will provide a continuous link to the Challenger website. That way, you can make your reservations right from your computer.

And, as the November opening nears, YSL.com will provide easy-to-access opening updates. Also, you'll be able to follow the addition of future events as they are added.

That direct Challenger link will be listed on our expanded Resources page.

In addition, we'll be including links to many other programs you might like to join.

Now, the Resources page lists individual links that were included in articles from past YSL.com editions.

But, starting Sept. 1, we'll include continuous logo links to many other interesting programs and activities. Those links will be there each month, even if there isn't a news article about the program in that edition.

There'll be listings in areas as: Sports/Outdoors, Government, Music, Science, Careers, Environment, Citizenship, Finances, History. Hobbies, Health, Reading and Profiles.

For instance, in the History category, there will be continuous access to the Lewis&Clark bicentennial celebration. In this August edition, there is a full story on Lewis&Clark, with some individual links.

Next month, there probably won't be a specific story. But, you might like to keep track of developments. When you open the September edition of YSL.com, you can go to the Resources area and find those website links.

In the Careers area, YSL.com will provide a continuous link to the Pathfinder website. That tells of a University of Missouri-St. Louis program that helps elementary and middle school students begin planning for college and a career.

You might like to suggest your school get involved in that program. And you'll be able to tell your teacher just how to do that by showing the YSL.com link to Pathfinder.

In the Hobbies area, we will be listing the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. Last year, we ran a story just before the spring festival so you and your family could attend.

But, maybe this year, you'd like to be a storyteller on stage rather than in the audience.

By linking to the festival website early this fall, you'll be able to find a mentor to help you create your own act. Then, maybe next spring, you'll be performing at the festival, rather than just listening.

Here are a few of the programs and activities that will be linked continuously, starting in September. (We'll also plan to keep adding other opportunities for you in future months.)

Sports/Outdoors:

Read, Right, Run, a year-long kids program tied to the 2004 Women's Olympic Marathon Trials; and Conservation Frontiers, an awards program where kids volunteer to help create better outdoor opportunities in St. Louis.

Environment:

Choose Environmental Excellence, Gateway Region (CEEGR), a program that helps schools and individuals participate in clean earth and water projects.

Citizenship:

Citizenship Education Clearing House (CECH), a program that helps school kids develop improvement projects in their own communities.

Music:

Young Heroes in Music, a program honoring outstanding young African-American musicians. It's sponsored by KFUO Radio, Classic 99.

Finances:

The Stock Market Game, a program where kids compete to find out who are the best investors. Their stock market portfolios are compared to other teams across Missouri.

Individual Achievement:

Young Achievers of St. Louis, this program annually honors St. Louis area kids for outstanding school, church and community activities; Do the Right Thing, this program honors individuals who provide outstanding community service.