New after-school activity list is coming

Are you looking for a new, after-school activity? Do you have a special interest and want to meet kids with the same interest?

A new community resource just for kids is coming and may help you!

Starting in October, a new searchable website will list dozens of organizations that offer "safe and healthy activities for youth." The listings also will promote special-interest events.

The target audience is kids 5 to 17 years old.

The website will be called Happenings ForYouth. When it goes on-line, it will have a website address of www.happenings4youth.org.

The listings will be for organizations and events in 12 Missouri and Illinois counties surrounding St. Louis.

The Missouri counties will be St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles, Warren and Lincoln along with the City of St. Louis. The Illinois counties will be Monroe, St. Clair, Madison, Jersey and Clinton.

Robin Granger is the project coordinator for St. Louis For Kids. That's the local group that is the lead coordinator for the Happenings For Youth website. She said organizations throughout the 12-county area are being invited to list their kids' activities and events.

She said a staff member is making calls of invitation. However, she urged any group with a special kids activity or event to call in and request listing information. She can be contacted at (314) 241-0011 or at grangerr@stlouis4kids.org.

"The Happenings For Youth listings are free and open to community-based, faith-based, school-based and company-based programs," she said.

She added there will be no fee or charge to the organization to put their information on the Happenings For Youth website.

A public kickoff ceremony for the new listing will be held Thursday, Oct. 20. That coincides with the kickoff for the national Lights On program. The Lights On promotion brings national attention to efforts to expand safe non-school activities for kids.

To keep track on the progress toward the large Missouri-Illinois activities website, visit www.stlouis4kids.org. Ms. Granger said a printed directory of the after-school activities also will be available later in the year.

Planning for this comprehensive listing of youth activities began in October, 2004.

St. Louis for Kids started by contacting 40 organizations and groups to get a feeling for what was now being offered for kids in the St. Louis metro area.

Then, STLCalender.com was recruited to help develop the area-wide website. Although the listing will include 12 counties, the website actually will be divided into 15 geographical areas. That's because St. Louis County will be divided into mid-county, west-county, north-county and south-county.

That will help kids better organize their search for a fun activity within an area close to where they live, Ms. Granger said.

One of the reasons for the website is to make sure St. Louis area kids can find things to do after school that "help reduce substance abuse." The listings will be for organizations that "strengthen community anti-drug coalitions and reinforce academic skills."

Some of the programs already signed up involve big organizations such as the St. Louis Science Center and BJC Health System's Outreach and Youth Development program.

However, Ms. Granger stressed that smaller, one-activity groups also are invited to list.

She said some organizations might have programs that charge a fee or have some eligibility requirements. In many cases, kids from one part of the St. Louis area might find an activity that like in another geographic area.

The Happenings For Kids program is dedicated to helping every area kid find some worthwhile activity that he or she would like to do.

Young Saint Louis.com will continue to keep you updated on progress in the Happenings For Kids website. YSL.com also plans to include a direct link to the Happenings For Youth website from our Resources listing.

That listing will start with the October edition and can be accessed from the Resources tab at the top of the YSL.com home page.