Teen Advisory Board
 

Community Youth Leadership Program Teen Summit - Begins October 17, 2009
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arrow PURPOSE OF BOARD

Act as teen advisors to the Surprise City Council and the CRS staff on matters directly related to youth programming open space and new facility development. Further, the Surprise Teen Advisory Board is to serve as facilitator in identifying programming opportunities for Surprise youth, while promoting wellness, school and neighborhood pride, character development and civic leadership.
arrow COMPOSITION

Voting membership shall include (11) ninth grade through twelfth grade students enrolled in public, private or charter schools, or participants in home schooling or other educational venues that equate to ninth through twelfth grade study levels, with the goal of equal representation for all grade levels. All voting members shall be residents of the City of Surprise and remain so during their term of office.

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arrow TERM OF APPOINTMENT

Members shall be appointed to the lesser of either four (4) year terms or until such time as they graduate from high school. Members shall serve until their successor is duly appointed.
arrow DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Board will make recommendations to the City Council and CRS staff on matters directly related to youth programming, recreation, recreation facilities, special events, city policies and issues related to youth and to service the long term good of all the citizens of Surprise. Board members are expected to study the agenda packet before each meeting and to educate themselves on City related issues. Members of the board will facilitate teen activities including a city government day and a teen summit.
arrow MEETINGS

Regular meetings for the Teen Advisory Board will be held on the second Wednesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Community and Recreation Services office and are facilitated by the Community and Recreation Services staff. Additional meetings/events may be added.

The City of Surprise Teen Advisory Board consists of (11) eleven High School students:

Nick Haney, Shannon Sylvester, Victoria Poe, Jacob St. Clair, Gabrielle Chilton, Ike Onyeador,
Alexandra Rivera, Alyx Kleinsteiber, Hobart Wingard III, Lauren Wilson and Gabriela Manriquez

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2008/2009 TEEN ADVISORY BOARD

Master Planning:
The board attended a master planning session presented by Economic Development Staff to assist with the city's village component of the General Plan. The Advisory Board members received alrge maps of Village 3 along with instructions on how to develop a long term vision for the city's village. Staff presented that all villages will have a village committee, comprised of village residents, who will provide official recommendations to the city on village goals, policies and long range plans. The board's recommendations will be among those taken into consideration. Staff described Village 3 as consisting of approximately 21 square miles and located on the southwest corner of the Surprise planning area. this village is bounded on the southwest by the White Tank Mountain Regional Park.

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The Village 3 is physically defined by its foothills, the McMicken Dam, the Beardsley Canal and desert vegetation. this area also has a variety of wildlife including mule deer, javelina, kit fox, desert tortoise and some mountain lions. 
   
Teen Volunteer Program:
This program has developed to over 60 volunteers who help at City events and programs such as Surprise Party, 4th of July, Spring Eggstravaganza, Tennis events, Adaptive Recreation and Teen events.




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Develop Leadership Skills of Board Members - Arizona League of Cities Conference Youth Program:
Two members of the Teen Advisory Board attended this youth program with approximately 60 other teens from around the state. The youth took part in sessions and activities connected with Teen Commissions and Boards from City of Scottsdale, chandler, Sierra Vista, Tolleson, Litchfield Park, Casa Grande and Glendale.


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Surprise Career Enrichment Program Teen Summit - January 3, 2009:
The Teen Advisory Board either served as a room host or attended the Summit. Over 60 youth from Surprise and Dysart Unified School District came together at Willow Canyon High School for a one day opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in career exploration. The Summit featured fun, interactive and educational breakout sessions, an exciting guest speaker and lunch. From the Summit, approximately 25 youth were selected for a youth leadership program which consisted of an educational program, community project and competition.

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Work with CRS on Developing Teen Web Page for City Website:
Another goal of the Teen Advisory Board is to make recommendations on new teen programs and how to promote them. The board made recommendations on a teen web page for the city, a teen newsletter and assisted with the lunch program which goes out to the high schools during the school year.

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Host and Promote Signature Teen Programs:
    *The Hallow "teen"  Dance and Haunted House were held on October 31. The haunted house was open extended days/hours on the day before and the day after Halloween. 190 people went throught the Haunted House and 55 teens attended the dance. Total of $515 in revenue was brought in. 
    *The City of Surprise Community and Recreation Services Department hosted its 3rd Annual Teen Talent Show at Willow Canyon High School on February 19th. 14 different acts competed in several categories such as singing, performing, instrumental and otehr for an audience of over 150. New this year was the additions of an instrumental category and an audience choice category. Winners received free recording time in the Sierra Montana Recording studio and a gift card to Best Buy. 		 photo
   
Provide input on new programming for budget FY 2010:
They developed a program called 5th Quarter. The program is held after home football games at Sierra Montana Recreation Center. It included food, dancing, video game tournaments, dodge ball and entry into the teen lounge.

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