One of the core strategies in the OJJDP model is to consistently provide opportunities for youth to connect, engage, and improve their community. We provide our youth with multiple opportunities to get off the streets and into positive relationships and community development. Activities include boxing training, morning track running, group meals, basketball teams, field trips, water sports, hiking, prevention activities, job skill development and employment trainings, volunteer opportunities, and driver's education.

Burton Snowboard's Chill Foundation offers windsurfing lessons to our youth every summer. Chill seeks to inspire youth to overcome challenges and obstacles through board sports. For more information visit www.chill.org.

The Boys & Girls Club has previously offered weekly basketball practice, where we had dinner together and discussed personal growth and leadership.

The Boys & Girls Club offers hiking trips in the Summer and Fall for young women. This year, a group of ladies overnight hiked with officers from Police Activities League (PAL) for an opportunity to build positive relationships with law enforcement.

Historically, the SCTF has offered a boxing program where young people who have successfully exited the Juvenile Justice System could learn about self-defense and promote positive forms of physical expression. The SCTF is currently working on offering this program once more in partnership with PAL.

We help youth write letters to those they love, especially to other youth who have exited the program or are currently attending the Washington Youth Academy.

This year, the Maplewood Neighborhood Association organized an event where they spruced up the exterior of one of their neighborhood houses. Some of our youth participated in painting, weeding, lawn mowing, gutter cleaning and de-mossing the roof.

With our help, many of our youth have successfully completed drivers education courses and have, or are on their way to receiving their license.

Each month, we host a family dinner night where the diverse youth and their families can break bread together and learn about a new designated topic, including accessing services, raising bi-cultural youth, how to buy a car, and more.

Recently the SCTF helped one of our youth get dental care compensation in a time of need. We provide all types of services to the youth in our program.

In the past, our program coordinator has teamed up with groups of young people who enjoy brisk morning jogging at a local high school track. They would run just as the sun is coming up and aim for personal growth and achievement. These runs are currently on hold.

For youth who are interested, we have also helped provide and cover the cost of Tattoo Removal procedures.

SCTF promotes mentor opportunities for our youth to build positive adult relationships. Mentors offer guidance, support, and sometimes serve to simply check-in with our kids.