Youth Development

LLife's Kitchen is an intense 16 week job and life skills training program for young adults (16-20) with barriers to employment. Life's Kitchen is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk young adults by building self sufficiency and independence through comprehensive food service and life skills training, placement in the food service industry, and continuing education. We help at-risk teens prepare for, find, and maintain employment and live as financially independent young adults.

Trainees that apply and are accepted into the program attend daily (Monday - Friday) for 16 weeks. The day typically runs from 8am to 4pm and includes intensive hands-on food service training, life skill classes, and employability. Trainees work with professional chef mentors to in one of three training businesses: café, catering, and contract foods. Culinary topics include: Sanitation, kitchen organization, food temperature, food storage, knife skills, volume and batch cooking, sautéing, customer service, pantry, portion sizes, food and labor costs, sauce making, and menu planning. Trainees earn their Idaho Safe Food Handler certificate and become professionally certified through the National Restaurant Association Managers ServSafe certification.

Life Skills topics include communication, problem solving and conflict management, making good decisions, financial literacy and managing money, understanding harassment, transportation, insurance, relationships, nutrition, sex and responsibility, housing, and community resources, and health.

Employability topics include resume and cover letter writing, mock job interviews, how and where to search for jobs, worker rights and responsibilities, understanding health care and benefits, harassment in the workplace, and appropriate social media use.

Trainees who did not complete their high school diploma can receive free GED tutoring, as well as GED testing at no cost. Two college credits through the College of Western Idaho are available for trainees who plan to enroll in the culinary arts at CWI.

The Ada County Sheriff's Youth Foundation helps provide role models and safe places after school for at risk youth to prevent drug alcohol use and gang activity. The Foundation offers mini grants through a simple application process for schools and non profit organizations who work with at risk youth. Grant applications can be accessed online.

In mentoring relationships with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - strong values, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and self worth.

Girls on the Run is a prevention program for 3rd-5th grade girls that encourages them to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles. Our mission is to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
Our non-profit organization is dedicated to helping girls stay out of the "Girl Box" - a place where girls are valued more for their outward appearance than their character inside. Offered each Spring and Fall for ten weeks, after-school programs are offered at locations in both Ketchum at Atkinsons' Park and Hailey at the Community Campus. The curriculum-based program addresses all aspects of a girl's development by combining training for a 3.1 mile event with lessons designed to promote physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social development. The program objective is to reduce the display of at-risk behaviors among participants by providing girls with the tools to make healthy decisions and form positive self-images.

Bible teachings in a camp environment for elementary school, middle school, and high school ages. They also have a variety of activities including, volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, archery, and horseback riding.

Idaho Youth Challenge Foundation Mission: To intervene in and reclaim the lives of sixteen-eighteen-year-old high school dropouts, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
The Idaho Youth Challenge Foundation was formed on April 22, 2011 to combat the growing epidemic of high school dropouts in Idaho. We have committed ourselves to providing these youth with a second chance at success though direct support of the Idaho National Guard Youth Challenge Program.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. In an atmosphere of fun and friendship, Girl Scouting prompts discovery, encourages leadership, and drives girls to take action in their own lives and for the benefit of the community.

The Boys & Girls Club offers programs and services to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.

Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow--all while having fun.

Our after school and summer programs are designed to give kids a safe, fun, and positive place to go develop social skills, new talents, independent thinking and cooperative behavior offers a variety of fun and engaging recreational and educational activities for members. These activities include arts and crafts, education center and computer activities, game room and a wide range of field trips. Our professionally trained staff will provide members with events and a positive safe environment.

Serving youth from 1st grade through High School through the Tiger Cubs (age 6 or 1st graders), Cub Scouts (age 7 - 10), Boy Scouts (age 10 1/2 - 18), Varsity Scouts (age 14 - 18), Venturing (Coed - ages 14 - 20). Also serve youth through Learning For Life in School Programs and career exploration (Exploring) served primarily through business or organization sponsors.
Our Mission is to help youth make ethical decisions that will affect them positively their whole life. This is done through adult association through chartered sponsors via religious, service clubs, schools, public or private organizations who own, or charter the program for the purpose of helping their organization, the adults and youth. Any boy may join at any time of the year through an existing Pack, Troop, Team or Crew.

ORE-IDA COUNCIL DISTRICTS:
CENTENNIAL DISTRICT
Serves Kuna, Nampa, Melba, Caldwell, Middleton, Marsing Homedale, Jordan Valley, Notus, Wilder

GEM STATE DISTRICT
Eagle, Star, Emmett, Sweet, Horseshoe Bend, Garden Valley, Cascade and the Meridian School District lying north of Interstate 84

OREGON TRAIL DISTRICT
SERVING THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES:
Bruneau, City of Boise, Garden City, Glenns Ferry, Grandview, Idaho City, Mountain Home and Meridian School District lying South of Interstate 84.

SEVEN RIVERS DISTRICT
SERVING THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES:
Ontario, Payette, Nyssa, Vale, New Plymouth, Parma, Adrian, Fruitland, Cambridge, Weiser, Burns, McCall, Council, New Meadows, Riggins

The Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to enhance the community’s quality of life by providing well-designed and properly maintained parks and recreational opportunities for all citizens.