Teen Overnight Canoe Trip
A bold canoe excursion on the Wisconsin River is an excellent way for young adults entering grades 6 to 12 to enjoy the outdoors and meet like "mariners" from all over the state. The trip is offered through the IPRA Teen Committee.

This year the trip takes place August 12 and 13, for two days and one overnight. Beginning in Sauk City, Wis. (one hour northwest of Madison), this 21-mile stretch of the Wisconsin River ends in Spring Green. Teens are fully outfitted with canoes, paddles, life jackets, directions and shuttle service provided by Blackhawk River Runs. Activities include canoeing, swimming, camping, cooking over an open fire, watching the sunset and group games.

Safety is key. All participants are required to wear life jackets while in the canoe or swimming in the river. The participant to chaperone ratio is a minimum of 10 to one. A lead canoe sets the pace of the paddling and a sweep canoe ensures that no one gets left behind. This experience is a safe, fun and affordable ($55 per participant; $26 for one-day trips for SRA participants) way to offer a canoe adventure trip for teens all across Illinois. Agencies must register with IPRA by July 10, 1998.

Contact Keith Graunke, Woodstock Recreation Department, 815.339.4363.

Overnight Dude Ranch
Another successful statewide teen event is the Teen Overnight at the White Pines Dude Ranch in Oregon, Ill. This year the event was held May 15 to 17 with 57 participants from 13 park districts, SRAs and recreation departments.

The ranch features 100 horses and more than 200 acres of beautiful woods, pastures and horse trails. The event begins on a Friday evening with dorm check-in, supper, orientation and a hay ride. Activities throughout the weekend include riding, hiking, fossil hunts, orienteering, swimming, country line dancing, bingo, camp fires and camp songs.

Contact Angela Ferrentino, Elmhurst Park District, 630.993.8915.

Teen All-Night Ski Trip
Many park districts have discovered the popularity of ski and snowboard trips to nearby slopes such as Chestnut Mountain in Galena, Ill., Villa Olivia in Elgin, Ill., or sites in Wisconsin and Iowa. Several slopes, such as Grand Geneva, Chestnut Mountain and Alpine Valley, offer free ski and/or board lessons with their rentals. In addition, the resort might provide discount group lessons which can be arranged at other areas.

A suggested minimum grade level is fourth grade, unless a student is accompanied by an adult. Initially your numbers may require cooperating with nearby park districts or area schools for one or more trip offerings. IPRA can provide a model waiver and medical release form.

The next statewide All-Nite Teen Ski will he held at Wilmot Mountain on February 5 and 6, 1999, from midnight to 6 a.m. Sponsored by the IPRA Teen Committee, the event is open to grades six through twelve. Alternative activities offered include large-screen movies and a deejay in the juice bar.

Contact Mary Defiglia, Glen Ellyn Park District, 630.858.2462.

The IPRA Teen Committee was established to provide support and educational opportunities for recreation supervisors who work with teens as well as statewide activities and events for the teen age group. Their experience can benefit your agency as you plan programs for this difficult and precious age group.

For example, in 1998, the IPRA Teen Committee identified the following issues/needs facing teens: divorce, family relationships, gangs, drugs, peer groups, money needs, places to go, lack of supervised activities and positive role models, lack of parental supervision, peer pressure, single parent homes, pregnancy, little respect for authority; need a source of group/togetherness, gender specific issues, sexual activity; conflict resolution and increased outside influence.

The committee also addressed issues/needs facing teen programmers, such as: teen involvement, money, finding teen interests, marketing programs, staffing/sufficient role models, cost-effective programming, program variety in offerings, retention, outside influences, commitment from staff and teens, new ideas-changing interests and facilities.

In addition, plans for two new and exciting events for teens are underway: a snowboarding trip held at Raging Buffalo in Algonquin in December of 1998; and a Do It All Sports trip in Palatine on April 23, 1999. A possible third trip is a roller blading lock-in at Navy Pier in the spring of 1999.

Any IPRA member can join the Teen Committee. For monthly meeting dates or additional information, contact Lorene Marcinek, committee chairman and recreation supervisor for the City of McHenry Parks and Recreation Department, 815.363.2160.