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Steamboat Springs Teen Council recognized with state award

Scott Franz
The Steamboat Springs Teen Council has received a Columbine Award from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association.
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— The Steamboat Springs Teen Council is riding some momentum.

It just spearheaded a project to build a new slackline park at Howelsen Hill.

In 2011, it worked with community health organizations to help pass an ordinance that requires retailers to get an annual license to sell non-cigarette tobacco products.



And last week, it was in the spotlight again when it was awarded a coveted Columbine Award from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association. According to the CPRA website, the award is designed to highlight best practices and creative ideas in regards to design, innovation and programming.

“It’s awesome,” Steamboat Springs City Council member and Teen Council adviser Kenny Reisman said about the award that was presented at the CPRA’s annual conference in Vail. “I think what can be lost sometimes is how much great work teens in our community are doing, and these teens exemplify there’s great stuff going on not just around the country, but in our community. They’re looking out to do the right thing.”



As the Teen Council prepares to start its sixth year of service in the community, Grand Futures Prevention Coalition Director Kate Elkins said the group’s influence is growing.

“In the first years, a lot of the meetings were about ‘Who is Teen Council and what do we want it to look like?’” said Elkins, who has been involved with the Teen Council now for four years. “Now, they have recognition from local groups and organizations. I think the word is getting out that you have this group of 18 teenagers that if you have a program you want youth to come to or want youth to engage in, they’re ready to give you feedback and advice.”

The Teen Council meets twice each month and aims to give teens a greater voice in the community.

It partners with the city of Steamboat Springs, Grand Futures, the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health and Ciao Gelato.

More recently, it launched a new Teen of the Month program.

Its meetings, held at 6:15 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the Steamboat Springs Community Center’s American Legion Room, are open to the public.

To learn more about the Teen Council, follow it on Facebook.


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