"Sprinkling the Seedlings"
The County recognizes its youth as an important link to our future.  Today’s youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. Participation in the community outreach process provides a valuable learning and growth opportunity for our kids while providing the adults in a decision-making role with additional, valuable perspectives.

The youth activities in this process focus on identifying the “special places” in our communities. “Special places” can be any number of places that define a community’s uniqueness and values. They can be places that are special to one individual or small group, or they can be places held sacred by the entire community. Examples of special places could include:

• Historic buildings and landmarks
• Sites of significant events
• Beautiful views
• Local gathering spots
• Parks or other natural areas
• Schools, churches, libraries, community centers or other centers of community life
• Favorite places to be alone
• Favorite places to be with family
• Favorite places to be with friends

Identifying special places in your community helps to focus in on the places that need to be protected or preserved, the places that capture “quality of life” for a community, and the places that bind the community together. It is these types of places that make a community unique and attract outsiders to visit or live and do business there.

Click here to download a copy of the packet of youth activities, which includes the Special Places Map, the Special Places Brochure, and the Special Places Questionnaire.  While the time periods when these events occurred have passed, the map and brochure activities can provide at any time an opportunity for kids to think about their communities.