Youth Programs

Goals for this fraternal year

• Sponsor a Columbian Squires group.
• Hold a free-Throw Contest
• Hold a Soccer Challange

Columbian Squires

• Sponsor a Columbian Squires group.

Youth Groups

• Volunteer your council's manpower for the operation of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters. National Big Brothers/Big Sisters organizations coordinate local bowl-a-thons to raise funds ("Bowl for Kids' Sake".
• Scouting programs for boys and girls. Consider sponsoring/ donate capital and operating funds to make scout activities more attractive.
• 4-H Club program. Members take an active part in learning and the program builds young leaders.

Athletics

• Free Throw Championship Basketball program for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14.
• Inaugurate a Knights of Columbus Junior Golf Tournament to be held annually.
• Honor outstanding students, athletic leaders and team captains. Present scholarships, trophies or certificates.
• Furnish tickets and transportation for youth groups to athletic events.
• Remember to promote some of the less publicized sports such as archery, badminton, table tennis, etc.
• Participate in the National Putt, Pitch and Drive Juniors' Contest created by Golf Events

Educational Programs

• Essay Contest on "The Responsibility of the Catholic Citizen in a Free Society
• Scholarships to members and their dependents are sponsored by the Supreme Council.
• Scholarships to Catholic high schools or a nearby college.
• Present a Knights of Columbus award for scholarship to be given at commencement ceremonies.
• Plan an "Open House" for high school students and ask recent college graduates who are members of your council to talk about their college experiences, cost of education, recommended courses, etc. Provide information on careers and scholarships.
• Sponsor a "College Fair" for prospective college students. Invite representatives of surrounding colleges.
• Hold a "Career Fair" for high school and college students.

Youth Welfare

• Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest. Ages 8 to 1 l and ages 12 to 14
• Coordinate a communitywide education program on teenage alcohol and drug abuse.
• Work to reduce teenage drunk driving. Invite a speaker from Mothers Against Drunk Driving,
• Become a foster parent.
• Participate in local civic campaigns that raise funds to help sick and disabled children. ALSAC (Aiding Leukemia Stricken Adults and Children), the fund-raising arm of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: the Muscular Dystrophy Association; the Easter Seals Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; and other childhood disease research organizations need constant fund-raising support. Contact local chapters and offer the help of your council.
• Educate adults in the local community, your parish, schools and other forums about the media's influence on children's values, attitudes and behaviors.
• Support abused and neglected children. The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program,
• Order and distribute free pamphlet, "Think You Know Something About Child Abuse".

Religous Activities

• Conduct a retreat for Catholic high school students. Conduct a weekend "Day of Recollection" for teenage students.
• Promote ecumenism by conducting tours of other churches in the area.
• Contact a local seminary and arrange for a conducted tour for the altar servers in the local parishes.
• Plan a "Mission Night" and invite high school boys and girls to attend. Arrange for representatives from the mission societies priests, brothers and sisters - to speak to the group about their mission work.
• Ask that youth groups sponsored by your council plan an annual fund-raiser for a local Catholic project, the missions, or vocations.
• Observe World Youth Day. (Established in 1985 by Pope John Paul II) observed on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (usually October).
• Promote a "Youth for Missions" project. Seek volunteers from the ranks of high school seniors to spend a vacation week working at a nearby mission.

Social Activities

• Arrange a series of film showings that are both educational and enjoyable.
• Provide youth with a well-rounded program of social activities dances, field trips, dinners.
• Sponsor a "Family Night" in the council quarters.
• Hold a reception for graduating seniors from a local school.
• Open the council home for a nonalcoholic reception after the local high schools' proms and graduation ceremonies. Provide music, food and soft drinks as well as the opportunity to stay up all night.
• Sponsor parties for young people centering around themes or activities that will appeal to the age group - pizza parties, roller skating parties, sleigh rides, etc.