Summer Youth Connection Keeps Huntington Teens Busy

More than 200 teenagers are enjoying active evenings by taking part in Summer Youth Connection, a five-evening-a-week program the Town of Huntington is presenting with Suffolk County in collaboration with a variety of corporate and not-for-profit partners and volunteers.

The free program, which is held at Walt Whitman High School from 5 to 9 p.m., is open to all but is aimed specifically to provide educational and recreational activity for youth in Huntington Station free of charge. Activities range from basketball and golf to creative writing and photography and robotics.

Summer Youth Connection is the brainchild of Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards, who modeled it after a similar program Suffolk County ran last summer in Brentwood. Councilwoman Edwards enlisted Suffolk County as a partner, and lined up the many sponsors, including: the Huntington and South Huntington School Districts; the Huntington Opportunity Resource Center Leadership Council; the Suffolk County Police Department; the Huntington Manor Fire Department; the Huntington Community First Aid Squad; the Huntington Ecumenical Ministers Alliance; Tri-CYA; REACH-CYA; David W Parker Lodge #72 and Chapter 64, Order of the Eastern Star; and the Huntington branch of the NAACP.

Corporate sponsors include the Park Shore Science Camp Academy, which brought its robotics program; Integrity Golf, which provided sets of golf clubs; and Canon U.S.A., which donated cameras for the photography class.

“It is important to keep our young people engaged, challenged and active during the period when school is not in session.” Councilwoman Edwards said. “I thank all of our partners, sponsors and volunteers for helping us provide educational and recreational opportunities for them and channel their energy in positive ways.”

The program runs from July 13 to August 21. The sessions run from 5-7 p.m. for middle school students and from 7-9 p.m. for high school students, Tuesday through Friday. On Monday, the program is tailored to special needs students.