Spring Programming – 2023

Starting 2023 Strong!

We are excited for yet another year of programming! Youth Odyssey has grown exponentially over the past few years, and this includes both program and staff expansion. To get an idea of how much we want to expand programming this year, we started at 48 total programs in 2022. By the end of 2023, Youth Odyssey plans to have a grand total of 96 total programs!

Spring Programming

Housing

Youth Odyssey began 2023 with our housing programs. These programs took place at both the Sacky Apartments (Leeward Homes) and La Armada Apartments. Vincent Jimenez and Kristen Jeffrey led the program at Leeward, while Erica Salinas (our newest facilitator!), EJ Tellez, and Hannah Keyes led the La Armada program. Erica and EJ are also leading a program at LULAC West in Annaville. We had a good turnout from these programs and had the pleasure of taking youth from the housing programs on a day trip to our ropes course, where they enjoyed both our high and low elements.

Schools

Starting Monday, February 6th, Youth Odyssey will begin its CCISD and GPISD after school programming. We will have a total of five facilitators at various middle schools. These middle schools include Robert Driscoll, Cunningham at South Park, Carl O. Hamlin, Tom Browne, Sterling B. Martin, Marvin Baker, and Gregory-Portland. The youth that participate at these schools will have the opportunity to take a day trip and camping trip with us, and we are always excited to take youth on an adventure they will never forget! These opportunities allow for true, experiential education and create true bonds between old and new friends.

H.U.T.

In addition to our after school programming, we are excited to announce that we will continue programming for our home school group, also known as H.U.T. It has been a couple of years since we have been able to hold a Youth Odyssey program with H.U.T., and we are stoked! H.U.T. will begin February 2nd and continue until April 11th, and will alternate Thursdays. Youth Odyssey will run programming for H.U.T. a little differently than in the past. Some programs will include a field trip to a park or preserve so youth can experience learning about the biological world with our staff naturalist, Vincent.

Spring Break 2023

Youth Odyssey will be taking an amazing trip to Big Bend Ranch State Park from March 12 through March 17th, but will be venturing to, and staying at Seminole Canyon State Park on March 16th. Big Bend Ranch State Park is one of the most breathtaking parks in Texas, and is adjacent to Big Bend National Park. There is so much to do! Stargazing at an International Dark Sky Park, bouldering, hiking, attending ranger programs, and more! We stayed at Big Bend National Park in late January of 2022, so we are ecstatic to be back in the area. West Texas is a fantastic place that everyone needs to see and enjoy.

Seminole Canyon offers fantastic views of the Rio Grande, petroglyphs, and archeological sites that are an important part of our state’s cultural and natural history. This will be the first time in a long time that we will be visiting this park, so we are excited to take this journey of discovery with youth to experience something amazing.

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Written by Vincent Jimenez