Outdoor outlet : Adventure Club offers members fun alternatives to trouble
Posted on Sunday, June 22, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/66427/
Like other fishermen retelling their feats, Jason Smith recounted his recent catch.
The 15-year-old from Fayetteville said he caught the biggest catfish, weighing 2 1 / 2 pounds, during a catfish derby and fish fry in May on Kraft Lake in Fayetteville.
“ I like to fish a lot, ” he said.
Fishing was his first activity after Smith was court-ordered to participate in the Washington County Outdoor Adventure Club for juveniles in a Family in Need of Services (FINS ) case.
His father said the club has given his son an outlet, providing a positive experience.
“ I feel really comfortable with the people that run this program, ” he said. “ He lights up when he comes to this. ”
Caleb Smith, 14, of Huntsville also was ordered by the judge to be part of the club in a FINS case.
“ It gives him a place to go and things to do, ” said his father, Eddie Smith.
The club is a little more than a year old, and it is the result of the Washington County Juvenile Court System teaming with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOFNOD ) program.
HOFNOD has been running for about 15 years in more than 30 states, and this is the first time it has been formed in an organization outside of a school setting in Arkansas. It allows youth involved with the juvenile court system to gain a sense of ownership in the community while building self-esteem and bonding with their families through outdoor recreation, organizers claim. Activities such as fishing, hiking and ropes courses are used to teach positive life skills, such as problem-solving, goalsetting and teamwork.
The biggest advantage of the program is that juveniles get out “ in a positive environment, learning some positive, constructive ways to have fun, ” Kris Roy, diversion coordinator for the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, said. He said there are also a lot of drug prevention efforts.
The club normally meets about once a month and locations vary each time. Roy said the program differs from other diversion programs in its recreational aspect.
“ We get people out, and it’s all interactive. It’s all recreational, therapeutic, and it allows them to spend time with their families as well, which can be difficult for some families today, ” he said.
Siblings and parents are encouraged to attend.
The program keeps youth busy and shows families that there are structured activities they can do with their kids that are not expensive, Jean E. Mack, executive director of the Washington County Detention Center, said.
Earlier this month, club members met at Lake Wedington to learn how to canoe and kayak. A trip to Bob Kidd Lake is set for August, and scheduled events this fall include The L. A. N. D. — a ropes course in Fayetteville — and a trip to Devil’s Den State Park.
Any youth involved with the Washington County Juvenile Court may participate, including those involved in diversion programs, probation and FINS cases.
“ We’ve reconnected families. That’s our biggest thing, I think, is connecting the families and letting them be a part of all of it, ” Mack said.
Youth cannot participate in the program if they are in the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center.
Some kids who have been involved with the program have had to return to the juvenile detention center, Mack said, “ but I have seen kids striving more that are in the program to be able to keep coming back to the program. ”
Many participants are never sent to the juvenile detention center, and this program aims to keep it that way.
Mack said the community has been supportive of HOFNOD, particularly the Fayetteville City Council in waiving lake fees at lakes Sequoyah, Wedington and Fayetteville.
“ It’s amazing how we’ve been able to plan ahead now because of all the assistance that we’re getting from people, ” Mack said. “ Through this, we have had so many contacts with other agencies that do things with kids. ”
Camp War Eagle contacted the program and set up a day for HOFNOD kids to participate in archery and fishing, she said. It has provided applications for kids to attend summer camp.
Mack said the youth in the program give back to the community through activities such as clean ups. The program is working with the city of Fayetteville to try to have an assigned area, such as a park, to keep clean.
Misael Presas, 17, Springdale, is participating in the adventure club as part of a diversion.
“ It’s helped me realize there are other things to do out there than going around messing with people’s property, ” he said.
The program costs $ 5, which covers a one-year membership. It also includes food at each meeting as well as door prizes and a T-shirt.
Adam Loomis, intake officer at the Juvenile Detention Center, said the long-term goal of club participation is to keep juveniles out of adult court.
Roy agreed.
“ That’s the overall goal of juvenile court, ” he said.
Youth who are ordered to the program are required to attend six meetings.
“ We get with the families. If they need a ride, or anything like that, we do everything we can to help them get to our activity, ” Mack said.
Philicia Davis, 16, Prairie Grove, has been involved with the club for one and a half years. She has remained involved even though she is no longer required to participate as part of probation. She said she likes the outdoors.
“ It’s helped me a lot, ” she said.