STRAIGHT AHEAD COLORADO HOLDS FALL CAMP ON LMYSC CAMPUS
Golden, CO
For Immediate Release
Straight Ahead Colorado held its annual “Amazing Adventure” Camp at the Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center Campus on Saturday September 29, 2007. Nearly 75 of the top residents on the campus participated in the day. Youth enjoyed a day very much out of the normal routine on the LMYSC campus. Daytime activities included an inflatable climbing wall, inflatable jousting, 2 inflatable jumping castles, volleyball and softball. As the activities were being explained to one 17-year-old youth, he said with a large smile “You mean I get to be a kid today?”” And kids they were! All of the participating youth had a great time and were on their best behavior. For the first time at a special event there no “time outs” in the day. Youth earned the privilege to attend by have a minimum of five weeks of positive behavior in a row.
In addition to the games and activities, youth and staff were treated to lunch from Dickie’s BBQ. The youth liked the food so much that they were lined up for “seconds” before everyone had been though the line the first time. All youth were given a souvenir “Amazing Adventure” T-shirt to remember the day. The evening ended with Praise and Worship music from a local youth pastor and the personal story of Howard Waller, Co-founder of Straight Ahead Colorado. Howard shared his own story, and how his life has changed with God.
Straight Ahead Colorado has worked with the LMYSC campus for 10 years to provide spiritual activities, camps, mentoring and Bible studies. For Connie and Howard Waller, Founders of Straight Ahead Colorado, “reaching high-risk youth with the Word of God is our passion.” Straight Ahead has also taken LMYSC youth on 5-day backpacking, horseback riding and skiing trips. “Straight Ahead has been a great partner to LMYSC and provides opportunities to our youth that we could not otherwise provide,” states LMYSC Director Anders Jacobsen. Straight Ahead still maintains relationship with LMYSC graduates and has supported them in their transition back in the community. All expenses for their camps and their other events are covered entirely by donations to Straight Ahead Colorado. Youth gave Connie and Howard several standing ovations at the end of the night to say “thanks” for a great day. For information regarding Straight Ahead Colorado, please contact Howard and Connie Waller at 720.283.0808 or at www.straightaheadcolorado.org.
LMYSC serves as the maximum-security treatment facility for the Division of Youth Corrections in Colorado. It houses 214 adjudicated males ages 15-20. For more information regarding LMYSC, please contact Anders Jacobsen, LMYSC Director at 303-273-2607.