Oneida County Youth Bureau Kept Children Active & Engaged with Busy Summer of ProgrammingView

It was a busy summer for the Oneida County Youth Bureau, which once again provided a variety of free and engaging programs designed to keep local children active, creative and connected to their communities.

From sidewalks filled with chalk masterpieces to a day of rides and activities at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair and a morning focused on health and fitness at Mohawk Valley Community College, hundreds of young people participated in the Youth Bureau's annual summer programming.

"These events are about giving our young people opportunities to have fun, try something new and build positive connections with their peers and their community," said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. "The Youth Bureau and its many community partners work hard throughout the year to provide safe, enriching experiences for children and families, and this summer was another great example of that commitment. I commend Kevin Green and the entire Youth Bureau team for another successful summer and thank all of the organizations, volunteers and families who helped make these events possible."

Sidewalk Art Contest

The Youth Bureau kicked off its summer programming with its 16th Annual Sidewalk Art Contest on July 16, bringing together 66 young artists from throughout Oneida County for a day of creativity and imagination.

Hosted in partnership with Munson, the contest featured four age divisions - ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18 - with each participant creating an original chalk masterpiece on an individual sidewalk panel. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each age division.

Munson also provided each participant with a pair of sunglasses commemorating the event.

"The Sidewalk Art Contest is a great example of how the Youth Bureau creates opportunities for young people to express themselves, showcase their talents and simply enjoy being kids," said Youth Bureau Director Kevin Green. "Seeing so many young artists come together and turn the sidewalks into a display of creativity and color is always one of the highlights of our summer."

Youth Opportunity Day at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair

On July 30, the Youth Bureau partnered with the Boonville-Oneida County Fair and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County to host another successful Youth Opportunity Day, providing local youth with a free day at the fair.

The event welcomed 614 youth and 156 chaperones, with 16 agencies represented, including Oneida County 4-H.

Throughout the day, children had the opportunity to enjoy carnival rides, educational games and activities, grandstand shows and 4-H horse, dairy and poultry shows. Each participating child also received a $20 food voucher booklet, with chaperones receiving food voucher booklets as well.

The event was made possible through the sponsorship of the Fair Board, County Executive Picente and the Oneida County Board of Legislators.

"Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make Youth Opportunity Day such an amazing experience for our youth," said Hawa Peters of Utica Royalties, one of the participating youth organizations. "The event was well-organized, welcoming, and created such a positive environment for youth to have fun, connect with others and make lasting memories."

Youth Fun & Fitness Run

The summer programming continued August 12 with the 9th Annual Youth Fun & Fitness Run, held at Mohawk Valley Community College's Utica campus outdoor track.

The event brought together 55 children ages 4-13 for age-appropriate races and activities promoting physical activity, healthy choices and overall well-being.

The Youth Fun & Fitness Run is organized through a partnership between the Oneida County Youth Bureau and the Oneida County Health Department and includes educational activities and presentations focused on helping children make healthy choices.

"Events like the Youth Fun & Fitness Run are a great way to make healthy living fun and engaging for our children," said Dr. Daniel Gilmore, Director of the Oneida County Health Department. "By combining physical activity with education and hands-on activities, we are helping young people build healthy habits that can stay with them for a lifetime. We are grateful to the Youth Bureau, our community partners and all of the volunteers who helped make this event a fun and meaningful experience for the children and families who participated."

The event was sponsored by the Oneida County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Foundation and supported by MVCC event staff, the Utica Children's Museum Mobile Museum, the Boilermaker and the Salvation Army.

Educational presenters included the Oneida County Health Department, Oneida County Mental Health Department, Oneida County Sheriff's Office Community Affairs Unit, Oneida County Stop-DWI, SNAP-ED, Helio Health and R4K United Way of the Valley & Greater Utica.

Members of the Oneida County Sheriff's Office and Mohawk Valley Police Academy cadets also volunteered their time to participate alongside the children and encourage them throughout the event.

The Oneida County Youth Bureau continues to provide safe, positive and innovative programming for youth throughout the year. For more information about Youth Bureau programs and initiatives, call 315-798-5027 or visit the Oneida County Youth Bureau website https://oneidacountyny.gov/departments/youth-bureau/.