They taught him to respect and give thanks to nature, to express himself in creative and constructive ways, and to appreciate education. Nielsen befriended Coons when he was in a play she directed at Winnebago High School. More recently, Nielsen convinced Coons to participate in a youth improvisational theater camp. The youth theater group, which has organized itself into a 4-H club, is part of a Strengthening Families grant through Children, Youth and Families at Risk initiative in extension's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Led by professional youth counselors trained in improvisational drama, the program is structured as an intensive series of exercises where young people act out vignettes on contemporary social issues, including alcohol, drug and tobacco use, school conflicts, domestic violence and other concerns.
Actors stay in character while engaging the audience.
The concept has been successful among virtually all ages and diverse constituencies, both urban and rural, for the last 30 years. Some members of the improvisational theater will be at the Keeping Families First arena at 11 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Nebraska State Fair. Coons at first was reluctant to participate in the improvisational theater, eager instead to attend an art institute. But Nielsen persisted, and today Coons thanks her. He found it another means of expanding his horizons and self-confidence.