The Afterschool Recreation Program for Youth involves teachers, students, and recreation staff participating in activities designed to give middle school-aged children after school opportunities other than joining gangs or engaging in unlawful and unhealthy behaviors. In the spring of 1995, a pilot program including four schools was initiated over a two-month period and included over 500 participants. Recreational and educational activities such as sports, cultural arts, clubs, tutoring, special events, trips and excursions were available during this after school period. In 1996, the program expanded to include seven schools. Both teachers and recreation staff interact with these students through the variety of activities noted above.
Teachers facilitate the tutoring, guitar lessons, and most arts and crafts.
Recreation staff facilitates the sports activities, field trips and other miscellaneous activities. The intent of the program is to provide these youth options to stay safe and involved. During the summer of 1993, the City of Westminster, Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, and Adams County School District 50 embarked upon an effort to develop alternatives to after school idle time for area youth. The after school period of time posed an especially acute need for alternatives for middle school students as community members, city and recreation officials, and District 50 educators determined this to be a time when students were most likely to enter gangs and engage in unlawful and unhealthy behavior. In response to this need, the City of Westminster, Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, and Adams County School District 50, with support of the Hyland Hills Foundation, developed an After School Recreation Program for Youth in the four middle schools of School District 50.