Teen Volunteer Tech Studio Mentors Needed!
Teens and Young Adults are invited to apply for a volunteer position in our Tech Studio. To apply for one of our volunteer positions, please contact Sandy Rivera. srivera@vailgov.com. Skills required for this position include:
- an interest in technology
- basic understanding and interest in coding robots
- interest in 3-D printing & CAD
- demonstration of responsible care of equipment
- a willingness to share your knowledge with others
- great attitude
If you think you have the skill set to volunteer and help us in our Tech Studio Makerspace, please contact us.
Reading Buddies – Volunteers Needed (no meeting Oct 24 & 31)
Reading Buddies is a free Vail Public Library program that pairs trained teen volunteers with younger kids for a one-on-one shared reading experience. Little buddies do not need to be struggling readers to benefit from this program, the intent is to foster a love of reading. Reading Buddies offers a chance for friendship while providing another set of attentive ears for our young readers. Little buddies should be in 1st – 3rd grades Big buddies should be in 7th – 12th grades. Please pursue this opportunity to provide help to a little friend and boost your own leadership skills and serve your community.
Contact Cricket Pylman for an application to be either a Big Buddy or a Little Buddy! We are currently recruiting for our Summer session. The next session begins Thursday, Oct 3 – Nov 21. We meet from 4:30 to 5:30.
Big buddies need to interview and be trained before we start on Oct 3rd. If you are interested , please contact us to be ready for the next session. .
cpylman@vailgov.com / 970-479-2179
Balloon Sculptures with Ming
Learn to make balloon sculptures with Ming. Ming is a local ski instructor who has been creating balloon sculptures for 30 years and teaching it to others for more than 20. Join Ming in this 4 week series, in which he will take you through a step-by-step process. You will be the hit of your next party! This is for anyone ages 10 and up!
Tuesdays @5:00
Oct 1 – 22
RSVP to Cricket
cpylman@vailgov.com or by calling 970-479-2187
Looking for an opportunity for leadership? Join Eagle River Youth Coalition. 
click here for more information
YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten
YALSA has launched the Teen Book Finder Database, which is a one-stop shop for finding selected lists and award winners. Users can search this free resource by award, list name, year, author, genre and more, as well as print customizable lists. This new resource will replace the individual award and list web pages currently on YALSA’s site that are not searchable and that are organized only by year
If you build it… they will come!
Over the summer, our Teen Reading Group built FIVE little free libraries! Have a book? Leave a book! Want a book? Take a book! Always free, the little free libraries are the “town square” of a community and thanks to our amazing teens, Vail has five.
Hour of Code!
Try a one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. Join millions of students and teachers in over 180 countries starting with an Hour of Code!
Colorado Blue Spruce Book Award
The Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (Blue Spruce Award) has been recognizing the most popular books among middle and high school students in the State of Colorado since 1985.
The award is unique in being entirely nominated and voted for by teens. Inclusion on the nominations list does not imply endorsement by any adult as this is a program of entirely student-selected titles. Each year teens in grades 6-12 are free to nominate their favorite titles; a list of 12-15 titles is then compiled by the Blue Spruce Award committee based on number of nominations received.
Students must have read at least three of the titles to vote for a winner. Adults do not nominate or vote for books, and publishers are not allowed to submit their books for consideration.
2019 Nominees
Online Resources for Young Adults
The award-winning Teen Health & Wellness provides middle and high school students with up-to-date, nonjudgmental, straightforward curricular, and self-help support. Topics covered include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, LGBTQ issues, and more.
Past Programs:
Restore the Gore
Erica Sodos
Alpine Arts
Harry Potter Party
2017 Scarecrow Building Contest
Little Free Library Project