For the second year in a row, the Grand Forks Gazette is pleased to present the Salute to Youth supplement.

We’ve had a great response for both editions of articles showcasing the various activities available to youth and reports on how youth in our community are making a difference. Also thanks to the many adult volunteers who not only dedicate their time to work with youth, but also promote the organizations they volunteer for with their submissions.

Getting involved with youth is always a worthwhile endeavour.

Not only are these volunteers helping kids develop new skills and grow as people, they are also challenging themselves. They’re keeping on their toes and remaining open to new ways of seeing the world.

One of my favourite things about the supplement is seeing how the students chose to design the ads for our local businesses. It takes a lot of faith on the part of our advertisers to hand the controls over to fourth and fifth graders.

In some cases they give us a new perspective on the everyday, in other cases they make us laugh. In all cases, they’re fun to look at and read.

Thanks to the students and teachers for taking the time out of their busy schedules to work on the project.

If you do have kids, the supplement may give you some ideas about some local groups they can get involved in from sports to music to a foreign exchange opportunity. If you don’t have kids, it’s worth a read anyway to find out what our young people are up to.

The supplement is by no means complete. There are lots of groups that aren’t featured. If you have a youth group, sports team or program and want to keep people advised about your activities, be sure to send us your pictures and articles and we’ll find room for your news in the Gazette or Weekender.

If you know of a young person who deserves to be acknowledged in the paper, we’d like to hear about that, as well.

And like the Scouts (who are also featured in the supplement) say, “Be prepared,” because we’ll be looking for your submissions again next year.