It’s hard to imagine over 100 cops and teens choosing to spend four days and three nights together, but this is what happened Nov. 7 to 10 at Warm Beach Conference Center. Organized by the YMCA of Snohomish County, in collaboration with six school districts and 7 law enforcement agencies, the annual Connections Retreat brings law enforcement and teens together to discuss a variety of issues.

This year’s topics included: breaking down stereotypes between cops and kids, learning about and discussing DUIs, drugs and violence, and developing mission statements that detailed what participants would do in their communities to help combat these issues. Some of the action plans created included: safe ride programs; substance-free activities; holding a mini-Connections seminar within the school; building awareness of domestic violence, drugs and alcohol issues through education and visual presentations; introducing programs to help new students to feel included; and continuing and strengthening middle school mentoring program.

This camp would not be possible without the very generous support of the Everett Rotary club and the Howarth Trust. This was the fourth consecutive year that the Everett Rotary club was the primary financial donor with approximately 50 Everett Rotarians joining in as volunteers to assist with different aspects of the retreat. We believe this outpouring of sharing among teens, law enforcement and community leaders creates the kind of relationships so essential to our healthy communities.

YMCA of Snohomish County