News – Sheridan Media
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In a news release, The Center for a Vital Community (CVC) at Sheridan College hosted an Action Forum, the culmination of five weeks of Study Circles focused on supporting Middle Schoolers, on Wednesday, March 12, at the Hub.
Over 75 people attended the event to learn what major initiatives came from the ten Circles, held from Jan. 27 – March 2, 2025, throughout Sheridan County, including Ranchester and Clearmont. Sheridan Junior High and Clearmont Junior-Senior High also hosted in-school student Circles.
According to the CVC, it is thanks to the work of over 80 Circle facilitators and participants, several common themes were identified from the groups’ action items. From there, organizers narrowed them down to five initiatives in Sheridan and several that were Tongue River Valley and Clearmont-focused, all announced at the Action Forum. Attendees had the opportunity to sign up for the first meeting of each initiative to learn more.
“Hearing the middle schoolers themselves echo the conclusions the community members reached in their own Circles was powerful. And seeing so many people show up for our youth is encouraging. I’m excited to watch these initiatives come to fruition,” CVC Director Amy Albrecht said.
Misty Moore presents take-aways from the Clearmont student and community Study Circles at the Action Forum hosted by the Center for a Vital Community on March 12th. (CVC photo)
This complete list is available on the CVC’s website at sheridancvc.org/community-initiatives. Anyone wanting to be involved in an initiative may contact the CVC at cvc@sheridan.edu or (307) 675-0831.
The initiatives are as follows:
A Third Place
Middle schoolers crave togetherness, purpose, and belonging. They want unstructured time to try new things, relax, explore, and meet other kids. The concept of a Third Place is somewhere safe that is neither home nor school. Volunteer opportunities, skill-building workshops, mentoring potential, and even inter-generational talent sharing could exist. This could be an existing location (like the Hub or the YMCA) or a different, undetermined place.
Transportation
Since middle schoolers are too young to drive, their ability to access after-school activities, sports, clubs, and other opportunities that happen outside school hours is severely limited. They can only travel to destinations on foot, and often, those routes are heavily trafficked and potentially dangerous. Creative and safe transportation solutions are needed after activities/sports end in the late afternoon and to and from locations around the community that middle schoolers could enjoy.
Sheridan County Youth Coalition
Establishing a community coalition, including youth, who want to support middle schoolers. The coalition will provide a framework to connect ideas and resources to make an impact on issues critical to their success collectively. Those issues include:
Mentoring
Leadership
Peer support
Communication
Community Engagement
Funding to support activities
SJHS
A third place: safe spaces that provide choices and independence but with adults around
Middle schoolers, especially 6th graders, want to have volunteer opportunities and/or get a job
More consistent, affordable community activities that are open and interesting to youth
Transportation
Improving communication around activities that are affordable, fun, and available to all students
Better opportunities to communicate with counselors about needs and concerns
Spend a day with a 5th grader and have them experience life at the junior high
Opportunities to try out sports and other activities
Tongue River Valley
Listen to the students and ask what they want, possibly via a weekly, in-school poll
Summer camps
Clubs
Transportation between Dayton & Ranchester, especially on Fridays. Possibly transportation into the YMCA pool on Fridays.
Strengthening community connections by tapping into intergenerational opportunities. Find local volunteers:
Pep band
Pickleball club
Mentoring opportunities
Clearmont
The community members have started a coalition, and one of their first endeavors is creating a Third Place through the Clearmont Rec District and adding an escape room kit. They’re investigating potential access to public property for outdoor recreation and plan to host two fun paddle party summer gatherings.
The middle schoolers want more opportunities to hang out together outside school and want to make sure it’s led and run by middle schoolers, focusing on outdoor activities. They’ve also brainstormed a variety of clubs they might start.
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Last modified: March 15, 2025