Youth Activity Projects
Youth Appreciation Week
One week each year is designated “Youth Appreciation Week.” The
club celebrates this week each year by awarding scholarships to area high
school seniors. A committee of club members and school administrators select
the seniors based on their academic and extra-curricular accomplishments.
Parents, faculty advisors and the winners are honored at a luncheon where
the scholarships are presented.
Youth Sports and Youth Activities
Optimists serve as promoters, coaches and counselors and help
finance various youth sports activities such as the Garner Road YMCA Basketball
Club. Other youth activities such as
“Take-A-Kid-Fishing” at the Optimist Farm involve many
Optimists and many more area children. The club also maintain the beautiful 69 acre Optimist Farm and make it available for sports, camping and other uses by youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Mile of Hope
The Mile of Hope
is a Childhood Cancer Campaign project sponsored by the Club along with
other Optimist Clubs in Eastern North Carolina. It provides a weekend
"get away" to the beach for twenty-five children with cancer. The
children and their families, from eastern NC, enjoy a break from their
hospital routines for some sun, fun, food, fellowship, and an
optimistic vacation. Visit the Mile of Hope Website and Facebook Page for more information.
Essay Contest
The Club sponsors this contest to give young people the
opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they
live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the
experience of his or her country, or a more historical perspective. The topic,
selected each year by Optimist International, is intended to give young people
the room to develop their own views around a central idea. The best are recognized at a luncheon with their parents and faculty
representatives. In addition, the first place winner's essay is submitted to the District competition for a $2,500 college scholarship.
Oratorical Contest
The Club sponsors this speech contest to inspire today’s youth to
motivate and inform others through the art of public speaking. The contest topic
is chosen each year by Optimist International. Non-Optimist community leaders
make up the panels of judges that select the winning students. The best are
recognized at a luncheon with their parents and faculty representatives. This
contest provides Club winners with the opportunity to compete at the District
level for a college scholarship.
Optimist International Junior Golf
Championships
Every year more than 7,000 boys and girls compete in Optimist
district qualifying tournaments. The best of these golfers advance to the
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships – which are held at the PGA
National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Youngsters in our
community have the opportunity to play in this prestigious event and meet other
young athletes from all over the world. The Optimist International Junior Golf
Championships provides youngsters cultural learning opportunities, competition,
a week of golf, and, best of all, lots of fun!
Junior Optimist Club
Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) is a dynamic
coalition of youth volunteers. JOOI members represent the times well, by making
their communities better - one service project at a time.
