How It Began

In January 2005, a group of Hillsboro middle school students met with Parks and Recreation staff for the first time. The planned activity for the evening was rock climbing at the Hawthorn Farm Athletic Club followed by pizza, pop and a lively discussion on what kinds of activities middle school students might like to participate in.

The program—named TRY (Team of Recreational Youth) by the students—was started by Parks and Recreation Department employees Maegan Jossy and Brandi Crawforth. "We were looking for a way to connect with kids this age and it seemed like getting a large group together in a recreational setting might get some ideas flowing," said Jossy.

The participants are made up of boys and girls representing all four Hillsboro middle schools. Students filled out a rather lengthy application and then were interviewed by Parks staff. In the end, almost all the kids who applied were accepted to be part of the first TRY group. "It was just too hard to make cuts," Crawforth said. The group meets twice a month at various locations, so that members have an opportunity to see all the recreational facilities the City has to offer. They are currently planning a big event for 7th and 8th grade students only to be held in May at the Hillsboro Stadium. They will also be completing a couple of service learning projects at Shute Park in April.

Through their participation in TRY members of the group will gain valuable experience in leadership and teamwork while helping the Parks and Recreation Department better serve an important segment of the population." These kids are awesome," said Jossy. "They have so much enthusiasm and energy."

If the first couple of months is any indication, TRY is going to be a very important part of the Parks and Recreation Department programming strategy and should provide a successful link to the middle school population for many years to come. Click here for a recent article in the Hillsbro City Views.

For more information on TRY and how you might get involved, please contact Brandi Kangas at 503-681-5393.