The Blue Mountains is hosting a huge program for National Youth Week 2009 (March 28-April 5), including under 18s gigs, parent forums and family events.

Launching Youth Week in the Blue Mountains will be Youth Rock Gig for 12-17 yr olds on Saturday 28 March at the Carrington’s Baroque Room from 2:00pm till 7:00pm. Bands include Red Bee, Unknown Quantity, The Credits, Picture Perfect, O.B.P.S and Fault Of Man. This is a drug and alcohol free event - fully supervised by youth workers and security staff. Tickets are $5 with limited ticket sales from Upper Mountains Youth Centre. Contact Wendy on (02) 4782 2875. Use of the venue has been kindly donated by the Carrington Hotel.

The Winmalee Skate Park will be opened on Sunday 29 March at 10:30 am at Summerhayes Park . A pro skating demo by Dustin Dollan and the PD Distribution Crew will take place including a best trick competition, free skating and sausage sizzle. Contact Ryn on (02) 4780 5545.

The Run for Fun is also on Sunday 29 March at Tom Hunter Park, Faulconbridge. It’s for all runners 12 years and over who wish to become the 2K, 5K or 10K Blue Mountains Champion for 2009. Be there at 9:30am for registration - there’s a $10 entry fee. All enquiries contact Colleen on (02) 4751 5851.

The Blue Mountains Youth Mental Health Study will be launched on Wednesday 1 April 10:00am - 11:30am in the Council Chambers, Katoomba. The presentation will report on key findings of a six-month study into youth mental health service needs among Blue Mountains young people aged 12-24 years. The research is a project of Youth Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Reference Group - YMISA - for more information call Ryn on (02) 4780 5545.

Wednesday 1 April is also Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Blue Mountains Youth Accommodation and Support Service is putting on a free BBQ at Katoomba Civic Centre at 11:30am to raise awareness of the thousands of young people who are sleeping on the streets and in refuges through out NSW.

Later on Wednesday, the Blue Mountains Youth Council for 2009 will be officially welcomed the Council at a ceremony in Council Chambers.

Talks by Steve Biddulph, psychologist and author of ‘The Secret of Happy Children’, ‘Raising Boys’ and ‘Manhood’ will be held during Youth Week. The topic of raising boys will be heard on Friday 3 April at 7:30pm at the Springwood Civic Centre: simple, practical ways to help boys to grow up to be happy, positive, caring and motivated. The Secret of Happy Children on Sunday 5 April 2:00pm at Springwood Civic Centre: for parents of boys and girls aged from birth to adulthood - gives a roadmap for understanding the kind of love your child needs at which age and how to adapt yourself to be able to help them grow up with good hearts and strong backbones.??Book online at www.springwoodtalks.com Adults $20 / Concession $12 per talk, tickets also available from The Turning Page Bookshop, 134 Macquarie Rd, Springwood.

Dancing Our Culture is a workshop for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living the Mountains. NAISDA Dance College students will deliver a Traditional, Contemporary Indigenous and Hip Hop dance performance and workshop on Saturday 4 April. Interested young ATSI people can call Jo on (02) 4782 6569.

Family Music Event on Sunday 5 April at Buttenshaw Park, 2:00pm -5:00pm. Bring a picnic rug and spend the afternoon being entertained by local young musicians.

The Youth Focused Graffiti Reduction Research Project Launch offers a fresh coat of paint to anti-graffiti programs! Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST), in partnership with Council and Youth Week 2009 is undertaking a research project to identify successful graffiti reduction programs from around the world. The project will identify graffiti reduction programs which address the concerns of property owners, the general public and local and state governments by reducing undesirable graffiti, while taking into account the artistic and social needs of young people.

Our Place - Urban Changes photographic workshops will be held in Lawson and Blackheath conducted by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre and Mid Mountains Youth Centre. Young people will learn photographic skills, and use them to document their responses to their villages and developments there. For more information contact Cheryl on (02) 4782 4657.

Click here to view the Youth Week 2009 program.

Dustin Dollan thrills a crowd.

The long-awaited Winmalee Skate Park will be christened by pro skaters Dustin Dollan (pictured in action above) and the PD Distribution Crew - Beau Reid, Nathan Jackson and Ryan Wilson – in an action-packed opening on Sunday, March 29.
The skate park, on the corner of Bunnal Ave and Hawkesbury Road, Winmalee, will be officially opened with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Darug and Gundungurra elders, and by Councillors Brendan Luchetti and Alison McLaren, at 10:30am.
“The Winmalee skate park is an excellent facility for skaters and riders alike in the Blue Mountains, especially as it has been designed by young people for young people,” Mayor Adam Searle said.
“It is a different style to other skate parks in the City, expanding the range of skate facilities for young people, and it is close to the extensive recreational facilities in Summerhayes Park.”
As part of the official opening, all residents present will have the opportunity to participate in a tree planting ceremony.
Other attractions on the day include a best trick competition with prizes for the best trick, free skating time, and a sausage sizzle. Council will be providing water and drinks at the event.
“I encourage local skaters and riders to celebrate the opening of the skate park and remind them to bring protective equipment, including a helmet, on the day,” Mayor Searle said.