Summer fun at The Slab

A new youth-specific outdoor gathering space will be soon available for relaxing and kicking back over the summer months in Strathcona County.

The Slab, named for its location outside the Community Centre in Sherwood Park, will feature activities ranging from music and artistic performances on its summer stage, board games, DJ music and a lounge area for youth between the ages of 12 and 18.

According to the Social Framework’s public engagement, only 61.1% of youth aged 11-17 feel like they belong and are connected meaningfully to others in the community. The Slab is a pilot project to further investigate how the County can bolster feelings of connection for youth in its community.

County youth are invited to bring their friends to the launch event on June 29 from 3:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. in the east plaza of the Community Centre (2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park). Launch activities include live DJ sets, food trucks, coffee, concession, board game café and a lounge.

Throughout the summer, The Slab will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30 pm. to 10:30 p.m. (weather permitting).

Intended as a casual gathering space for youth, The Slab is designed as a prototype to gather ideas about the kind of drop-in space that may work for youth in Strathcona County. The prototype approach enables the County and community partners to learn and evaluate what’s working well at The Slab, and adjust (where needed) for maximum learnings and engagement with youth until The Slab wraps up on August 31, 2018. Feedback over the summer will be used for future youth-specific programming considerations in Strathcona County.

Youth are invited to share their creative talents on the Slab summer stage. Performers and artists are invited to contact Niall.Weber@strathcona.ca to discuss openings on stage. There are numerous leadership and mentoring volunteer opportunities at The Slab for young adults between the ages of 19-29.

Updates are also on social media (Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter) @slabyouth and #TheSlab.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of refining in Western Canada. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact:
Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595