Model Railroad programs for youth

[jwr_1986]

The club I belong to is looking for ways to get more youths in our area involved in Model Railroading. We are currently revamping our fee structure to include a youth membership at a very discounted price. We are also looking into counseling the Railroading merit badge for the Boy Scouts of America. I was wondering what anyone else has done to encourage youth participation in our great hobby.

Jesse
Member Catskill Society of Model Engineers

[Anonymous]

Check out the Teen Association of Model Railroaders.
TAMR.org

Although they are quite a bit smaller than when I was involved, the premise of the orginization still exsist today of Teens helping Teens with Model Railroading and Railfanning...

Contact them, and join, Then get involved and let them know that you guys are wanting to bring in Teens into your club. They can help with promotionals and ideas. Besides there is a chance there is already TAMR member in your area.
-Joe Bohannon

[Anonymous]

Children17 or younger are only asked 10 dollars a month in our club and families are 15 a month. In our building we share it with a Day care. It is always fun to invite them over and see there faces when the trains are running![angel]

[Anonymous]

theres no clubs for youths around my parts.

[cwclark]

I was a Scoutmaster and the railroading merit badge councilor for 8 years...what i did was build a small module with a couple of turnouts and some buildings on it and let the boys have some "hands on" fun with the small layout...I would suggest that you get with the boy scout area council in your area and get a list of the packs and troops and set up a meeting with each of their adult leaders on their designated meeting night, take the layout up there, let them switch some cars around and then fill them in on the when's and where 's of your railroad club... another thing you can do is to have them meet at your club on one of their meeting nights...I wish a club had our troop come to their club meeting ...after 8 years i kind of ran out of things to do at each and every boy scout meeting once a week..i mean ..how many times can you teach the boys first aid or how to tie knots before it becomes boring to them...a boy scout meeting at a model railroad club would have been great!....Chuck[:D]

[randybc2003]

The club I am involved with has no "youth" membership. Our membership is $5.00/mo., FLAT. If a Father is involved (or even a Mother), the youngsters come in free, associated with the parent. Several come in, Father/Son teams.
[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ben_ringrose

theres no clubs for youths around my parts.

I am in Southern California and I don't know of any either. The TAMR is the only thing I can think of[;)]