In 2023, we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Rossland Youth Action Network (YAN). YAN's mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space for youth ages 12-18 to connect, learn, and grow. YAN values youth empowerment and development through various programs that teach essential life skills, foster creativity, promote physical and mental health, offer fun social activities and opportunities for friendship, connection, and mentorship. YAN is committed to providing equal opportunities for all youth in the community and relies on the support of donations to continue its services to its fullest potential and capacity.

YAN's basic operational costs are covered through funding from the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and the City of Rossland. However, with rising attendance and costs, additional funding from donations is needed to sustain our ambitious program offerings. We gratefully accept support from community members and businesses who are in a position to help. Your support, no matter the amount, would make a huge impact on the lives of the youth in our community. We are committed to providing a safe, fun, enriching, inclusive space for all youth, and with your help, we can continue to do so.

YAN’s programming is youth-directed. We collect youth feedback each year and create our programs directly from self-identified priorities of young people in the community. We currently offer a variety of free or low-cost programs that are well-attended and impactful. In 2022/2023, that includes:

- YAN Shreds: This program provides youth ages 12-18 with the opportunity to get involved in skiing and snowboarding who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it. We provide the youth with season's passes, gear and lessons every other week. Additionally, we sponsor youth to develop their skills by taking ski instructor certifications if they choose to pursue full-time instructing at Red Mountain. This year we teamed up with the GIVE'R Foundation to be able to offer the same opportunities to those under 12. We outfitted a record 40 youth this year!

- Drop-in: Offered 3-4 times a week, youth are free to play ping-pong, foosball, do arts and crafts, have a snack, play video games or watch a movie, do homework, play board games, and more in our fun space. Many of the youth that come to our center stay until our programs end at night, and we want to ensure that hungry kids get fed.

- Survivalist Adventure Club: essential outdoor skills training by a Search & Rescue team, including shelter and fire-building, compasses and maps, ropes, tarps, and more.

- Free Mental Health Counseling: Subsidizing sessions at Kootenay Counseling to provide free, confidential, and empowering support for youth. Post-pandemic, youth mental health supports are crucial.

- Maker Lab (3D Printing, Graphic Design, Coding): Teaching tech-inclined youth new skills for the future.

- Dungeons and Dragons: one of our most dedicated clubs, always expanding! 37 youth are enrolled.

- Farm-to-table Cooking Club: Always at capacity, a local chef teaches youth how to make fresh, healthy, creative meals with local produce and learn new skills and techniques.

- Youth film competitions: This year, we had 10 youth short film submissions as part of the Mountain Film Fest.

- LGBTQIA+ Club: providing a safe space for friendship, support, creative outlets, and activism opportunities for youth.

- Art Club

- Bouldering and Pizza at Flux Climbing

- First Aid Training opportunities

- Guitar Lessons

- Queens of Sk8: Inclusive skateboarding lessons for female and non-binary youth

- Activism efforts for climate awareness

- Special events such as Escape Room trips, Laser Tag, Pool Parties, Karaoke, Roller Parties , movies, bowling, and more.