NORTH SALT LAKE—Peyton Otis, the current mayor of the North Salt Lake City Youth Council, is passionate about this organization. “It is so much fun on top of service, and is a great way to get involved in the community,” she said. “It also looks great on college applications.” They accept most of their new council members in June, though youth from eighth grade through seniors can join throughout the year. Most youth join because they are invited by a current member or heard of it through a friend or family member. The funds for the activities and service projects are provided by the city, and unlike other cities nearby, there is no participation fee. Seven members are elected into positions within the Youth Council similar to the adult government meeting in the same building (Treasurer, City Manager, etc.). 

The group has up to 40 members, but only 25 to 30 attend any one session. They meet once a week on Tuesdays. The Service Chair came up with the idea to make double thickness fleece blankets tied together at the edges for Primary Children’s Hospital. The hospital has been running short on these comfort items that make a difference for kids in long-term care. The blankets were cheerful with fun patterns and made with love to perk up kids in the hospital. This event had a great turn out and lots of hands made the project “joyful” according to Otis. The council usually does one larger service project every month similar to this blanket project. The council also runs the food bank out at the Foxboro apartment building every fourth Tuesday of the month. Although all activities offer the fun of meeting old and new friends and hanging out, it also creates team building exercises for the council through activities and games. Otis recalls a super fun painting night that she loved even though she has little talent for getting paint on a canvas. Other activities have included the Cross-E Ranch corn maze and movie nights. 

Otis hopes to use her leadership experience in the City Youth Council to get into the Air Force Academy to study civil engineering. The Academy only has a 10% acceptance rate and so any extracurricular could tip the chances. Right now, though, the leadership experience and social team building make the North Salt Lake group a great place to be. λ