“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” This is a quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato that I find to be consistently insightful and true today. Whatever medium of “play” or “recreation” an individual engages in, we instinctively and often unknowingly show our true selves while pursuing our desired outcomes from our respective experiences/activities. At the core of Plato’s quote: we get to discover! While “playing” we get to discover things about ourselves we never knew, discover that new strangers can become lifelong friends and discover that through play we have so much more in common with each other regardless of abilities, belief systems, political views, skin color, income level or geographical roots.

Now more than ever, communities need the medium of play/recreation as a bridge to make real genuine human connections by attending or participating in a very wide range of options right here in our own community. What is there to do? Hockey games, art shows, special events, live performances, join a team, trivia night, knitting groups, book clubs, snowmachine groups, potlucks, drop-in programs, school activities, art classes … the list of options goes on. All providing real, in-person, tangible human connections. This is the antidote for addressing unintended consequences of modern technology that at times seem to pull family, friends and neighbors apart via internet, social media or news with ongoing information overload that our human brains are simply not designed to handle nor can we even resolve at a local level. No doubt technology is here and will be a part of our lives, but we must be mindful about its potential to distract us from what we all truly want at the end of the day: to feel that our lives matter with a sense of purpose and belonging. And we need each other to make this happen! This is especially important for the younger generation as they are interwoven with increased levels of societal expectations regarding the use of technology. As educator Maria Montessori stated, “Play is the work of the child,” as it is crucial for a child’s development and learning.

While there are many incredible non-profits, businesses, organizations, municipal services, volunteers, grant opportunities, etc. that help make the array of opportunities happen, we are consistently struggling with the centralization of all the area-wide youth programs, resources and opportunities. The newly formed Homer Planet Youth is stepping up and bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together. Their efforts will be the one-stop process (not a program) that will help youth and families learn what existing activities are happening, how to pay for them if needed, possible transportation solutions, identify locations, and assist with organizational collaborations to better serve the local youth for out-of-school time opportunities. If your organization provides youth programs and/or if you want to support our efforts and be involved in this collaborative effort to expand youth opportunities, please reach out.

Providing and supporting accessible youth programs is a topic that is personal for me and is likely why I have worked in the recreation field for over 24 years. As a poor kid from an East Coast city, my home life was dysfunctional, stressful and riddled with chaos often due to drugs, alcohol and violence. Public schools were my sanctuary and playing sports was my heaven. It gave me purpose, meaning and a positive, safe place/group where I belonged, and allowed me the opportunity to play and grow. Today, I look back with deep gratitude, knowing these institutions and people who taught, coached, volunteered, paid my fees and gave me rides have likely saved me from who knows what negative path I could have easily fallen into. We all don’t experience life the same, but for me, I will always fully understand the core value, power and impact of affordable and accessible youth educational and recreational programs. I encourage you all to think back when you were a child and what programs were available to you. Think of the people outside of your family that were involved to help make your childhood fun and meaningful. Turns out you can also be “that” person for some kid today as a coach, volunteer or supporter. You won’t regret it … I promise.

Mike Illg is a certified Parks & Recreation professional, former local wrestling coach and recovering marathon runner who believes music is the universal language of mankind.