THESE TEENS ARE TUNED IN

They want the crack houses gone, feel Surrey needs a stop-smoking clinic,
and think Bear Creek and Green Timbers parks are beautiful, natural places
that should remain untouched.

They're teens and they want people to be aware of what they know and what
they think about the city they live in.

"They won't be surprised about how much we know, but how much we know that
they know ... and how much we know that they don't know," explains
13-year-old Daniel Ralston, a Kwantlen Park Secondary student, laughing at
his seemingly complex explanation.

Since last December, a group of 10- to 14-year-olds have been involved in a
youth mapping project, sponsored by Health Canada and the Surrey School
District, where they've come from different areas and backgrounds to
examine the city.

After seven meetings and several months, the group of 25 developed five
laminated maps identifying things they want removed, kept, and added, as
well as fun/safe places, and unsafe places.

Red pen circles identify a couple of known crack houses in North Surrey and
a stretch of 96 Ave. known for street racing.

Get rid of them, say the teens, along with the "old" complicated bus system.

Other spots, such as North Surrey Recreation Centre and Guildford Town
Centre, are deemed fun and safe.

"It's so people know what we feel ... our opinions," says Jesica
Curran-Wright, in Grade 9 at Guildford Park Secondary.

"It's also to get to know what we have in Surrey," adds Tashina Harkness,
also from Guildford Park.

The students' efforts will be spotlighted at an upcoming conference for
parents of teenagers presented by Surrey Memorial Hospital Youth Clinic.

* Tune Into Your Teens, a conference for parents of teens, takes place next
Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the School District Conference
Centre (9260 140 St.). Featured speakers at the one-day conference include
Sgt. Paul Milne, a drug recognition expert with the New Westminster Police,
Elgin Park Secondary school counsellor Dan Ramsden, pediatrician and
addiction specialist Dr. Sal Denny, Dr. Nur Shaw, an adolescent
psychologist, and youth clinic nurse Sharon Jagich, who oversaw the youth
mapping project.

Registration is $15 per person, including lunch. Call the Surrey Memorial
Youth Clinic at 604-585-5999 to register or for further information.