In April, the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board traveled to Adventure Central in Dayton to host its annual Spring Spotlight Dinner. Alumni, volunteers, donors, and community partners of Adventure Central and Ohio 4-H were invited to come together for an evening of fellowship and celebration as the Foundation Board recognized the impact of Adventure Central on the youth in Dayton.
Nate Arnett, Extension educator for 4-H at Adventure Central, and Marvin Olinsky, former CEO of Five Rivers MetroParks and founder of Adventure Central, helped 
kick off the evening by sharing about the history of Adventure Central and the types of programs offered to youth.
Created through a unique partnership between Five Rivers MetroParks, Ohio 4-H Youth Development, and Ohio State University Extension, Adventure Central provides a welcoming, safe, active, fun setting for youth to develop positive relationships and build life skills while exploring nature.
Two alumnae of Adventure Central, Tiarra Owens and Lynnze English, were also invited to speak about their time as youth participants at Adventure Central. They spoke about the important lessons they learned, the relationships they built, and life skills they developed through opportunities 
like the Job Experience and Training (JET) Program set them up for success as adults.
Owens currently works as a senior manager of development at National 4-H Council and believes her time at Adventure Central set her up for success in all aspects of her life. “Because Adventure Central sent me into the world with skills such as leadership, strong communication, integrity, and perseverance, I was prepared to tackle any challenge and embrace new relationships that would create a ripple effect of kindness and generosity,” she said.
English shared similar thoughts, crediting her experiences at Adventure Central with giving her the confidence and perseverance to pursue a career in law. Today, she lives in Washington, D.C. and works as an attorney. She also serves as a young alumni representative on the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board.
For more information on Adventure Central and the life-changing youth development opportunities it offers, visit their website. You can also support the work Adventure Central is doing for the youth in Dayton by donating today.