MDI Tomorrow
Youth Working Group

Y.E.S.! Youth Engaging in Society 
MDI Tomorrow Youth Subcommittee:
Communities for Children & Youth 
Survey results
February 2004

Mission:

Youth need to be active participants in the community…

Youth need to be active participants in the future of MDI…

Purpose:

To bring Island youth together to discuss issues and concerns about high-risk behavior among young people and proposals for healthy alternatives

Schools surveyed:  Jr. Highs: Pemetic, Conners-Emerson, Tremont, Northeast Harbor, Swans Island, Islesford, Trenton, Lamoine and Mount Desert Island HighSchool

Surveys received:

Grade 6 – 73                Grade 7 – 97

Grade 8 – 98                Grade 9 – 133

Grade 10 – 44              Grade 11- 114

Grade 12 – 95

Total – 654

The survey contained seven open ended questions.  The responses listed below are the most frequent responses identified. 

Question 1:  What positive changes in transportation, activities, etc. would you like to see happen?

• Year Round transportation; extend Island Explorer - 26.6%
• More buses – 39.4%
• Public Transit – 15.9%
• Sidewalks – 1.5%
• Bike & Walk – 2.9%
• More options (sports and/or transportation) – 42.7%
• More facilities – 21.9%
• Place for youth to hang out – 6.6%
• Skate board park – 7.5%
• Ice skating rink – 2.8%

Question 2:  What kind of alternative activities would you be interested in seeing in the future?

• Hockey – 3.5%
• Dance (either class, event, or club) – 8.6%
• Arts (ceramics, photography, crafts, music) – 9.9%
• Basketball – 3.7%
• Skate boarding park – 7.5%
• Ice skating rink – 2.8%
• Lacrosse – 5.0%
• More intramural sports – 5.4%
• More options – 58.9%

Question 3:  What is the best time and day for the community to offer these activities?

• After school – 62.4%
• Morning – 9.9%
• Evening – 21.7%
• Weekend – 19.1%
• Summer – 8.9%
• All day/ during school – 22.6%

Question 4:  Do you feel your community is accepting to all individuals? Yes or No?  If no, what do you suggest for some solutions? 

• Feel the community is Accepting to all individuals – 69.9%
• Do not feel their community is accepting to all individuals – 25.0%
• Do not know how they feel – 5.1%
• Suggest that their community needs more tolerance & awareness – 12.2%
• Suggest that their community needs to offer more activities – 4.4%

Question 5:  What can teachers, parents, and all other adults in the community do to be more caring adults or positive role models?

·        Get involved with Kids’ lives and activities – 18.8%

·        Do not do drugs in front of kids – 9.9%

·        Listen and respect youth – 20.0% 

·        Be caring – 8.3%

·        Role model good behavior – 14.5%

·        Adults are already doing a great job role modeling – 7.3%

Question 6:  Do you feel that drugs or alcohol are a problem in your community?  Yes or No?  If yes, what do you suggest for solutions to THIS problem?

• Identify that there is a drug/ alcohol problem – 56.6%
• Do not think there is a drug/alcohol problem – 32.6%
• Do not know if there is a drug/alcohol problem – 5.5%
• Suggest that there is nothing to do to help this problem – 7.5%
• Suggest that there be more enforcement by police/adults/parents/teachers – 17.1%
• Suggest that there be more punishment – 4.6%
• Suggest that they catch the dealers – 3.2%
• Suggest that alternative activities and education about drugs be offered – 10.9%
• Suggest that adults in the community role model – 2.9%

Question 7:  What do you think would be a good solution to the transportation problem in our community?

• More Buses – 36.1%
• Year round transportation: extend the island explorer – 25.8%
• Have buses and island explorer make more frequent and rural stops – 7.0%
• Carpool – 5.2%
• Safety – 5.4%
• No transportation problem identified – 7.6%
• Bike & walk – 1.8%

If you are interested in viewing more details on the responses not shown to each question, or for any inquiries, please contact:

Genell Vashro
Communities for Children AmeriCorps *VISTA
Harbor House Community Service Center
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679
(207)244-3713
gvashro@yahoo.com

To contact MDI Tomorrow:
MDI Tomorrow, c/o University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 63 Boggy Brook Rd., Ellsworth, ME 04605, 207-288-8212.

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