CHILDREN’S BOARD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS OFFER EXPLORER’S CLUB FOR TEENS AND PRETEENS

By Libby Hopkins

profession of training to the next level,” Glanton said. “I figured, since I created programs for Verizon Wireless that were successful, why not duplicate what I did for Verizon, but do it to help the community? After years of teaching kids to fish and fishing with my own, it hit me, so in 2020, the vision came to me clearly: I am here to mentor the youth for the rest of my life.”

From there, Impowered Minds was born.

Glanton used to live in the Riverview area and loved fishing in the area, so he takes youth from all over Tampa Bay fishing in the Riverview area, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico. “I loved the Riverview area and there are some great fishing spots, so whenever we get the chance we take the kids to Riverview to fish,” said Glanton.

Seeing the youth learn how to fish or make their first catch is one of his favorite parts of running Impowered Minds. “It’s an awesome feeling for me to see the kids learn how to bait a hook or catch their first fish,” Glanton said. “The parents love it to when their children tell them about the great day they had fishing.”

If you would like to learn more about Impowered Minds or want to volunteer, visit www.impoweredminds.org or contact Glanton at 813-906-0561.

The Children’s Board Family Resource Centers are located throughout Hillsborough County and ofer programs and services emphasizing family support, child development, health, safety and learning success. One of the newest programs is the Explorer’s Club.

The Explorer’s Club is good for students 12-15 years old. It is an outlet to meet new people, socialize and participate in events that teach life skills. All of this is designed to help them build self-confidence and learn new skills. The only requirement for attending is that the student’s family must be a member of a Children’s Board Family Resource Center.

Each Children’s Board Family Resource Center has diferent schedules for classes and events. The resource centers are located at: 1271 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon (813740-4634); 301 N. Palmer St. in Plant City (813-752-8700); and 3030 E. College Ave. in Ruskin (813-641-5600).

The Explorer’s Club was developed in Plant City by Talisha Nelms, early childhood coordinator for the Plant City Resource Center, as a result of the needs of the community. Each resource center has a Community Advisory Council. The idea for the Explorer’s Club came about as a result of the need to help teens prepare for the future. In addition, parents whose children came to the resource centers as

By Kathy L. Collins

young children, wanted resources and opportunities for them. After the first year of operation in Plant City, the Explorer’s Club was introduced at all seven locations. Tamika Lopez, family specialist for the Plant City Resource Center, explained, “The Explorer’s Club is a resource for teens trying to figure things out. We want to help prepare them for the future.”

Tyheshia Scott, director of the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers, said, “This program was developed in response to the needs of the community. We want to be a part of the solution by continuing to be with children as they grow up.”

The Explorer’s Club is set up in six-week sessions. Students can join at any time. The sessions are ofered year-round, with a two to three-week break between sessions. Each class lasts one hour. The resource center provides all of the materials, and each session is run by the staf of the individual resource center.

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County was established in 1988 after the legislature passed the Juvenile Welfare Services Act. The legislation provided that any Florida county whose voters passed a referendum could create a special taxing district for children’s services.

For more information, please visit www. familysupporthc.org.

Alafia River Canoe Rentals Has Been Local Source On The Alafia For Nearly 50 Years

For those looking for a fun activity for the whole family or maybe just an afternoon in nature, look no further than Alafia River Canoe Rentals, located on the banks of the Alafia River just of of Lithia Pinecrest Road. Tucked among the trees, Alafia River Canoe Rentals has served the Southeastern Hillsborough County area for close to 50 years. For a mere $25 for a full day’s rental of a canoe, it is difcult not to have a good time navigating the twists and turns of the Alafia.

When you pull up to Alafia River Canoe, you are quickly greeted by owner and founder Sybil (who prefers her last name not be used), from where she operates the business beneath her house, as she has for decades. From the time you approach the stand to when you return to the docks, Sybil is the epitome of customer service. With her answering any questions you may have about the river and the area she knows like the back of her hand, you can feel confident that you will have a great day on the river when renting here. This long-standing business came to be in 1976 when Sybil’s husband went out to get a canoe to navigate the periodi-