European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday july 16, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 Sas Lynda Oak Olson Dennis Nichols gives some safety tips to members of a Trail group during a Rock climbing and rappelling adventure in the Baum older West Germany  sends teens Down Road to adventure by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau a Trail Outing is a Rock climbing adventure in the Countryside near Baum older West Germany a camping trip to an Island North of Sicily or a skiing trip to Turkey. A Trail meeting May include Trust building exercises and a hot topic discussions. Belonging to Trail Means new friends interests and greater self Confidence. All Are important issues to any teen caught in the uncomfortable grip of adolescence. But self Reliance new interests and friendships take on even More importance for Young people who live in unfamiliar countries and societies overseas. Trail is an acronym for training responsible adolescents in leadership. But on Safe bases in West Germany England and the Mediterranean area Trail stands for just about any recreation activity that its participants who Range in age from 13 to 18, want it to be. Outside of hanging around local fast food stores entertainment arcades and the House that is. Gary Charland was watching television for instance when Nis parents encouraged him to try out Ramstein Abs new Trail group. A i did no to want to come to a meeting at first. Mom and dad forced me. But i kept coming Back a Carland said. A the objective is to get kids together to promote healthy programs a said Dan Schofield a recreation specialist with the morale and recreation directorate at Safe Headquarters. A Safe a teen adventure program is modelled on one at Mountain Home fab Idaho. Plans for the Safe version grew out of a we Klong meeting last August in Berchtesgaden West Germany that Drew 55 youth and recreation activity professionals and teens who wanted to step up the variety of activities available to Young people on base. About 11 bases now have Quot solid programs a Schofield said. The Trail concept sounds similar to scouting. But Kim Filippini who attends Ramstein High school says there Are differences Between the two organizations. In scouting Filippini said a there Are no Guys you have a sense of having to be there and you have to Wear a  the teen program exemplifies what could become the new trend in morale programs for airmen and their families. Trail groups earn most of the Money needed to pay for their activities and organizers rely heavily on vol unto cars to teach special skills such As rappelling a a it a been a Long year of digging up resources a said Jac Quie t Ruckey one of two Trail coordinators at Ramstein. Quot it takes a lot of planning. And somebody a who a going to dig until they find out How to do that program. You can to be afraid to go out on the Economy and you have to get out there and make those phone Calls Quot trails Success also depends on tireless youth activity and recreation staff members at each base who aggressively promote the concept with kids parents and Community officials As Well As organize outings Schofield said. A a it a continuous education Quot said Teri Clark the director of youth activities in Izmir Turkey. A the main thing is we just keep  efforts by Clark and her staff to promote the program have paid off not Only by attracting potential Trail participants but by drawing More teens into the local american youth Center for other offerings. At Comiso air station Italy Trail organizers have an extra responsibility staying a constant source of activity for local Young people As the bases 1991 Date with closure draws  a it a hard on them. They Don t know where they re going or what s waiting for them there. We re trying to keep everything As Nornal As possible and trying not to disappoint them a said Kim Haessler a Comiso youth activities official. Of Comiso a roughly 90 teen agers about 20 have participated in various 1 rail outings. Nearly that Many adult volunteers including single airmen regularly help out by instructing outdoor hiking and rappelling As Well As chaperoning trips outside the base. Many of trails most Active programs Are in isolated areas where the need is greatest for youth recreation programs Schofield said. A command wide Trail Outing that will bring together teens from across Europe is tentatively planned for Winter. S4s photos Lynda Odd Isoo during the Rock climbing trip near Baum older West Germany 14-year-old Jennifer Neal left looks for a Finger hold and Angela Charland 13, Center begins a 50-foot ascent with some guidance from Dennis Nichols who later keeps an Eye on Nelson Shin 13, As he begins to Rappel Down a Rocky Hillside