ROYO continues its push to open up a world of outdoor opportunities for local youth
THE RETURNING OUR YOUTH OUTDOORS GROUP has already done wonders for local kids since its inception in 2021. But they’re not done yet.
The volunteer-based non-profit has its sights set on a new basketball court at Sebastian Park, which would be their largest undertaking yet in its ongoing effort to counter what has become a tech-centered lifestyle.
But to pull that off, ROYO needs support, and that was the purpose of last Friday’s annual membership banquet. And ROYO knows it couldn’t do what it does without that backing, as 95% of its funding comes from the communities it serves.
“I want to thank all of you for supporting us,” ROYO President Trent Fischer said at Friday’s event. “Without you, this can’t happen. We really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
As the name implies, ROYO, a nonprofit, is dedicated to mentoring kids and getting them outside. Each member shares a passion for the outdoors, and they continue to work on passing their deep love of the outdoors to the next generation.
“When we started this organization, we all met as a did his best to stay patient after he dropped his line into Swift Lake at the ROYO-sponsored fishing derby last Thursday.
Photos / Per Peterson group, and we didn’t know exactly where we wanted to go,” Fischer said. “We didn’t want to focus on one particular thing … we didn’t care what it was as long as we get the kids outside, off of their electronics.”
With the mindset that children are the future of fostering stewardship, ROYO conducts a number of outdoor-related events, from fishing tournaments like the one it hosted at Swift Lake last week, to golf, bowling and decoy making. ROYO also feeds the kids.
“We’re not focused on just hunting and fishing, we also do a whole lot of other things,” said Fischer. “Getting kids outside not only is a disconnect from electronics, it also helps them understand there’s a lot of things that they can do to have fun. We don’t care what we’re doing, as long as it is outside.”
The best part is, the various events that are held throughout the year don’t cost families a thing.
ROYO has also given back in other ways, including a $10,000 donation to Central Park improvements and the purchase of basketball holders in Tracy, Walnut Grove, Currie and Balaton. ROYO also gives out scholarships, has donated sporting equipment and last fall purchased a wooden dock that was once at Lake Yankton and installed it at Swift Lake.
“(Thursday night) we had our first fishing event with the dock — there were 40, 50 kids out there catching fish. There were three walleye caught on Swift Lake!”
As far as the basketball court near the pool is concerned, ROYO representatives are well aware that the decades-old asphalt surface needs a major upgrade. A new surface, Fischer said, can be used for more than just hoops.
“We want to rip all that out, put Sport Court in,” Fischer said. “What we’re thinking is not only basketball; we also want to put in pickleball courts and we’re looking at putting sides on it, to fill it and make it an ice rink. We’d like to get lights out there, too. This is going to be our next huge project we’re going to be working on.”
