Ascension : Ascension : Leisure/Entertainment for Ascension Island’s Youth
Submitted by The Islander (Soo Matthews) 09.04.2009 (Article Archived on 23.04.2009)

Year 7 were asked to give their views on the present leisure/entertainment available for youngsters on Ascension Island and also what they would like to see/do to improve it, if given the opportunity.

Year 7 were asked to give their views on the present leisure/entertainment available for youngsters on Ascension Island and also what they would like to see/do to improve it, if given the opportunity.

Generally I feel that there are enough activities to  do on the island. 

However, I would like to see some bike ramps in Two Boats with some lights.  That way we can go outside with our bikes even in the dark.  I would also like a Cricket Club.  Because it is hot nearly all the time we would be able to have cricket all the time.

I don’t think there is enough for the youth to do on Ascension Island.

I would like to see a funfair every month in Georgetown.  I think this would be a good idea because it would be good for raising money and it will be something fun for us to do as well.

There isn’t enough space or things to do on Ascension for the youth.  Two Boats could have more things to do than just the park and swimming pool.

I would like to see a water park with rides and huge waves.  It would also be good to have a tram that goes regularly from Two Boats to Georgetown so we could take part in things down there as well.

I think that the equipment that we have at Two Boats Park is all right, but I think we need a little more equipment because most of the things we have are meant for little children.

I think that they should have Youth Club again as entertainment at night so that children have somewhere to go.  They can have different options of activities to do.  They can bring money to buy food and drinks.  It should start from 7 – 8pm for older children and 6 – 7pm for the younger children.  I think this is a great idea because children will have something to do during the night other than homework.  Activities could include:  movies/cartoons, drawing/art & craft, puzzles and quizzes, internet use, reading, sports and games, pool/snooker.

For youth I feel that there entertainment facilities are quite limited..  We have swimming pools, skate parks, the sea and bikes but I would like some more facilities.

I think that the pools could be made more fun by having a slide and maybe even some inflatables.  We could also have a bike lane so there is room for people to cycle to friends’ houses on the roadside.

I think there isn’t enough exciting entertainment here for us. 

I would like to see a big diving board (5 – 10m high) at one of the pools.  Competitions could take place, like at the school swimming gala, and it would be much more fun diving from a greater height.

On Ascension we don’t have many leisure or activity centres for the youth in our areas.  We just have a park in Georgetown and another one in Two Boats.  There used to be a Youth Club but it isn’t open anymore.  There is an adventure area on the mountain and a pool in Two Boats, Georgetown and Travellers which we appreciate.

I would like to see more equipment in the pools to make swimming more fun.

I would like to see a Youth Centre set up or a place where kids like us can just go and lounge around, relax and be with our own age groups.

I would also like to see an indoor cinema.  I know one is already at the US Base, but I would like to see one for kids, and just for kids!

Do you think there is sufficient leisure facilities and entertainment for our youth on the island?

What would you recommend they do to occupy their time using the facilities that are currently available?

Do you have any ideas about what could be done, or set up, to cater for our youth?