The Cape Coral Youth Council discussed ideas for this year’s junior and senior projects and asked juniors to prepare one-page proposals for the July meeting.

Several juniors pitched ideas during the open discussion: Member Sanchez suggested a drive-in movie night to offer an affordable teen event; Member Salazar proposed broader volunteer outreach to hospitals, shelters and senior homes; Member Johnson recommended a mental‑health survey to gather fact‑finding data from students and present results to the school board and city council; Member Saint Germain proposed a “Smiles for Seniors” volunteer program to visit local nursing homes.

Why it matters: Junior and senior projects are the council’s primary way to engage peers and collect fact‑finding information about youth priorities. Members emphasized the need for feasible projects that include clear distribution plans for donated items; past problems occurred when collected materials could not be delivered to an appropriate recipient.

Key details: Returning senior members described last year’s book drive (reported by one member as more than 1,500 books collected) and cautioned that successful drives require advance planning: designated drop‑off locations, contacts at recipient organizations and distributed responsibilities among members. Advisor Hayden and other seniors said the council may pair the continuation of last year’s senior outreach project with a mental‑health survey, provided someone can commit to lead the effort. The council was reminded that as a fact‑finding body it may collect and present information but cannot make binding staffing or budget recommendations for school districts.

Next steps: Because many members were absent, advisors requested that each junior prepare a one‑page document describing their project idea, target beneficiaries, locations, basic timeline and any anticipated costs. Those one‑page proposals will be discussed and voted on at the July 11 meeting.