30,000 Kids Visit Belle Isle For 'Metro Detroit Youth Day'

DETROIT (WWJ) - More than 30,000 kids and 1,600 volunteers converged on Belle Isle Wednesday to take part in the 32nd annual Metro Detroit Youth Day.

Put on by the business community each July, the popular event offers first-hand experiences and demonstrations for students of all ages. More than 300 local organizations, including colleges and professional sports teams participated this year — helping kids explore the possibilities and pick their future path.

Youth Day Coordinator Ed Deeb said more than 100 scholarships are awarded at the event, which he said has been the start of many a success story.

"One of our kids became a dentist, a woman," he said. "She's very proud; she called and we had pictures taken with her two years ago. Two or three are lawyers."

One of the most popular draws this year was the mobile petting zoo which featured a camel and a kangaroo.

"It's pretty cool with all the animals," participant Destiny Frazen said.

This was the first time at the event for Larry Cunningham and his family.

"I'm very impressed, very impresses," he told WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey. "Seeing the animals out here, I think it's a really good interactive thing for the students...to get out here and excercise and see nature as well, and to interact with all the other students. So I think Youth Day is right now, right on point."

Another first time attendee Carol Graham, who took her niece and nephew, said she'd definitely be back.

"Very good; something for the children for the summer," Graham said. "I always wished they would make like an amusement park somewhere for the children for the summer...instead of having to drive so far; for the inner city (kids) who can't get out that far."