With 44 percent of its population under 19 years old, Hyrum is a small town in the northern part of Utah where young people can really feel like they belong. Kids of all ages, residents and visitors alike, can also find plenty of ways to have fun and keep active here. The close-knit community makes recreational, character-building and volunteer activities readily available to the younger generation.
State Parks
Open year-round, Hyrum Lake State Park is a favored destination for Utah outdoor enthusiasts. The park has 264 acres and includes camping sites for tents and RV trailers up to 40 feet in length. The maximum camping stay is 14 days. Families go to the park for boating, skiing, fishing, swimming and picnicking. The park has a Junior Ranger program, geared toward children 6 to 12 years old. Programs include Trails & Tracks, Salty Waters, Fabulous Fossils and Night Explorer. All the programs make learning fun and encourage children's interest in nature.
The Willard Bay State Park, just a short drive away, has a beautiful beach area, as well as lakeside camping and recreational activities similar to the Hyrum Lake State Park.
Sports
Boys' baseball, girls' softball and t-ball for both boys and girls are popular in the Hyrum area. Nine parks in the area host baseball and softball fields, so kids can find a place to swing their bats all around town; East Park is one such location.
Soccer is a growing sport in this Utah town. The Hyrum City Parks & Recreation department has built a six-acre soccer complex to support and encourage the youth soccer program.
Youth Clubs
The Boys & Girls Club of America is focused on improving the daily lives of kids, as well as teaching them how to build their own futures. The club is open to kids between 5 and 18 years old. Activities include mentoring, homework help, arts and crafts, and sports. The Boys & Girls Club created the United TEENSupreme Keystone Club and Torch Clubs to offer leadership opportunities for teenagers.
The Hyrum City Youth Council Program is the creation of Hyrum's former Mayor, Bruce Darley, in collaboration with Utah State University. The mission of the Youth Council, as stated on its website, is "to provide opportunity for youth to develop mature citizenship, leadership, a sense of personal achievement and an understanding of government." More simply put, this program gives teenagers the opportunity to get involved in finding solutions for their community's problems.
Nature and Wildlife
Children can observe and learn about the area's wildlife at the Hardware Ranch. Sleigh rides take the kids into herds of wild elk from December through March. A school program called "All About Elk" gives kids the chance to build an elk habitat. Through the 4-H program, children ages 7 to 18 learn about raising, training and showing animals. After raising and training their animals for nine months to a year, the young handlers get to show their animals at the county fair.
Library and Museums
Preschool story time is a regular event at the Hyrum Library. The Hyrum City Museum has something of interest for children of all ages, including black light displays, Egyptian artifacts and dinosaur bones. Museum admission is free and is open for individuals, as well as group tours. The Alliance for the Arts museum is the area's family-friendly art center, where kids and parents can experience and enjoy art together.
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