Youth Leadership And Service Program Forming In Northwest Indiana

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announces a new unit being formed that will be located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The new unit is the Dunes Young Marines and will be led by Unit Commander, Dan Tolson, of Valparaiso.

The first open house for the Dunes Young Marines will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at American Legion Post 94, 4 Monroe Street, Valparaiso. Parents and kids are invited to attend to learn more about the program opportunities and how to join.

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. The program focuses on character building, leadership, self-discipline and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

“We are putting a call out to boys and girls to join our ranks," said Tolson. “After hearing a unit commander talk about his experience in the Young Marines, I felt there was a need in our community for such a great program. I saw there were no units in Northwest Indiana, so I made the decision to start one.”

Tolson grew up in Valparaiso and graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1989. Originally, he wanted to be a high school history teacher but ended up joining the Marine Corps. He has a strong commitment to giving back to the community.

The Young Marines' objectives are:

• To promote the physical, moral, and mental development of its members
• To advocate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through continual drug prevention and resistance education
• To instill in its members’ the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God, and fidelity to the United States of America and its institutions
• To stimulate interest in and respect for academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States of America
• To promote physical fitness through physical activities including participation in athletic events and close order drill

The Dunes Young Marines will participate in local civic activities, such as providing color guards for athletic events, marching in local parades and activities promoting and reinforcing good citizenship.

In addition, there are local and national leadership schools as well as travel opportunities such as visiting Pearl Harbor; participating in National Navajo Code Talkers Day; and joining national Young Marines summer events that focus on different activities each year, for example: wilderness adventures, Space Camp, Flight Academy, working at a cattle ranch, white water rafting, scuba diving, sailing and visiting American historical sites.

"We will be growing and learning all the time," Tolson said. "We will measure success by our community involvement and kids having fun while learning."

For more information, email dltolson@gmail.com or call 219-916-3550.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 5,700 youth and 2,100 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at https://youngmarines.org.