Valley Youth Project
For the most up to date announcements from the VYP click here! Valley Youth Project Website
Are you a young LGBTQ+ identified person or ally in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley who is looking for a community? Are you interested in sharing some fun and friendship? If so, the Valley Youth Project might be just what you’re looking for! Whoever you are, we’d love to get to know you. We’d like the Valley to know about us too, so please spread the word.
The Valley Youth Project is open to all youth, 25 and under, who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, two-spirit, queer, or questioning, as well as to straight and cisgender allies.
Drop-In Social Nights
Drop-in nights are meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm – 8.30pm when possible. Remember to confirm that drop-in is running before you come.
Location: Kingstec Campus – 236 Belcher Street in Kentville
There will be two adult facilitators at each meeting, plenty of fun, snacks, and, of course, new and old friends for you to meet.
Our gatherings are primarily social. Some activities we’ve done in the past include crafts like button-making or Pink Triangle Day cards, workshops like fiction writing or learning how to knit, games night, movie night, as well as field trips to Halifax. There is no regularly-scheduled drop-in during July and August, but we often organize summer field trips to Halifax Pride, the NS Youth Project’s Queer Prom, and other events.
Workshops and Resources
The Valley Youth Project’s volunteers can present workshops to your classroom, staff meeting, conference, or other event. The topic can range from an introduction to gender identity and sexual orientation, to a customized strategy session for the topics most important to you. Read more about our workshop descriptions and rates.
Stay In Touch
For email updates about news and events follow us on facebook.
Valley Drop-Ins
For the most up to date announcements from the VYP click here! Valley Youth Project Website
Who
Drop-in is open to all youth, 25 and under, who want to make the Annapolis Valley a better place for 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Support people over 25 who would like to meet the volunteers are welcome to contact us and arrange to meet beforehand. However, for the confidentiality and comfort of all participants, people over 25 are not permitted to attend drop-in, except for facilitators and invited guests.
Where
Nova Scotia Community College, Kingstec Campus — upstairs in the cafeteria.
When
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of most months from September to June
6.30pm – 8.30pm
Come for the entire two hours, or just “drop in” to say hi!
What
On the agenda:
food — usually fruit, vegetables, cookies, juice and water
games
a lending library
pamphlets and resources, including safer sex info and supplies, pregnancy tests, etc.
art supplies
discussion table with a new topic each time
and a chance to meet people from all over the Valley. We look forward to seeing you!
Guidelines
All volunteers and participants are expected to abide by our four Guiding Principles:
Consent: Use the names and pronouns people request, ask before touching people, respect other users of the college campus.
Confidentiality: Do not share who attends drop-in or what people share there.
Sober: Do not be intoxicated on any substance during VYP activities; prescription medication is of course ok.
Good-Faith Co-operation: We all work together to make this a great space. No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.
Access Notes
The NSCC Kingstec campus has elevators, accessible outer doors, and wheelchair accessible washrooms.
VYP Drop-In has access to single-stall all-gender washroom and multi-stall all-gender washrooms. We support all participants in using the washroom they feel safest and most comfortable in.
Transportation
If you’re taking the bus, let us know — we can provide bus tickets for trips to VYP activities (bus routes and schedules are here).
We are also able to provide free, door-to-door drives for VYP activities (and yes, the vans are wheelchair accessible). If you are in Kings, Hants, or Annapolis County, a van from Trans County Transportation, Hants Dial a Ride, or Kings Point to Point can pick you up and take you home. No catch! Just sign up by 3:30PM, two business days in advance, on our transportation page. If you need to cancel, please contact us, not the transportation provider.
Cancellations
Drop-in is definitely cancelled when Annapolis Valley schools are closed.
If an event is cancelled, including if weather worsens on a day when schools are open, we will announce it by 3PM on our Facebook group as well as posting on the front page of the VYP website. That’s another good reason to sign up for email updates about new posts — use the “Email Updates” section on the right-hand side of this page to subscribe.
If you requested a ride and do not need it, please let us know as soon as you can!