YouthMappers, from left, James Williams, sisters Arnela and Irena Dedovic and Tammy Bates share a laugh while riding in an elevator at the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce. YouthMappers survey area businesses, community agencies and organizations, places of worship and neighborhoods across Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties for an online database with information about Mohawk Valley services and activities offered for teens.

Area young people have been busy collecting information about Mohawk Valley services and activities offered for teens.

Armed with clipboards and pens, Community YouthMappers have surveyed community agencies, organizations, businesses, places of worship and neighborhoods across Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.

"We're hoping to get a database of about 1,000 businesses in the county so that whenever a young person or counselor needs a resource, they can find a helpful service," said Kay Clements, director of the Oneida County School and Business Alliance (SABA).

Seventy-five communities nationwide have participated in the Youthmappers program. Results of the surveys will be posted online through a database owned by each community and maintained by a local coordinating partnership.

"It's important to let people know that their businesses are important to us," said program supervisor Katie Bailey, a Mohawk Valley Community College student.

Jasha Dedovic is a 15-year-old Bosnian immigrant who is participating in the program, which was funded through a grant from the New York State Department of Labor.

"It's been fun learning more about the area and its resources for people our age," said Dedovic, a student at John F. Kennedy Middle School who came to Utica five years ago.

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace hopes the YouthMappers will "give us a teen's-eye view of the services that exist and help us explore ways to fill gaps that also exist."

"Mappers will be looking at our communities to see whether they are youth-friendly and help us map a strategy for making key services available to our young people," Eannace said.

The YouthMappers have visited the Utica Zoo and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute to research entertainment available for teens.

"We found that the zoo is free in the winter season and that you can tour Fountain Elms at Munson-Williams," Bailey said. Fountain Elms is the antique-filled Proctor family homestead.

The YouthMappers have also visited Planned Parenthood and the Health Department.

"Health centers in the area offer a lot more than I thought they did," 20-year-old Bailey of Utica said.

Participating in the YouthMapping program can be beneficial to business owners and service providers.

"In a way it's almost like free advertising," Community YouthMap coordinator Pat Murphy said. "Everyone has been very helpful so far."