Teens Join Olympic Youth Conference

Eight Ventura County teenagers will “carry the torch” at an Olympic-themed youth conference Saturday in Duluth, Ga.

The youths--from Camarillo, Ventura, Santa Paula and Oxnard--will join hundreds of others from across the nation at the second annual Teens Alive National Leadership Conference. The event focuses on teaching such qualities as discipline, self-control and perseverance.

The conference will culminate with Olympians like former gymnast Mitch Gaylord leading a lighting of torches. During the lighting, teens will pledge to carry upstanding values to their peers and serve as role models for their communities.

Teens Alive is a 2-year-old, nonprofit organization formed to promote positive values among young people through educational, athletic, cultural and community programs.