I for one like the direction this discussion has taken. By RAS standards it has been relatively respectful. Kudos Sean for bringing it up and taking a bit of heat. A bit of heat, a bit of sage advice, a few examples how locals HAVE stepped up.

In my backyard, I have seen responses to local efforts to increase youth and not so young soaring range from "Why help others?-I paid for my own soaring as a teen" to "I want my older glider to be flown by others but don't know how to set it up."

Ironically, we have several 2-33, 1-26 era gliders sitting unused all season mainly due to a shortage of instructors willing/able to put them to use.
I say, increase the pool of instructors and you will naturally raise the number of students.

And having given more than a few orientation rides to Civil Air Patrol cadets in gliders and airplanes I can tell you personally there is a ready demand for kids who want to "Slip the Surly Bonds" despite the competition of video games, motorsports and teenagers of the opposite sex!

One more thought (might be a bit deep for RAS): We sometimes say "Someday, when _______, I will do more for my sport, community, charities, etc." We all know at any age we are currently, some of our friends and relatives never make it to "someday." Why not do something today?!

Cheers
Gene Reinecke