Mason City, IA- Community leaders set a goal to get kids ready for college, work and life by the age of 21. Youth workers and volunteers attended seminars Thursday in Mason City to help reach that goal. They're trying to create positive youth development. 

Mason city kids are always looking for things to keep them busy but they seem to be coming up short.

"At my age there isn't much to do," said Austin Walker, a Mason City teen.

When he's not at school, you can find him playing basketball and hanging out with friends. But that's not the case for some of his classmates.

"There's stealing, drugs and alcohol," said Walker,

Prevention specialist, Kelly Grunhovd says North Iowa is trying to keep teens from doing things like that. She says it helps if teens are part of a bigger picture. Grunhovd says kids involved in anything from sports to volunteer work are most likely to stay out of trouble and be more successful. 

"A lot of it does have to do with the relationships we hold. We're more motivated to not break the law," said Grunhovd.