Kaelyn Collins, Kianna Harris and Lauren Pankin

Free Press special writers

They came by school bus, by car, by bike.

An estimated 35,000 youths descended on Belle Isle for Metro Detroit Youth Day Wednesday, a free event now in its 34th year that transforms the island park into part playground, part education center.

Kid-friendly activities were sponsored by local organizations, ranging from the Detroit Lions to Tuskegee Airmen Detroit.

Dressed in a six-legged bug costume, federal department of agriculture employee David Burt introduced himself as an Emerald Ash Borer.

Some children approached Burt with laughter. Others were fearful -- as they should be, Burt said.

“They should be scared of the Emerald Ash Borer because of the danger they pose to Michigan trees,” Burt said. “But I want them to see that bugs are cool -- just not the invasive ones.”

Though thousands of children explored hundreds of activities on a single field, Noni Williams, 44, of Detroit, said the high degree of organization was shocking. This year was her first time at the event, though her 11-year-old son, James Williams, attended once before with his grandmother.

“This event has exceeded all of my expectations,” Noni Williams said.

There were schools, summer camps, Grow Detroit Youth Talent employees, dance teams and youth sport teams on the island off of East Jefferson.

Youth Day is the largest youth event in state of Michigan and the Midwest, co-founder and coordinator Ed Deeb said.

To encourage post-secondary studies, Youth Day presented about 100 college scholarships to graduating high school students, Deeb said. Since the early 1990s, Youth Day has presented a total of more than 1,600 scholarships.

“We want these kids to finish high school, go to college and come back to Michigan as our future leaders,” Deeb said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield was among one of the many companies volunteering at Youth Day. They have been volunteering at Youth Day for five years.

Blue Cross Blue Shield volunteer Karleigh McFarlen said she and her team enjoys coming out to Belle Isle every year. “It's a great experience, we never know what to expect.”

Youth Day includes an two-hour long Youth Idol performances. Kids ages 8-15 are allowed to participate as they can dance, sing or read their own poems.

Grow Detroit Youth Talent employee Dai’Ja Parks attended the event as part of her summer job with GDYT. Grow Detroit Youth Talent is a six-week program that provides summer jobs for Detroit's young people. Parks said she enjoys programs like this because they keep her busy.

“I need something interesting enough to get me out of bed early in the morning and keep me focused through the day,” said Parks, a senior at Central Collegiate Academy High School.

Ammai Sanders,14, from Detroit’s west-side is a two-year attendee to Youth Day. She said she usually comes with her best friend. “I love being here, it's a good experience for kids to learn about college”

The Detroit Pistons put on a basketball clinic and entertained attendees with a dunk contest. Retired NBA player Earl Cureton played for the Pistons from 1983-1986, and is now the community ambassador for the organization.

“The Detroit Youth Day is a huge event that we do every year. For the last four years we have been out here and involved in that,” Cureton said. “We teamed up with Sprite and we put on a basketball clinic and do autograph signings.”

Though this year’s Youth Day attracted 2,700 volunteers and 260 corporate sponsors with 44 unique activities for children, it started small, recalled Deeb, of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association.

In 1981, dozens of youths clashed with store owners on Livernois Avenue, leading to violent altercations and the shooting deaths of two teenagers and a store owner, Deeb said. Alarmed by the fatalities, former Mayor Coleman A. Young called Deeb to formulate a solution.

“We came up with the idea of this big event to show the youngsters that we respect them and appreciate them,” Deeb said.