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| The National Y magazine, Discovery YMCA, highlighted the Ys Youth
Development program in a past edition. The color cover photo and five-page story featured
the program’s multi-faceted elements including ESCAPE to the Arts, Teen
Leaders/Future Leaders, and Great Hollow Wilderness School. Following are some text and
photo excerpts from the article, "Evolution of a Youth
Program", by Steve Hockensmith. |
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| The "…program called
Positive Youth Development has become a classic example of positive program development.
Born as a lecture-based adolescent pregnancy program, it has mutated over the last few
years into a comprehensive youth outreach effort that includes a new teen center, a Teen
Leaders club, a busy fine arts studio, and a 1,000 acre site for adventure-based youth
programs." In the words of YMCA Senior Vice
President Debbie McCuin-Channing, "We realized pretty quickly that the kids needed
something far more intense than we’d ever imagined. Pregnancy was an issue, but so
was youth violence and drug use and school failure…we found out that these kids had
no script to fall back on to tell them what’s appropriate and what’s
not…they were sponges who needed more and more."
"After some major tinkering, the program was reshaped
into the Teen Leaders Club. Targeting at-risk kids between the ages of 10 and 17, it
focuses on life skills, homework assistance, community service, and self respect. During
the school year, there are after-school club activities every day until about 7 p.m.
Tutoring, discussions of teen issues, guest speakers, and, of course, free time in the gym
and pool are a regular part of the club routine. (Over the summer, activities are
scheduled from 1 to 7 p.m. each day.)" |
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| The second part of
the youth program is the Great Hollow Wilderness School.
"Located on 1,000 acres of land not far from the Y’s Greenknoll Branch, Great
Hollow specializes in adventure-based leadership development programs for low-income
youth." |
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| The final day of a
10 day experience for 15 middle school kids - a 6 mile run through the woods topped off by
a graduation barbecue and story-telling. Nothing but proud kids and prouder parents! |
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(Discovery article continues) "ESCAPE to the
Arts…provides fine arts classes and opportunities to kids in low-income
communities. They offer courses in pottery, drawing, painting, and sculpture, frequently
working closely with the Teen Center and its staff." |
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| "McCuin-Channing hopes that
kids lured in by one program…will get hooked into another, and maybe all three. Each
additional hook increases the odds that the kids will stay in school and out of trouble.
‘The programs accomplish a lot more together than they do when they’re
separated,’ she said. ‘You’re always going to get a real mix of diverse
kids. If you’re going to keep them coming back, you’d better have a mix of
diverse programs.’ " |
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| The Regional YMCA
is a community service organization dedicated to building strong kids, strong families,
and strong communities through the development of spirit, mind, and body. We strive to
serve all, regardless of financial or physical need. |
Presented with permission from:
YMCA of the USA
Mr. Dan Maier
Association Development & Communications
101 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
www.ymca.net |
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