Authentic youth engagement and opportunities open the doors to allow youth to discover their passions in a safe and supportive environment. An environment where the process is as important as the end product and the learning journey evolves throughout the opportunity.

All of our programming follows this philosophy. Current youth opportunities include the following:

Community In Action (CIA): CIA is perfect for older elementary, middle, and high school students who are interested in designing their own short-term service-learning project that can be completed in four participatory workshops.  Through the CIA process, youth explore their passions and issues in the community through the use of the nationally recommended IPARD/C model (Investigation, Planning, Action, Reflection, Demonstration/Celebration model).  CIA is best suited for classrooms, after-school programs, or other out-of-school programs that engage consistent youth.  (Focuses on workforce development, civic literacy, health literacy, and financial literacy)

KWAKers:  “Kids With a Kause” are youth who are interested in working together to make a change in their community.  Youth identify monthly service projects or fundraisers to improve the community.  Currently, three school-based groups are in operation and one community-based group (the original KWAKers) is in operation.  School-based KWAKers is best suited for middle school youth.  (Focuses on workforce development, civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, and financial literacy)

ID Action Youth Advisory Board:  The YAB is a group specifically for youth with developmental disabilities.  It is designed to support the work of ID Action and to engage this population of youth in civic, political, and social life.  This group is best suited for youth ages 15-22 who are capable of engaging independently with other youth. (Focuses on workforce development, civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, and financial literacy)

Youth Venture: Youth Venture is geared specifically for teams of youth who are interested in implementing their own long-term social change project.  Youth work with an adult ally to develop their goal, action plans, timeline, and budget to implement their project.  Once designed, they present their ideas to a selection panel.  Teams are then awarded up to $500 or are encouraged to work with CYC staff and their allies to write grants to support their individual project.  Youth Venture is best suited for older middle school, high school, and college aged students. (Focuses on workforce development, civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, and financial literacy)

Humanities and/or Silver Cord Support Program.  This four week program is designed to help students interested in pursuing the Humanities or Silver Cord learn the in’s and out’s of volunteering while learning more about their community.  Participating students go through a structured workshop to identify their strengths and interests while staff help them connect those interests to the needs of non-profits in the community.  Students also learn specific techniques to improve their volunteer experience.  Students who participate in this program will complete at least one four hour service project and will have the option of joining other students for coordinated service opportunities.  This program is best suited for high school students.

Give 5.  Give 5 is CYC’s summer program geared at upper elementary, middle, and high school students.  The group is patterned after the school-based CIA programs, but is offered during the summer at the CYC offices.  Students meet up to two days a week to plan and implement community betterment projects.

Mentoring Advantage Program.  The Mentoring Advantage Program is geared towards middle and high school youth who could benefit from some additional support to help them figure out their career goals and how academics relate to their future goals.