We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for life. Because of the Y, more young people in neighborhoods around our community are taking a greater interest in learning and making smarter life choices.
At the Y, children and teens learn values and positive behaviors, and can explore their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.
RiseUP is an established Y program designed in partnership with Allan Hancock College in response to a large educational and social wellness gap in our community's children, particularly in our single parent and larger families. The Y has created a bridge for these students to excel and experience concentrated education in STEM programs as well as fitness and physical wellness. These chosen youth would not ordinarily have an opportunity like this-they are handpicked by their school educators.
As children are returning to society after isolation during the pandemic, the Y and school staff noticed an increased inability in our youth to cope with re-entering society. The Y created a social emotional wellness training program for our RiseUP instructors to help navigate many of these new behavioral challenges in a positive, constructive way for these young community members.
The Internship program at the Santa Maria Valley Y is a progressive, experiential, educational course designed to help young people develop their awareness and basic skills of youth work, enhanced with an intentional leadership development design. The Internship curricula is designed to develop the technical skills necessary to be an effective, competent and compassionate youth worker, possessing all of the core competencies the YMCA recognizes are vital to success as a counselor in their a day camp or after school setting.
While it is not “working” at camp in the same sense as a staff member, as an intern, participants are still technically youth participants and therefore bound by many of the same rules and restrictions as a regular camper.
This program teaches management and leadership skills, time management, curriculum development, give you hands-on training, classroom work, and interview experience. Our goal is to help you prepare for a summer job in the future. During the day, well meet to plan activities sessions for Interns, discuss your observations and experiences while working with campers and staff, practice filling out job applications and gear up for the all-important mock job interview which will take place at the end of the program. You will also receive volunteer hours that can be added to your growing resume, a certificate of program completion, a letter of recommendation upon request, and a stipend check.
Providing early college exposure opportunities for first-generation college students can assist students in navigating college and the institutions of higher education in sustaining this population of students. Students are able to learn the language and the steps that are required to help them in becoming admissible.
When elementary/middle/high school students have access to summer camps or other regular activities on a college campus, it enables them to learn to navigate a college campus. Often, building this connection between the student and the institution can create a pathway to the student choosing to attend.In addition, this may help with improving retention because the student is treading on familiar ground because of the early exposure.
When you give to the Y, you are funding life-changing programs that help thousands of children, adults and families in the Santa Maria valley to learn, grow and thrive.
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