At the Y, we know teens can accomplish anything they set their minds to. Providing programs to develop teens mentally, physically and spiritually is our mission.
Today, we are watching youth development in action, with young people finding their voices, activating their beliefs and joining — even driving — the democratic process. More than leaders, they have become changemakers.
Our Teen Leadership is our teen program umbrella that encompasses our signature clubs such as Leaders Club, Youth in Government (YIG), Achievers and Future Leaders. The purpose of our programs is to support the positive cognitive, physical, and social-emotional growth of teens from cradle to career by providing programs that adhere to the character development model of empathy, relationship building, personal development, responsibility and emotion management.
See our offerings and register online!
All members of Youth in Government, Future Leaders, and Achievers are integral parts of the Teen Leadership program at the First Coast YMCA.
School Year Clubs
Teen Leadership Executive Board
Each club has an executive office that consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Historian, these officers combined will make up the Executive Board of our Leadership and meet regularly to plan association-wide service projects, social events, and fundraising activities.
Leaders Club
Teen Leaders Club at the YMCA is an annual, year-long Y-based service and leadership development program for teens ages 13-18 (grades 7 – 12). The purpose of the YMCA Leaders Club is to provide teens with experience and training to influence college knowledge, academics, positive relationships, life skills, and positive identity.
This program is focused on overall wellness, character development, and service. The Leaders club program aims to foster a sense of belonging and achievement for all of those who are involved. Teens are paired with a YMCA adviser that serves in a positive mentor relationship to help guide and develop the teens and program.
Youth in Government (YIG)
YIG aims to acquaint students with the intricacies of our state’s governmental procedures, structure, and responsibilities. Local chapters collaborate on honing debate skills and crafting bills for presentation at the State Capital. Members engage in service-learning initiatives and fundraising activities. Students opt to specialize in either legislative or judicial matters, providing them with a focused perspective through which they can grasp their unique roles within the state government framework.
Achievers
Teen Achievers is a nationwide initiative dedicated to assisting students in charting their paths toward higher education and successful careers. In partnership with the YMCA, this program offers guidance and resources to help young adults navigate the transition from high school to future endeavors. Many adolescents approach the end of their high school journey with uncertainty about their professional futures, lacking concrete plans or aspirations. Teen Achievers steps in to fill this void by offering mentorship, cultivating a supportive atmosphere, and encouraging participants to pursue careers aligned with their passions. Through this initiative, the aim is to empower youth to become active and committed contributors to our society.
School Year Programs
Teen Forward
Teen Forward is an afterschool program for pre-teens and teens hosted at our Johnson YMCA. The program focus on our youth’s future by exposing them to new experiences, introducing them to career-focused professionals, and presenting them with options beyond high school. With social responsibility, healthy living, and youth development being our driving forces, teens have an opportunity to give back to the community in which they live.
Inner Prize – Johnson Family YMCA
The Inner Prize is a new program for students in grades 6 – 8 that gives them the opportunity to discover who they are and who they would like to become. This FREE program is designed for students who want to invest in themselves and unlock their unique “inner prize”—their potential—by engaging with mentors that will give them a college- and future focus. Students will be paired with mentors based on personality, goals and interests and they will receive help with academics and beyond.
Summer Programs
Future Leaders
Future Leaders consists of two summer programs, Leaders in Training and Counselors in Training.
Leaders in Training
Leaders in Training is a summer program designed to offer teens a variety of experiences and opportunities related to leadership, service learning, and social and club development. Teens receive hands-on training, career exploration and professional development that serves as the foundation of our Y teen clubs. During this training, teens will learn about our signature clubs and the responsibilities of a student officer. With the support of the staff and Senior Program Director, teens have the opportunity to join or start a club at their YMCA. (Requirements: Rising 8th graders – 12th grade)
L.I.T. Application (Apply online) L.I.T. Application (pdf)
Counselors in Training
For 6 weeks out of the summer, teens will train to become a camp counselor, while shadowing different camp sites and programs to put their learnings into practice. (Requirements: Must have completed a year of LIT and be 15 years or older.)
Certifications
Teens will earn training hours in YMCA servant leadership, departmental knowledge, professional certifications, mentorship, and data-driven enrichment while directing them through a volunteer-to-career pipeline. Teens possessing this certification will be equipped to be YMCA Leaders with the passion and resources that would traditionally take years to develop, making them ideal frontline leaders.
Students will obtain a certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation during the summer trainings.
Positions & Responsibilities
Sets goals for the year regarding service, fundraising and assembly/conference participation. Assemble chapter officers before each chapter meeting to plan agenda. Assign members of chapter to present parts of the agenda. Facilitate planning of character development activities, year-round service projects, and chapter meetings. Promotes and initiates officer accountability. Responsible for facilitation of writing and updating the chapter constitution.
Support the President or be given a specific area of administrative focus. Assumes all presidential duties and responsibilities in the President’s absence.
Work directly with Senior Program Director to complete assembly/conference registration paperwork, assure all members in club have paperwork complete. Maintain all chapter records including meeting agendas, meeting minutes, meeting attendance, service hour check-ins, assembly/conference rosters. Registration binders with registration forms for trips. Maintain roster of student Y membership roster. Create an activities calendar.
Plan and maintain chapter budget including: tracking revenue (chapter dues, fundraisers, donations) and tracking expenses (assembly/conference fees, chapter event costs, etc.) spearhead all fundraising efforts, both philanthropic and administrative. Work with Secretary and advisor to assist in collection membership dues and assembly fees (contingent upon the site).
Manage all official chapter and social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). Create a communication calendar, if necessary, to keep track of postings. Share all service project plans, accomplishments and photos on social media (teens must send photos to PPR to post on social media). Create and distribute press releases to local media outlets for all chapter projects, events and awards.
Note: As program develops and grows committees and positions can be assigned.
See our offerings and register online!
For more information:
Contact Shermayne Reynolds
Association Director of Teen Programs
SReynolds@fcymca.org
