Education & Leadership

The YMCA cares about teens. The YMCA cultivates teen leaders. The YMCA creates opportunities for teens to contribute to their communities.

Y Teen programs partner with families, schools, businesses, and the entire community to help provide brighter futures for young people. Teen programs include youth development activities, leadership groups, community service projects, exposure to diverse career options, after-school activities, tutoring and mentoring, sports, camping, strength-training, and fun, recreational events.

YMCA Youth & Government
Democracy must be learned by each generation. Each September for six months, more than 2,000 high school students throughout California learn first-hand how our state government works—not by watching, but by doing! The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature and participating in Court and other Legislative programs. Then there are the dances, elections, talent shows, and socializing—also part of what makes this a great experience.

Education & Leadership programs vary by location. For details, contact the YMCA nearest you

Conejo Valley YMCA
Miller Family YMCA of Newbury Park
Simi Valley Family YMCA
Triunfo YMCA

Counselor in Training (CIT) and Leader in Training (LIT) Teen Leadership Programs at Camp
The camp environment provides a unique opportunity for youth to build leadership skills, particularly in assisting counselors with younger campers. The goals of CIT and LIT camp programs are to teach the general skills of leadership that can be used at school, home and community (not just at camp.) For younger camp leaders (ages 13-15), the curriculum includes working with younger kids at camp, but often includes community components like volunteering your local YMCA. Counselors-in-Training or "CITs" are the oldest campers who typically want to apply for a job at camp the next summer, maybe as a Jr Counselor or some other supporting role. They need to learn more specific skills for working with kids and co-workers, and more experience planning and leading activities. Both programs give kids age-appropriate challenges that build their skills, confidence and capacity for working with people of all ages