This document discusses how the YMCA can better engage teenage members. It notes that teens are currently not engaged by YMCA programs and often do not feel the YMCA is a place for them. However, the document argues that teens are important to the future of the YMCA as both future members and representatives of change. It suggests that by giving teens more ownership, control, and purpose through their involvement, the YMCA can create "Y-for-life" members and benefit the community. With some efficient upgrades, such as allocating existing space for teens and using volunteers, the YMCA can better foster teen engagement at low cost.

1. YMCA Design for America

2. Overview I. Recap of Challenge II. YMCA needs teens to be complete III. Teens need the YMCA to be there IV. What the YMCA can do V. Why it’s possible

3. The Challenge Teens aren’t engaged at the Y Programs don’t keep their attention Going other places The Y has a hard time accommodating teens Budget, space-wise Understanding and patience Difficulty with retention

4. YMCA Fundamentals Community Core Values: Responsibility, Respect, Caring and Honesty "a holistic approach to individual and social development encompassing spiritual, intellectual and physical methods"

5. Why Teens are Important Part of the community Are a source of future membership positive cycle Represent change and bring change to the Y Volunteer and care YMCA can foster that Can become a source of pride

7. Low cost and low risk

8. Funds can be re-invested in teen or used for other groups

9. Successful programs now generates future enrollment

11. Day in the Life at the Y NOW “If you aren’t selling cones, just go stand somewhere inside” “The Y isn’t somewhere I’d take my friends…I just come here because my parents tell me”

12. It can even feel like abandonmentto them “It’s like when we are 12 they push us out of Y Kids and [the Y has] got nothing to do” – age 13 “I just come here because that is what I used to do” – age 11

13. Putting it together

14. Who is at the Y and What can we do for them?

15. We can give them Purpose

16. Our Key Insights

17. Refining Our Key Insights

18. Refining Our Key Insights Teens: Want Control/Ownership Try Things to Figure Themselves Out Try to be Unique Want Adults to be a Crutch Want to be Cool

19. Taking it even further… Y Provides Opportunities Have some control/say in activities- opinions Ownership of space - teen room Catching them young Starting to respect teens Safety Too many yet too little decisions to make Not really theirs But what about when they get to age 12? Not everyone is respecting them yet Over-watched

20. What Can we Do

21. when you engage them Things work These teens, when given a purpose, are excellent You really don’t need to spend a lot of money or need a lot of space

22. How Far Can The Y Go?

23. How Far can the Y GO?

24. How Far Can the Y go?

25. How Far Can the Y GO?

26. What you are really doing

27. Where do you want to be?

28. Costs can be efficient Costs are mostly incurred up front due to set-up Cost of space reduced by allocating existing rooms for teen activity Use of volunteer resources to minimize monthly costs of staffing

29. benefits are not always measurable Gain goodwill among kids, establish relationships Become more connected within areas served “Beneficiary Builder”

30. In sum… Teens are important to the Y. Teens care most about having a purpose and being empowered. The Y can foster this with a few simple, efficient upgrades. The Y gets community, happy teens, funds, respect, CHANGE