YMCA Youth Action
Making new friends, playing gym games, swimming, enjoying a movie, msning your friends and challenging your favourite PS2 games -- all this happens at YMCA Youth Action!
Youth Action is a social and recreational drop in program for 10 to 15 year old youth. This successful
program has been offered to youth in our community with support from the United Way since 1985. The YMCA Youth Action
program consists of three components - school programs where youth participate in active, team-building, co-ed group activities;
Friday night drop in programs at all three YMCA membership centres, which offer crafts, special events, swimming, video games and more; and Saturday Video Dances offered regularly at all four Ys. All components of the Youth Action Program are supervised by
trained YMCA staff and are open to all youth in the community. (A youth does not need to be a YMCA member to participate.)
School Programs
Youth Action is offered at no cost to participants in a number of different locations Monday to Thursday evenings throughout the Niagara Region from 6:00-8:00pm. Locations include sites in Grimsby, Beamsville, St. Catharines, Smithville, Welland and Niagara Falls. The programs will begin in October and run until the end of May excluding school holidays. Click to download a list of locations.
Friday Night Drop in Programs
Friday night drop-in programs offer youth the opportunity to participate in activities such as gym games,
swimming, crafts, special events, movies, Nintendo 64, PS2, Internet cafe,tournaments, foosball, air hockey, and simply
socializing with new friends.
Friday night drop-in programs take place at the Niagara Centre YMCA Branch, at the Niagara Falls YMCA and at the Fort Erie Community YMCA from 6:00-9:00pm and at the St. Catharines Walker Family Branch from 7:00-10:00pm. Youth may participate at a cost of $5 per visit.
Youth Action Dances
Dances are held at all three branches of the YMCA of Niagara, creating another opportunity for youth to socialize with new friends and enjoy their favourite music in a well supervised setting. The cost is $8.00. All dances offer great music and maybe some prizes. Dance participants are encouraged to dress in a manner similar to a school setting. Invite your friends! The dances schedule is listed to the left. Dances are either held by Much Music or Z101.
The Fort Erie Community YMCA will offer dances monthly on Friday nights from 7:00-10:00pm. The fee is $5. Some nights the dance will be preceded by a Junior Dance for ages 6-9 years. The dance will run from 5:00-6:30pm at a cost of $4.
Asset Building the YMCA Way
The YMCA is committed to building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Research has identified 40 "developmental assets" which are the essential building blocks that all young people need to be healthy, caring, competent adults. The YMCA of Niagara is incorporating the "Asset Building" approach into all our children's programs to help children make wise decisions, choose positive paths and grow up competent, caring and responsible. To find out more about Asset Building the YMCA Way, go to What's New.
