Lunenburg County YMCA

Youth Program

Summary2016

MissionTheYMCAofSouthwestNovaSco4ais a registered charity dedicated topromo4ng growth of our people inSpirit, Mind and Body. As acharitable organiza4on, the YMCAinvests all its resources in theprovision of programs and servicesfocused on wellness, health andfitness, childcare and personaldevelopmentneedsofall.

VisionTheYMCAofSouthwestNovaScotiawill be a recognized leader in theareasofhealthpromotion,personalgrowth, youth and family programsand services for all ages, workingwith partners to create a strongercommunity.

ValuesInthedeliveryofallitsprograms,servicesandactivities,theYMCAof Southwest Nova Scotia isguided by the following corevalues:

Caring Honesty Respect Responsibility Inclusiveness

1989YMCALunenburgCountyopensitsdoorsonDominonStreet,Bridgewater

YMCAmovesinto416KingStreet,Bridgewater

YMCAandNovaSco4aCommunityCollegeformapartnershipbasedonsharedvaluesandmissionforservingthecommunity

Newfacilityat75HighStreet,Bridgewater,officiallyopened

YMCAformsanagreementwithlocaleducationservicesandopensanAfterSchoolProgramatHebbville

YMCAopenstheKingStreetYouthCentreat416KingStreet,Bridgewater

TheYMCAFundyopensitsdoorsinCornwallis

TheYMCAofSouthwestNovaScotiaisadoptedasthenameforthegoverningorganizationoftheLunenburgCountyYMCAandtheFundyYMCA

1995

2000

2005

2009

2011

2012

2014

OUR ORGANIZATION

“IusedtobeaveryshypersonandIcouldn’treallytalktopeopleasmuchandIsortofstayedintheshadowsandcorners,sortofrefrainedfromgroupprojectsasmuchaspossiblebecauseIlikedtokeeptomyself.A?ercomingtotheYandexperiencingwhattheYhadtooffer,IendedupbeingabletocommunicateandIendedupmakingsomanymorefriendsandnowIwhenIstartedanewschoolIstartedoffwithsomanyfriendsandit’sbecauseIcouldactuallytalktothemandIwasn’tafraidtogooutandsocialize.

TheYMCAisasafeenvironment,soassoonasyouwalkinyousortoffeellikeallyourstressesarereleasedandyoucanvoiceyouropinionfreely.”

IntroductionSince2009,theLunenburgCountyYMCAhasofferedprogramstomeettheneedsoftheyouthintheTown of Bridgewater and the rural communities within the County of Lunenburg. Currently theLunenburgCountyYMCAofferssevendays/nightsoffree,dropinprogrammingforallyouthtoaccess.

WhatfollowsisasummaryofprogrammingandstatisticsthatsupportthecontinuedsuccessoftheYMCAyouthprograms.Wehopeyouareaseagertolearnaboutthetheresultsofourcurrentprogramsaswearetosharethemwithyou.

- Youth Program Participant

“I became involved with the Youth Leader Program because…

… Ithinkitwillbefuntohelpchildren.” (male , age 13)…theYMCAprovidedmeanopportunitytogrow.” (female, age 15)

… IneededasolidsupportsystemandtheYMCAprovidedmewithone.” (non-binary, age 15)

… friendlyandwelcomingplace.” (female, age 16)… Iwantedtovolunteerinthecommunity.” (female, age 16)… myfriendsenjoyeditsoIbecameinvolved .” (male, age 16)

Youth Leader Programfostering social responsibility in all youth

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Overview

• First piloted in October, 2009• Free leadership training program for youth ages 12-18 years; pre-registration is required• Aspiring youth volunteers are provided an opportunity to participate in leadership training, gain

developmentally appropriate skills, learn to get along with and appreciate others, gain self-confidence, and volunteer with YMCA led youth programming and community events

• Youth Leaders meet on Wednesday evenings between 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the King Street Youth Centre • Staffed by 1 Youth Coordinator, 1 Youth Program staff and 1 adult volunteer • Funding received since the inception of the program from United Way of Lunenburg County, IWK

Community Grant, Nova Scotia Department of Healthy and Wellness Regional Development Grant, Municipality of the District of Chester, TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board, Sexual Health Violence Prevention Innovation Grant

• Since 2009, there have been over 80 active Youth Leaders

Participant Summary (October, 2009 - December 31, 2016)80 have attained their Level 1 Certificate 61 have attained their Level 2 Certificate 37 have attained their Level 3 Certificate 21 have attained their Level 4 Certificate 12 have attained their Level 5 Certificate 8 have attained their Level 6 Certificate 3 have attained their Level 7 Certificate 1 has attained their Level 8 Certificate

There are presently 20 active Youth LeadersThis Youth Leader Logo, was locally

developed and implemented in 2015

Community ImpactYouth Leaders volunteered for both YMCA and community led initiatives in 2016 including:

Since 2009, members of the Youth Leader Program have

provided 11,221volunteer hours

• 14th Annual Kids Triathlon Event • Bikes for Kids - United Way of Lunenburg

County • Bonny Lea Farm Lobster Dinner Fundraiser

- dinner service • Bonny Lea Farm Volunteer Appreciation

Tea • Bridgewater Town Garden Party • Canada Day on the Lahave • Centre Scolaire de la Rive Sud Wellness

Expo • Family Resource Centre Annual Children’s

Fun Day • Family Pumpkin Party at the MARC • Fresh Air Food Truck Festival • Grinders All-Skate Board Park Committee • Hillside Pines Mock Evactuation • MARC Easter Egg hunt

• March Break at the Mall - Fun Zone • Presidents Choice Charity Fundraiser • Summer Olympics Sports Day • Town of Bridgewater Public Forum on

Transportation • Town of Bridgewater Parks & Recreation

Day Camp • Youth Alcohol Project • Youth Engagement & Trails • YMCA Fun Run - Strong Kids Fundraiser • YMCA Healthy Kids Day • YMCA Penny Auction - youth fundraiser • YMCA Yard Sale & Car Wash • YMCA Youth Basketball • YMCA Youth Multi-Sport Night • YMCA Youth Zone

In 2016, Youth Leaders volunteered over 1,603 hours

CanadianRaceRelationsFoundationVideoContest

Youth Leaders par.cipated inthe “2016 Youth Challenge”video contest as presented bythe Canadian Race Rela.onsFounda.on; a founda.ondedicated to working towardsthe elimina.on of racism anda l l f o r m s o f r a c i a ldiscrimina.on in Canadiansociety. Their mission is toadvance Canadian iden.ty inthe pursuit of posi.ve racerela.ons,equity,fairness,socialharmony and dignity for allCanadians. They do this byp ro v i d i n g i n d ep enden t ,outspoken na.onal leadership,informing na.onal policies andpublic conversa.on, andac.ngasaresourceandfacilitator.The Youth Challenge providedteens that are passionate aboutfighting against discriminationand want to help build a morei n c l u s i v e C a n a d a a n dopportunity to submit a 30second– 1minute videowith afocusonthemessuchasidentity,be longing , re l ig ion, c iv icengagementormulticulturalism.

The YMCA Youth Leaderssubmittedtheir30secondvideotitled – World Citizen. Whiletheir video did notwin, they alllearnedhowtoworkasa team,develop, edit and produce avideo and to appreciate thed i v e r s i t y i n t h e i r o w ncommunities.

YMCAYouthLeaderProgramGuideforAdultFacilitators

Following a two year effort, theYMCA of Southwest Nova Scotiacompleted a YMCA Youth LeaderGuide for Adult Facilitators whichwill prove useful for both YouthProgramstaffandAdultVolunteersworking with Youth Leaders. Thiswork could not have beensuccessfullycompletedwithoutthesupportofYouthProgramstaffandthe financial support of the TELUSAtlanticCanadaCommunityBoard,the United Way of LunenburgCounty and the Nova ScotiaDepartment of Hea l th andWellness.

This Guide wil l be used inconjunctionwith theYouthLeaderHandbooktoensuretheprogramisyouthcentredandstrengthbased.

DukeofEdinburgh’sAwardProgramReturnstotheYMCA

InJuly2016,theYouthLeaderProgramandtheDukeofEdinburgh’sAwardProgramreteamedtoofferyouthan

opportunity to combine theirparticipationintheYouthLeaderProgram with the requirementsto complete the Duke of EdProgram.Thisisthesecondtimethe YMCA has partneredsuccessfullywiththeDukeofEdprogram. Currently there areseven Youth Leaders enrolled inthe Duke of Ed as part of theYMCAofSouthwestNovaScotiaYouthGroup.

YouthLeadersTakeSocialActionTheYouthAlcoholProject

TheYouthAlcoholProject (YAP),a youth-led committee thatfocusesonchangingthe‘cultureofalcoholuse’atthecommunitylevel brought twelve youthtogether.

YAP is about the proper use ofalcohol. YAP is not about tellingpeople how they should livetheirlives.Instead,YAPusaboutworking on effective ways toreduce risk and harms. It isabout keeping people safe andaboutmakingtheworldabetterplace.

In2016,thiscommitteemet1-2times per month at the YMCAKing Street Youth Centre whichculminated in a communityeventonMay5th.

updates from 2016

The Youth Leader Program provides young people opportunities to exercise social responsibility by volunteering, donating and sharing in ideas. By

participating in this program, they not only change their communities; they change themselves.

Why I enjoy the King Street Youth Centre:”It’sfun,doawesomethings” (female , age 13)“Playingwithfriendsoncomputers,playingpool,makingpopcorn.” (male, age 11)

”Itgivesmeachancetobesocial.” (female, age 15)

”It’sajudge-freeplacewhereIcanbeme.” (non-binary, age 15)”It’sfun.” (male, age 16)”Warm,friendlyplace.” (female, age 16)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Facility Overview

• First opened October 1, 2012• Free, drop-in programs for youth ages 11-18• Programs offered 5 days per week • Staffed by 1 Youth Coordinator and 5 Youth Program Staff; 2 staff are scheduled during programming • Funding received since the inception of the program from United Way of Lunenburg County, IWK

Community Grant, Nova Scotia Department of Healthy and Wellness Regional Development Grant, Municipality of the District of Chester, TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board, Sexual Health Violence Prevention Innovation Grant

Community Impact

King Street Youth Centrenurturing the potential of youth

• Averages 9 youth per program• Between October 1, 2012 - December 31, 2016 youth

accessed the King Street Youth Centre 7396 times• In 2016, the King Street Youth Centre was accessed

1735 times by youth

• In 2016, 51% of the participants originated from the Town of Bridgewater and 49% of participants came from the surrounding communities within the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and beyond

King Street Youth Centre Participation Rates (2012 - 2016)

3574 3822

Why I enjoy the King Street Youth Centre:

King Street Youth Centre *Participation Rates (2016) Percentage Breakdown of Participants by School

BAYVIEW

BES

BJSHS

HA

PVEC

OTHER

47%

4%

6%

19%

16%

6%

Community Development The King Street Youth Centre has formed affiliations wth a number of organizations within the community and will continue to develop opportunities in 2017 for youth that are not presently available to them.

These affiliations include, but are not limited to:

• Youth Alcohol Project • South Shore Schools Plus

Advisory Committee • Freeman House • Lunenburg Queens Volunteer

Partnership • Town of Bridgewater Police

Department • South Shore Council of Canadians • South Shore School Board (Coop

& O2 programs) • South Shore Big Brothers Big

Sisters

• Second Story Women’s CentreNOW Lunenburg County

• Riders Square All-Wheels Skate Park Committee

• Family Resource Centre • The Youth Project • Nova Scotia Sea School • Municipal Alcohol Project • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Programme • Town of Bridgewater Department

of Parks, Recreation and Culture

• Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, Municipal Recreation Department

• Municipality of the District of Chester, Municipal Recreation Department

• ParticipACTION • Rotary Club of Bridgewater • ARTpreneurs • South Shore Restorative Justice • Sport Nova Scotia

*

YouthFocusGroupheldattheKingStreetYouthCentre

In February 2016, the YouthCentre hosted a Youth FocusGroup for girls’ ages 9 – 10years of age for East CoastSocial Change on behalf ofRecreation Nova Scotia. Thefocus group was titled “WhatWorks forMe?” and focusedonactivitylevelsamongyounggirls and their knowledge ofnutrition. The informationcollected as part of this focusgroupandothersheldalloverNova Scotia will be used tohelp Recreation Nova Scotiabetter engage young femalesinrecreationalactivitieswithintheprovince.

updates from 2016

At the King Street Youth Centre we work side-by-side with youth , facilitating new

and existing programs that empower youth in a safe and engaging environment

Home Cooking Monday, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Youth learn how to cook tasty meals from scratch. All ingredients and supplies are provided.

Y Not Try It? Tuesday, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Youth are invited to join us for board games, conversation, music, movies, art and a chance to meet new friends.

Chill Zone Saturday, 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Monday 8:30pm - 9:00pm, Tuesday, 8:30pm - 9:00pm, and Wednesday, 8:30pm - 9:30pm Youth can come chill and enjoy all the youth centre has to offer. Pool table, air hockey table, over 40 board games, Xbox, Wii, video games, Netflix, free Wifi and more.

Homework Help Sunday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm A quiet space is provided to get homework finished. Computers, resources tools, materials, school supplies and adult mentors are also available

Free Programming In addition to the Youth Leader Program, an additional 4 drop-in programs are held at the King Street Youth Centre

“It’s definitely more open here. It’s just, when you walk in you make an agreement with everyone in the room, there is no judging, you can all be who you are with no side effects, and then you can voice your opinions and you can be open about that.”

- King Street Youth Centre participant, age 15

“YouthZonehasreallyshapedmeintotheoutgoingpersonIamtoday,andmaybehasevenhelpedmedeterminethedirectionIwouldliketogoinmylife.” (female , age 16)

Youth Zonededicated to strengthening our community

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Overview

• First piloted on July 3, 2009• Free drop-in program for children and youth ages 5 - 18 years• Operates Friday evenings between the hours of 6:30pm - 10:00pm • Held in the YMCA Clubhouse, Aerobic Studio, NSCC Gymnasium and the Fitness Centre at the Lunenburg

County YMCA • Provides opportunities for youth to enjoy physical activities , challenging games and a safe environment

where youth socialize with peers • Staffed by 2 Youth Program staff, adult volunteers and youth volunteers of the YMCA Youth Leader

Program

• Funding received since the inception of the program from United Way of Lunenburg County, Lunenburg County Community Health Board, SOGO Active, ParticipACTION Teen Challenge Grant and Awesome South Shore

Community Impact• Averages 52 children and youth per program• July 3, 2009 - December 31, 2016, 1565 or 16.5% of the

children and youth population of Lunenburg County accessed the program 15,023 times

• In 2016, Youth Zone was accessed 1483 times by children and youth; 150 of these being first-time participants

Youth Zone Participation Rates (2009 - 2016)

8116 6901

Byofferingthisprogramwehelpensurethatchildren,teensandyoungadultshaveaccesstoyouth-centredprogramsandservicesneededtolearn,growandthrive.

Youth ZoneParticipation Rates (2016) Percentage Breakdown of Participants by Geographical Area

BAYVIEW

BRIDGEWATER

BLUENOSE

ECOLE

HEBBVILLE

NEWCOMBVILLE

NEW GERMANY

PVEC

OTHER

3%

39%

3%

4%

14%

4%

“It’s a great feeling to know there is place out there specifically for us youth. We’ll never take it for granted. It’s one of my favourite places on Earth, and that is something that will not change.”

7%

15%

10%

Youth Zone is an inclusive program for youth of all ages to engage in

healthy recreational opportunities within a supportive environment.

- YMCA Youth Participant

Youth Lacrosse & Basketballpromoting free access to healthy living

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Overview

• Youth Lacrosse ran from November 5, 2015 - August 25, 2016; Youth Basketball began September 8, 2016• Free drop-in program for youth ages 11 - 18 years• Operates Thursday evenings between the hours of 6:00pm - 8:00pm • Held in the NSCC Gymnasium • Provides opportunities for youth be active, have fun, and enhance their skills • Staffed by 1 Youth Program staff, adult volunteers and youth volunteers of the YMCA Youth Leader

Program

• Funding received since the inception of Youth Multi-Sport Programming on Thursday evenings (began May 3, 2012) from United Way of Lunenburg County, SOGO Active, and ParticipACTION Teen Challenge Grant

Community Impact

• Averages 8 youth per program• May 3, 2012 - December 31, 2016, youth accessed

Thursday evening programs 1660 times

• In 2016, Youth Lacrosse & Basketball were accessed 368 times by youth

Youth Lacrosse & Basketball Participation Rates (2016)

321 47

BES

BJSHS

ECOLE

HA

PVEC

NGRHS

OTHER

3%

23%

20%

17%

26%

3%

7%

Youth Lacrosse & BasketballParticipation Rates Percentage Breakdown of Participants by Geographical Area

Youth Conditioningpromoting free access to healthy living

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Overview

• Youth Conditioning was first offered November 5, 2015• Free drop-in program for youth ages 11 - 18 years• Operates Thursday evenings between 8:00pm - 9:00pm • Held in the Lunenburg County YMCA Fitness Centre • Provides opportunities for youth to explore the YMCA Fitness Centre, train in preparation for team games

or just have fun setting personal health and well-being goals • Staffed by 1 Youth Program staff, 2 adult volunteers and 1 YMCA Wellness Leader

• Funding received from United Way of Lunenburg County

Community Impact

• Averages 5 youth per program• May 3, 2012 - December 31, 2016, youth accessed

Thursday evening programs 1660 times

• In 2016, Youth Conditioning was accessed 264 times by youth

Youth ConditioningParticipation Rates (2016)

202 62

BES

BJSHS

ECOLE

HA

PVEC

NGRHS

OTHER

7%

22%

23%

12%

13%

8%

15%

Youth ConditioningParticipation Rates Percentage Breakdown of Participants by Geographical Area

ConclusionAsacharity,theYMCAhas longbeendedicatedtopromotingthehealthofourcommunitiesbyfosteringthewellnessofeveryCanadian.Torealizethisgoal,werelyonfundingpartners,whoshareourcommitmenttoassistingchildren,youthandfamilies.Funding opportunities are continually explored to source additional support tosustainandenhance thepresentyouthprograms (YouthZone,YouthBasketball,YouthConditioning,YouthLeaderProgramandtheKingStreetYouthCentre).

Weareexcitedwiththenumberofyouthweareabletoengageandlookforwardtocontinuingtoprovideyouthwithsafeandinclusiveprogramming.Thankyoutoour2016supporterswhohavecontributedtothesuccessoftheseprograms.

building healthy communities