In 2015 the Youth Leader program was created to continue to engage teens who were aging out of our summer camp program. Students who had mastered many of the skills taught, and had successfully completed projects within the guidelines and constraints provided, were invited into the program. Youth Leaders lead activities at Pop-up Workshops implemented throughout the year, providing them with the opportunity to be leaders versus learners, as they guide participants of all ages through various STEAM activities and projects. Youth Leaders receive ongoing training on new projects/activities to expand participation opportunities.

As the program has grown, Youth Leaders have also had the opportunity to be volunteer summer camp assistants, with several also serving as Peer Instructors at the summer Art & Design Thinking Camp beginning in 2018. In 2022 we are excited to add Paid Youth Leader Interns to our model. The interns are High School students that are active AYA Youth Leaders. They receive support in the application & interview process as well as guidance on proper workplace habits. They are assigned to various camp activities in order to gain experience in a variety of tasks and operations. Interns work directly with campers and participate in staff collaboration and daily debrief.

Program participation helps teens to develop pre-employment and leadership skills, while also building confidence. They also have the opportunity to engage with larger rings of their community beyond their immediate neighborhoods. Teens are also introduced to entrepreneurship as they create their own projects for future activities.

You can see our Youth Leaders in action on our Pop-Up Workshop page.