YMCA Youth & Government

Download the Youth and Government PDF

Imagine more than 2,000 high school students from across California dressed in business suits coming together for one week to take over the Capitol Building, the court houses and two hotels in Sacramento. Students in grades 9-12 can be a part of this exciting, life-changing experience. Each student picks a role in the legislature, court or media program that they will learn and then perform in Sacramento. There are two weekend conferences and weekly meetings where students learn leadership skills, write bills and prepare for the conference in Sacramento.

Meetings start in September and conferences take place in November, January and February.

Summer Internship

This is a volunteer opportunity for teens in grades 10-12 to work with younger campers. Summer internship positions must be applied for and are not automatically guaranteed. Teens who have attended our LIT (Leaders in Training) Camp in previous years are given priority. Teens who are selected to participate in our summer internship gain valuable life skills that they can take with them into college and future careers. This also is a great opportunity to get some community service hours, which may be required for high school graduation. Learn about the YMCA’s Developmental Assets and how to instill them in younger kids while developing your own. Teens are mentored by senior staff and given regular feedback throughout the summer. Contact us for details and a volunteer application. For details, call 408-298-1717

Day Camps

The Central YMCA has numerous options for teens during our Day Camp season as well, as Winter Break, President's Week and Spring Break.

Download our Summer Camp Program Guide for more information.

Adventure Camp

Do you have an adventurous spirit? Do you want to spend a week challenging your skills and spirit? Get ready for our new “Extreme” Adventure Camp format! Each day is filled with activities developed especially for teens exploring high interest topics. Experience some of the thrills and chills available in our region. Activities include sports and games, cooking, mock trials, overnight adventures, artistic expression, service projects, weekly field trips, and swimming. This summer program has a strong emphasis on the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, while developing leadership skills, team building skills, social skills, and personal growth that will create everlasting friendships and positive memories.

Teen Leadership Camp: Leaders In Training

Our goal is to inspire, empower and support tomorrow’s leaders, today. Our Leaders in Training (LIT) camps give youth training in leadership skills, communication, teamwork, program planning, and child supervision. Teens will participate in a variety of hands-on learning experiences and learn valuable skills in an atmosphere that fosters confidence, self-esteem and cooperation. Training includes field trip to YMCA Camp Campbell. After a week of training, LITs join groups of younger campers for two weeks of hands-on fieldwork. With assistance from camp staff, leaders help plan, organize and facilitate group activities and special events for our Frontier, Discovery, Splash, Sports, and Specialty day campers.

For more information, please contact the Teen Program Director at 408-351-6309. 

Project Cornerstone

Project Cornerstone’s vision is simple—to build a web of support around every young person in our community. This web of support includes families, schools, community centers, faith communities and local businesses. Unfortunately, these resources are disconnected from each other and often from children and youth themselves. Project Cornerstone facilitates the connection of the separate parts of the web so that young people can count on individuals and organizations working together to provide them with consistent support and guidance.

Project Cornerstone promotes the research-based developmental assets approach as a guiding framework and a common language to enable individuals and organizations to work together toward our common goal of supporting the healthy development of all children and youth. We leverage partnerships to influence public policy, programs and personal behavior. Project Cornerstone provides training and consultation and shares resources and best practice models to build the capacity of children’s and youth program providers, schools, governments, foundations, businesses, faith communities, and other community groups to support young people and strengthen our community.

Most people think of assets in terms of property or financial resources. However, Developmental Assets are the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up caring and responsible.

The Search Institute identified the 40 developmental assets as the essential building blocks of healthy child and youth development - including adult role models, positive peer influence, caring school climates and a sense that community values youth. With input from diverse community members, Project Cornerstone has added a 41st asset “positive cultural identity" to the framework we use.

Project Cornerstone was founded in by the Youth Alliance, a collaborative of the following community based organizations: YMCAs of Santa Clara Valley and the Mid Peninsula; YWCA of Santa Clara Valley; Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Boys & Girls Club; and Estrella Family Services. The YMCA of Santa Clara Valley is Project Cornerstone’s parent organization.

For more information, visit the Project Cornerstone website.

For more information about Developmental Assets please click here.