Continuing Commitment to Teens at the Y

Last week, we bid farewell to Mary Orne.

Chris Bevilacqua, our teen and camp director for most of the last year, has taken the position of associate executive director, and we welcome Adam Rodgers as our new teen and camp director, and continue in our commitment to teens.

Rodgers is a graduate of the University of Ottowa in Canada, and comes to us with six years of experience in youth programming.

He has worked in various Ys throughout the area, and grown up in the Y community since he became a camp counselor at 17 years old. In Rodgers' most recent job, he was director of camps for adventure based company ‘Guard-Up!’.

“I am excited to continue the growth we have seen in teen programming within the last year, and to expand our programming into some exciting new areas,” said Rodgers.

Rodgers has some entirely new programming already planned, such as the Warren Miller Young Entrepreneurs Program and the Youth and Government Club.

The Youth and Government Club has been running in Massachusetts since 1937, but neither Marblehead nor Swampscott has ever sent a delegation. This year for the first time, we will send a delegation of students to attend this youth and government forum. Many Ivy League recruiters attend this event, which is designed to develop young leaders.

“I love the work I do with teens because they are creative and they push the boundaries,” said Rodgers. “It is a refreshing experience to work with them because they think about things in ways that working adults do not.”

Rodgers currently resides in Reading, MA with his wife, Katie. For more information on any of our teen programming, you can contact him at rodgersa@northshoreymca.org or 781-990-7013. For more information about either the Warren Miller Young Entrepreneurs Program or the Youth and Government Club, see below or visit our website, www.northshoreymca.org.

Youth and Government Club
Ages: Grades 9-12 (Program runs September thru May)
Fee: Member-$325 Community-$400
The program starts in late September with local delegations and culminates with a conference weekend in Boston where students come together for a Model Legislative session. Youth and Government Club helps participants acquire skills to take into the future, like public speaking and communications, greater understanding of democratic process, enhanced leadership skills, and application of moral and ethical values to life decisions. Fee includes all meals and accommodation during the three day Model Government Conference, meals at pre-conference meetings, and transportation to all events. There will be an informational meeting on November 3 at 7pm in Conference Room 2 where program schedule will be set.

Warren Miller Young Entrepreneurs Program
Ages: Grades 6-12 (Meets for 8 weeks in Conf. Room 2)
Fee: Member-$80 Community-$120
The Warren Miller Freedom Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Program offers a curriculum aimed at giving students the opportunity to learn how to start their own businesses! Students develop a plan, learn basic business vocabulary, discuss and practice marketing, customer service, record keeping, networking, problem solving and ethical business practices. Each week the students end the class with a challenge to meet a specific business goal for the upcoming week. Tuesdays 6:00 pm-8:00pm