Learning to Lead at the Rye YMCA

Learning to Lead at the Rye YMCA

[December 12, 2013] Stop by the Rye YMCA on a weekday after 5:00 pm and you might see one of our Leaders Clubs in action. Leaders Club is a nation-wide YMCA initiative that focuses on leadership and volunteer efforts for middle and high school students. At the Rye Y, club participants meet weekly for open discussion, values challenges and teambuilding activities. While the clubs are self-governed, each one has a Y teen staff member (Advisor) who helps guide and direct them. Currently the Rye Y has three clubs – Junior Leaders for grades 6-8, Rye Leaders for grades 9-12 and Mamaroneck Leaders for grades 9-12.

The Mamaroneck Leaders Club, formed in February 2013, participated in their first ever Leaders Rally in November. Five teens and two Y Advisors spent a long weekend at YMCA Camp Greenkill in Huguenot, NY where they were joined by 200 other teens from around the Northeast region. At rallies, the teens and their advisors contribute to and lead workshops. These breakout meetings focus on everything from basic leadership skills and guiding others to open discussions on how challenges in their lives affect themselves and their friends. The Leaders also participate in a full array of activities including zip lining, challenge courses, hikes, a dance and more.

The Junior Leaders, started in September of this year, is for 6-8 graders. The club meets weekly from 5:00-6:00 pm and is advised by Rye Y Teen Coordinator, Cindy Rodriguez. The Juniors are currently working on a “Dream Box” which will store their goals, words that describe themselves, aspirations and dreams. The Junior Leaders are also compiling a healthy cookbook by bringing in their own favorite recipes, finding healthy ingredient substitutions on those recipes, and learning how to read a nutrition label. The Junior Leaders teamed together with the Rye Leaders Club to volunteer at Mistletoe Magic, a Rye community event on December 1, and will help them pack food for the less fortunate at a Hunger Task Force on December 17.

All of these clubs are free to the community. If you are interested in joining or for more information, please contact: Hillary Southard-Camp, Teen and Family Director at hillary@ryeymca.org or 914-967-6363 x103.