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Provides affordable services and activities to all youth.

Offers a variety of services including monthly food and clothing distribution, family nights neighborhood events, summer youth enrichment classes, summer food program, low income bus passes, information and referral, and a computer center.

Senior coffee club meets weekly, including a program generally related to topics of interest to seniors or topics proposed by the group.

Lead agency for Arnold Elementary Community Learning Center.

Child care - see separate listing.

Meeting space and volunteer opportunities available.

Categories

Transportation Passes
Older Adult Social Clubs
Food Pantries
General Clothing Provision
Youth Enrichment Programs
Neighborhood Multipurpose Centers
Public Access Computers/Tools

Offers youth development programs for youth between the ages of 5-18. The Club is open to all youth and offer a variety of after school activities, including academic and team building exercises. Homework assistance is also provided as well as an after school snack.

Categories

Boys/Girls Clubs
Youth Enrichment Programs
Provides affordable services and activities to all youth.
Matches adult volunteers with children who need a supportive adult in their life. The program recruits men and women who are willing to make a commitment to a child for at least one year. Volunteers spend 4 hours a month with a child, participating in activities of their choice throughout the community (going to the zoo, playing catch, or taking a walk). Staff members evaluate prospective volunteers for the qualities necessary to contribute to the healthy development of the child. A child is matched with a volunteer big brother, big sister, couple or family according to the child's needs and the capabilities of the volunteer(s). Following the match, supervision is provided by the professional staff to assist the big brother, sister, couple or family in developing a strong positive relationship with the child.

SCHOOL BASED MENTORING offers adult volunteers the opportunity to meet with a child in their school for one hour a week during the school year. During that hour, the match spends time working on the child's schoolwork, talking, and quite simply, building a friendship. Children are referred to this program by school personnel with parental approval.

SCHOOL BASED PLUS MENTORING is an extension of our School Based Mentoring. After three months in School Based Mentoring can join this program. School Based Plus allows Bigs and Littles the opportunity to meet once a month outside the school setting. They are able to enjoy activities such as picinic at the park, going to sporting events, the movies, or any other activities they might enjoy together.

COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING allows individuals who are 18 or older to visit with a child twice a month for a minimum of 4 hours. Bigs spend time with their Littles participating in activities throughout the community. Whether its going to the zoo, playing catch, or just taking a walk, its a great chance to form a bond. The possibilities are endless for the growth of a new friendship. Community Based Mentoring also allows for Big Duo (two friends, co-workers, a husband and wife, etc.) or a Family Matches. Children are referred to this program by their parent or guardian.

Categories

Mentoring Programs
Tutoring Services
Youth Enrichment Programs
Offers a variety of sports and physical education, summer program and other activities for youth. Rents a room for parties and events and offers volunteer opportunities.

After-school partnership, encouraging and empowering girls in 4th-12th grades in understanding and exploring science, engineering, math, and related technology. The curriculum promotes these disciplines as girls explore skills in collaboration, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. SMART Clubs champions the study and vocation of these technological fields.

Offered at specific schools in partnership with Lincoln Public Schools Community Learning Centers.

Offers a wide variety of activities including arts and crafts, academic programs, sports, reading clubs, workshops and other recreational, leisure, cultural, social and civic activities for school-age children and youth

Categories

Youth Enrichment Programs
Youth Centers
Helps the schools, parents, and community in an effort to prepare young people to become successful and productive citizens. The program focuses on the YMCA core values of Character, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, tied with the Six Pillars of Character Development to enhance the self confidence, motivation, and self esteem of the participants. The program is site-based and operates at different schools sites in the community. Every group at each particular site meets at different times. The program identifies at-risk youth that are potential leaders and are currently underachieving.
Offers areas and equipment to promote an active lifestyle, as well as various types of training, classes, youth activities, and child care.

Categories

Youth Enrichment Programs
Recreational Facilities

Participants learn life and leadership skills while exploring their local community. Includes enrichment programs, leadership classes, and field trips.

Offers recreation programs and services to the residents of Des Moines. Parks, trails and public recreation facilities are available throughout the city.

The Recreation Division offers instruction in various sports as well as youth sports camps, outdoor aquatic centers and spray grounds. Red Cross swimming instruction is also available at some facilities. GRASP card offers discounts to low income families (up to 50% off).

Community Centers offer a variety of activities, open recreation, meeting space and are barrier free to allow for participation by persons with a disability. See individual listing for Community Centers.

Parks Division includes cemeteries, floral gardens and displays, golf courses, tennis courts, bike trails, picnic parks and shelters, swimming pools, and public boat ramps.

Categories

Recreational Facilities
Youth Enrichment Programs
General Recreational Activities/Sports
Public Parks
Arts and Crafts Instruction
Team Sports/Leagues
Youth services provides courses on topics including first aid for children, disaster preparedness, water safety, and babysitting for children. Also offers youth volunteer opportunities and service learning projects for middle and high school students.

Categories

Hygiene
Personal Safety Education
Babysitting Instruction
Youth Enrichment Programs
Works to assist central Iowa families and students through counseling, health care services, mentoring, sports and community projects.

Provides a summer camp June - August, Mon-Fri 7:30 am-6 pm. Elementary and Middle School ages ages 5-12.

Provides eligible families with opportunities for youth to participate in community, school, and family activities to help them grow, learn, build self-confidence, and become more engaged in life skill development.

Provides programs in character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, arts, sports, fitness and recreation. Offers structured programming promoting academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character development - STEM, physical fitness activities, service to others, arts and crafts, etc.

Offers a variety of activities and classes for youths that include athletics, arts and crafts, dance classes, cultural activities, fitness, and special seasonal events.

- Tween Nights: provides an opportunity for tweens to enjoys games, sports, music and more, and to spend time with friends and make new acquaintances.

- Summer Camps: provides a variety of summer camps for youths. Summer camp themes include nature, performing arts, sports, youth variety, and Sun-Sational.

VOICE is a group mentoring program offered to youth in grades 6-11. The program offers youth enrichment activities and curriculum on subjects such as personal development and leadership. Participants engage in books, games, art activities, field trips, and recreational activities. There are cohorts offered for all youth, and affinity cohorts for youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth.

Offers educational programming for children, before and after school. Programs focus on STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math) with an emphasis on literacy and arts, as well as computer literacy and practical life skills like entrepreneurship and work readiness.

Categories

Extended Child Care
Youth Enrichment Programs

Offers to prepare youth to make healthy choices through prevention and education programs relating to substance use, adolescent pregnancy, and suicide prevention. These services provide early awareness, intervention, and out-of-classroom support to give youth the tools they need to stay on the right path.

Programs include:

Substance Use Prevention

Smoking and or vaping cessation

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

Suicide Prevention

Youth Violence Prevention

Juvenile Delinquency Prevention

Human Trafficking Prevention

Categories

Drug Use Disorder Education/Prevention
Youth Enrichment Programs
Smoking/Vaping Cessation Support
Mental Health Information/Education
Child Abuse Prevention
Human Trafficking Prevention
Alcohol Use Disorder Education/Prevention
Youth Violence Prevention
Juvenile Delinquency Prevention
Smoking/Vaping Cessation
Norwood Park and Brownell Community Learning Centers offer before and after school care and enrichment clubs as well as family nights and family support programs for families at Brownell Elementary School and Norwood Park Elementary School. Full-time summer programs open to all students in Lincoln and surrounding communities.

Categories

Youth Enrichment Programs
Music Instruction
Extended Child Care
Provides opportunities for children to learn, practice, and perform drumming, dance, drill and tumbling skills, while supporting their educational and character development.
Youth services provides courses on topics including first aid for children, disaster preparedness, water safety, and babysitting for children. Also offers youth volunteer opportunities and service learning projects for middle and high school students.

Categories

Hygiene
Personal Safety Education
Babysitting Instruction
Youth Enrichment Programs

After school and summer programming for youth in grades K-12 to receive homework/tutoring assistance, appropriate behavior lessons, problem solving skills, making responsible decisions, responding to conflict appropriately, and skill-building activities in a range of subjects.

Categories

Extended Child Care
Tutoring Services
Youth Enrichment Programs