Teens
YMCAs are for people of all ages, incomes and abilities. Half of YMCA members nationwide are under age 18. The YMCA gives teens a safe place to call their own, a chance to connect with adults who care about them and an opportunity to get involved in programs that help them grow.
Teen Leadership Programs
YMCA programs help teens learn how to express themselves, come together for a common cause and be active and informed citizens. Leadership programs involve teens in community service projects. In Youth and Government, hands-on activities teach them about state government. Model U.N. helps them learn about world politics and the interdependence of nations.
But Teen Camps don't stop after school ends. Every summer, the YMCA will host a weekly teenage camp that offers teens a chance to decide what they would like to do. It's for teens entering grades 7-9 in the fall. Each Monday, the group, with their counselors guidance, decides how they would like to spend their week. They are given a budget and must reach a consenses on how to spend it. They may choose to go on field trips such as: ice skating, rock climbing, skate park, bowling, etc. They will also be expected to give back to the community by providing community service activities where needed. Parents will receive a copy of the group's weekly schedule.
This summer, the TLC program will be held in our Teen Center at the H.B. & Lucille Horn Family YMCA. If you have not had a chance to visit the teen center, please do. Your teen will love to have it as their hangout this summer.
Other Youth Development Programs
The YMCA of Central New Mexico gives young people a safe place to call their own. Caring and dedicated adults are there to listen to them and help them navigate the stresses, changes and choices that come with adolescence. Building relationships with these responsible adults and with other young people from different backgrounds helps give preteens and teens the inner strength to avoid destructive behavior. Young people have more fun and learn more when they can take the lead in planning and directing their own programs, and the YMCA provides this opportunity. Our YMCA runs programs targeted specifically to at-risk youth and other programs targeted to low-income youth. Check out what we have for your teen today!
Teen Day Camp
Enter Grades 6-8
This weekly teen camp is for youth entering grades 6 to 8 in the fall. Teens are given leadership roles within the camp and opportunities to utilize those roles in group work, volunteerism, college success, career exploration and other teen appropriate activities during the summer.
Counselor in Training
The YMCA of Central New Mexico CIT (Counselor In Training) program has a 25 year legacy of teen leadership development providing an experiental work experience in our summer day camps, work ethic development, age appropriate team work and fun.
Teen Afterschool
The YMCA of Central New Mexico’s teen afterschool program fills your teen’s before and after school time with creative and constructive opportunities.