Youth Community Action - training youth to take action in their communities!

Youth Community Action (YCA), a term coined by youth, encompasses a range of learning opportunities within the context of the Community Service continuum: from taking part in service projects to identifying local needs and changing policy.

YCA is a Signature Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension, our parent organization. YCA is:

• An integral part of positive youth development.
• Life Skill Development
• Young people and adults learning, sharing leadership, taking action, making a difference in their communities.

YOUth CAN? How can YOU get started? Chances are ... if you're involved in 4-H, in other youth organizations, or school programs, you're already doing some tpe of community service.  However, if you want to learn how to 'kick it up a notch' there's curriculum and resources to help.

Find Out More:

• NEW! Virtual Classroom for YCA YOUTHCAN, The Youth Community Action Network! Use this virtual tool to work through the youth action process, share ideas with your group, and get feedback from YCA administrators. Site is password protected. You can view the site to check out other projects and work through a tutorial, but will need to register if you want to use the site to work through a real process/project. Register now to begin working as an individual or group taking action in your community!
• YOUth CAN New York - youth can make a difference! Check it out!  Web pages coming soon - designed for youth, by youth.
• Are we missing information about what's happening in your county? Enter your stories here!
• YouthCAN Photo Gallery

Curriculum:

• 4-H CCS Public Adventures
• 4-H CCS Service Learning Curriculum

Additional Resources:

• Meaningful Student Involvement Series Source: Adam Fletcher, The Freechild Porject, Olympia, WA
• Public Achievement
• NYS Hunger Project
• F.I.L.M. Finding Inspiration in Literature & Movies - encouraging youth to take action on issues that are important to them.
• Youth Service America

Tools to aid with the planning process. 

• Steps to Youth Community Action
• Tips for Using Public Adventures Curriculum
• Planning Guides for Six Step Process
• Action Plan Worksheet
• Youth Community Action Significant Questions

For training opportunities and other information about Youth Community Action, click here to contact JoAnne Baldini, State 4-H Youth Development Program Specialist.