Youth-at-Promise - FAQ

The Youth-At-Promise program, affectionately called YAP, is a specialized Youth Program designed for Portland Public School students. YAP focuses on the character development of its participants. All activities embody the core character values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility. These activities deal with: Communication, Cooperation, Teamwork, and Conflict Resolution. The YAP program meets five days a week Monday through Friday. Students are picked up at their schools or are transported by school bus to the YMCA. The program begins at 3pm and lasts until approximately 5:30pm. Participants will be dropped off at home between 5:30 and 6pm or they can be picked up at the YMCA at 5:30pm. Each month YAP participants will also have several opportunities to participate in: field Trips, swimming, games, gym time, community giving (service projects), art Workshops and more...

Program Highlights

Chewonki Trip Each school group travels to the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Maine for two days and one night. At Chewonki the children continue their team building efforts while learning winter camping skills, studying winter ecology and helping out on the Chewonki farm. After dinner the children gather for their evening lesson. Previous lessons have included studying live owls and reconstructing a real pilot whale skeleton. The children sleep in Yurts heated by wood stoves. Meals are cooked over an open fire or in the new environmental education center. All activities are directed by the Chewonki teachers and supported by the YMCA staff. This trip is held on two school days in late January or early February. It is an approved absence from school by the Superintendent of Portland Public Schools.

Family days

Several times throughout the year groups from all five schools and their families are invited to a weeknight or weekend event. Family days are opportunities for the children, families and friends of all five schools to meet, mingle and learn about what each group has been doing. This includes seasonal events, a picnic and graduation ceremony in June.

Benefits:

• A year-long YMCA youth membership
• Special events, vacation camp and summer camp scholarships
• Cost: FREE!

Why was my child picked for the YAP program?

Each child is picked for a different reason. Children come to the group with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. Not only will the children learn from the program offerings at YAP, but they will also learn from each other. We believe that all children can benefit from programming that works on crucial social skills necessary for a successful transition into middle school and the teenage years. Please don't hesitate to contact your school's social worker or the YAP coordinator for more details.

How do I sign up for the YAP program?

Your child has already been selected as a possible candidate for the YAP program. The next step is to set up a meeting with the YAP Coordinator. The visits are held in the candidate's home or at the YMCA. The visit is helpful in determining if the group will be a good fit f or the child. It is a great opportunity to ask questions, look at photos from previous years and get to know each other better.

When would my child attend YAP?

YAP meets after school from 3:00 - 5:30 PM. The children are picked up at their school, and dropped off at home betweeen 5:30 - 6:00 PM