The 7th Grade Initiative offers seventh-grade students an opportunity to receive a FREE YMCA membership for an entire school year.  Students will receive full member privileges which include the use of the YMCA indoor facilities during normal operating hours.  The 7th Grade Initiative seeks to establish the YMCA as an important resource to young teens while providing a safe place where they can meet friends while offering a healthy environment with value-based programming.

The program is open to anyone who lives in the following Lancaster County school districts:

School District of Lancaster

Eastern Lancaster School District

Penn Manor School District

Conestoga Valley School District

Lampeter-Strasburg School District

Hempfield School District

Any Lancaster County Private Schools

There is no application fee, must provide verification of 7th grade status: Student ID, Report Card, Class Schedule, Welcome Letter from teacher. Parent/guardian must be present when registering.

For assistance registering, please come see us at our Welcome Desk at the City Center YMCA or email our Youth Program Director, Sam Biastre, at [email protected].

The 7th Grade Initiative offers seventh-grade students an opportunity to receive a FREE YMCA membership for an entire school year.  Students will receive full member privileges which include the use of the YMCA indoor facilities during normal operating hours.  The 7th Grade Initiative seeks to establish the YMCA as an important resource to young teens while providing a safe place where they can meet friends while offering a healthy environment with value-based programming.

The program is open to anyone who lives in York County.  There is not application fee, must provide verification of 7th grade status.

• For additional information contact:
• Nacole Gaines
• [email protected]
• 717-843-7884 EXT 242

Various fundraisers for the week-long college tour.

-Charcuteries and Champagne

-Bingo

-Dinners

What is Temple Guard?

Temple Guard Drill Team is an inspirational youth program that has continued to grow over the past 20 years.  This mentoring program is based on the discipline and focus that trains youth in grades K-12 in military-style boot camp marching and dance to the accompaniment of drum line.

The programs mission is to serve as a mentor for youth of all ages, genders, races, religions and economic backgrounds.  Our purpose is to enrich participants’ lives by teaching respect for one another and elders in and around their neighborhood; to be leaders, not followers; to set a higher standard of living as a role model for others in the community and in school; and to settle for no less than a passing grade in all subjects.  This is achieved by:

• Building character through military-style boot camp marching with structured discipline (push-ups, running laps, etc)
• Providing positive male and female role models
• Teaching responsibility classes dealing with problem solving and decision making regarding issues such as: manners, saying “NO” to drugs/alcohol, healthy dating and sexuality, peer pressure, etc.
• Creating a positive scholastic attitude that leads to passing grades
• Enhancing individual leadership skills
• Encouraging community involvement
• Providing trips outside of the city, giving experiences that the youth otherwise might never have the opportunity to experience

The program meets every Monday and Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Mix- 520 North Street Lancaster 17602. The program runs with The Mix’s school year programming and will start back in October and be off on half days and other days based on the School District of Lancaster’s school calendar for 2025-2026. 

Program Director:  Mike Smith

[email protected]

YMCA of the Roses (York Branch) Temple Guard Drill Team is an inspirational youth program that has continued to grow over the past 20 years.  This mentoring program is based on the discipline and focus that trains youth in grades K-12 in military-style boot camp marching and dance to the accompaniment of drum line.

The programs mission is to serve as a mentor for youth of all ages, genders, races, religions and economic backgrounds.  Our purpose is to enrich participants’ lives by teaching respect for one another and elders in and around their neighborhood; to be leaders, not followers; to set a higher standard of living as a role model for others in the community and in school; and to settle for no less than a passing grade in all subjects.  This is achieved by:

• Building character through military-style boot camp marching with structured discipline (push-ups, running laps, etc)
• Providing positive male and female role models
• Teaching responsibility classes dealing with problem solving and decision making regarding issues such as: manners, saying “NO” to drugs/alcohol, healthy dating and sexuality, peer pressure, etc.
• Creating a positive scholastic attitude that leads to passing grades
• Enhancing individual leadership skills
• Encouraging community involvement
• Providing trips outside of the city, giving experiences that the youth otherwise might never have the opportunity to experience

Program Director:  Mike Smith

[email protected]

Y-Achiever’s is a college preparatory program that helps teens and young adults prepare for their futures.  The core elements of the Y-Achiever’s program is to help youth pursue higher education and career goals, establish relationships with area leaders, organizations, and media networks while having concentrated focus on youth development and awareness. These skills will be achieved by applying the following tools:  career exploration, SAT/ACT preparation, tutoring, networking, mentoring, college tours, communication workshops, and leadership development workshops.

The program is open to anyone who lives in Lancaster County. There is no fee for participation.

The program meets every Monday and Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Mix- 520 North Street Lancaster 17602. The program runs with The Mix’s school year programming and will start back in October and be off on half days and other days based on the School District of Lancaster’s school calendar for 2025-2026.

Any questions? Please contact Sam Biastre at [email protected]. 

Y-Achiever is a college preparatory program that helps teens and young adults prepare for their futures.  The core elements of the Y-Achiever’s program are to help youth pursue higher education and career goals and establish relationships with area leaders, organizations, and media networks while focusing on youth development and awareness. These skills will be achieved by applying the following tools:  career exploration, SAT/ACT preparation, tutoring, networking, mentoring, college tours, communication workshops, and leadership development workshops.

The program is open to anyone who lives in York County.  Registration dates are 7/19 until 11/15. Individuals interested can obtain an application at the AJG YMCA front desk.

Grades 9th – 12th

9th-12th Grade Meet – Saturdays (9:30 am – 11:30 am) on the following dates:

9/14/24, 10/5/24, 10/26/24, 11/9/24, 11/23/24, 12/7/24, 12/21/24, 1/11/25, 2/1/25, 2/22/25, and 3/15/25. Dates are subject to change and more dates will be added after March 15, 2025.

Contact Nacole Gaines at [email protected] or 267-627-8885 for additional information and an application form.

All meetings are held at the Arthur J Glatfelter YMCA, 90 N Newberry St, York, PA 17401 (Enter through the Childcare/Youth Development Doors). Light refreshments are served at each meeting.

The YMCA of the Roses believes in developing a deep sense of servant leadership
in young people.

We are looking for youth and teens in the Lancaster and York area that want to help to make a difference in the furture of youth development in the YMCA and in the Lancaster and York communities!

Those youth and teens on the YMCA of the Roses Youth/Teen Advisory Board will
sharpen their leadership skills and improve their problem solving and critical
thinking abilities while they become more adept at planning, execution and public
speaking. Students build self-esteem as they learn that their ideas matter and they
can make a difference in their world. They also learn a great deal about themselves
– their abilities, their interests, and their responsibilities as citizens.

The students on the advisory board will advise and support the Youth Development
Directors and the Youth Development Committee on emerging issues,
opportunities, programs, priorities and strategic decision-making with a goal of
ensuring that the Y remains relevant in Lancaster and York Counties for youth and
teens for years to come.

The advisory board will meet once a month virtually on the third Sunday of every month at 3 p.m., with other meetings in person leading up to any events that the board might be planning.

Signing up does not guarantee a spot on the board! Once you sign up you will hear from our Youth Development Director, Sam Biastre to schedule an interview.

Any questions? Please reach out to Sam Biastre at [email protected].