YMCAs have been providing educational and recreational programs for youth since the 1980s through after-school and summer programs in arts and humanities, adventuring, aquatics, camping, job training, after school tutoring, health and fitness. Through Adventure Guides, YMCA members are involved in and exposed to campouts, parades, and community parties through regular meetings and expeditions with YMCA guides that take them on guided excursions. Aquatics programs offer swimming lessons and free swim opportunities for all ages in its many Olympic-sized pools. YSplash is an aquatics program that provides lessons on water safety, swimming, pool games and hosts swimming contests. Camping opportunities are available for summer day camp and sleepover thematic camps that host activities to include sports, arts, adventure and teen leadership.
YWCAs have offered similar programs for nearly as long as the YMCA, with opportunities geared for girls in advocacy, human rights and leadership through volunteerism and community activism. Through its Hallmark programs racial justice and women's economic advancements are part of a community-based mission to provide young girls with self-confidence, emotional support and the wherewithal to take initiatives that will make a difference in the world. The Tucson Arizona's Racial Justice Program, and the Anchorage Alaska's Women$Finances program are two examples, with activities that focus on financial literacy, empowerment and educational advancement. Visit the national YWCA site to find programs in your state.
Public libraries are a wonderful resource for educational activities that often integrate the recreational. Often focused on reading and writing, public libraries are good grant candidates and often the recipients of funding opportunities that feed directly into educational and recreational activities. The Palm Beach County Library System in Florida has Writers Live! at their Wellington and Jupiter Branches and feature best-selling authors who talk about their books, their writing process, and then give writing workshops for the kids. The Southwest Wisconsin Library System, the state of Illinois Library system, and many in New York State's mid-Hudson Library system offer summer reading and creative writing programs for teens to hone skills in reading and explore publishing venues. Visit your local library system's website for details on educational and upcoming summer programs.