Character Development

No matter where or how you encounter the Y-- whether you or your child come to exercise your brain or your brawn, workout or hangout, make a new intellectual connection or meet a new friend-- whether you encounter us at a Family Center Y or any of our Y Journeys for Children and Youth programs, you will encounter a Y team and charitable mission that is values-based and focused on character development. Our long-standing core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility run through all we do. They are fundamental to what we expect of ourselves, what our staff are trained to model and teach and what we hope our members and participants will reflect as well.

We practice our values in a myriad of ways--- casual and deliberate. Even the simple act of opening a door or making a friendly greeting are ways to show caring and respect that are too easily overlooked in today's fast-paced world. These simple gestures of civility are fundamental to the Y culture, but our curriculums and programs also intentionally reinforce character development in everything we do.

  • When your child learns to play soccer at the Y, they will learn the game, but they will also be taught how to be a respectful and honest teammate.
  • At our camps when your child shows caring by reaching out to help a friend who may be sad or feeling a little scared, they will earn a coveted "character bead" to add to their chain.
  • The dedication to service learning and conflict resolution that runs throughout all Y youth programs, are yet other ways we reinforce our values and help to set patterns of civility that last a lifetime.
  • Our focus on mentoring and volunteerism not only fill a need for others, they also provide active opportunities for adults to put Y core values into practice in their daily lives.

We are also active subscribers to the Search Institute's Asset Development program which identifies 40 assets young people need in their lives to have the greatest likelihood of becoming caring, honest, respectful and responsible citizens.

 

Our vision of "A Healthy Y for a Healthier Central Maryland".

Opportunities for community engagement.

Providing Y experiences for all.

Protecting youth during out-of-school hours.