Youth Development Program Components

Experiential Learning Workshops
6-12 week workshops comprised of standards-driven and technology-infused interactive learning projects for youth. Youth improve their mastery of technology and life skills, while advancing their reading and math skills. Some workshop examples are Architecture & Mathematics, Rockets & Engineering, Digital Music Composition, Basic Computers, and Videography.

Career Explorers
Youth are exposed to a variety of possible career fields through interactive field trips and guest speakers. They keep e-portfolios documenting their growth. Instructors then use the e-portfolios for noting personal interest areas and offering individualized opportunities based on interests.

Homework Hotspots
Students can study and complete their school assignments. Staff offers one-on-one and group support as needed, while monitoring the students’ overall progress.

Summer Tech Academies
Through our Summer Academies, youth are offered basic web design principles and techniques, instruction in storyboarding, webpage layout, HTML dynamics, PaintShop Pro, inserting graphics, and more. Also, students are exposed to PC hardware and networking, can create animation shorts, and learn to integrate video and music technology with software to produce short video's and music CD's.

Strong Personal Growth Programs
Youth are provided opportunities designed to help them achieve a positive sense of self, sense of community, and stronger success skills. On-going examples are our internal and external awards systems, group dinner programs, and team working, leadership and conflict resolution initiatives.

Youth Senate
Facilitators advise and instruct students on leadership development and governance as youth provide program direction and identification of need areas. Youth, nominated and elected by peers, represent their interests and advocate on their own behalf in the greater community. In essence, youth partake in building their own programs toward the goal of becoming their own leaders.

Snack Time
During the academic year, youth are provided snacks each day when they arrive after school. They learn about nutrition, keeping a healthy diet, and proper exercise. In Group Dinner programs, youth create fully nutritional meal plans and dinners for themselves and their peers.

TechRec
CPDC believes that youth have the right and need for unstructured free time, so our Microsoft sponsored computer classrooms provide the impetus for exploration, creation and healthy competition. Youth can earn time on the computers and gaming systems, including X Box and a digital library kiosk.

The eSharp Music Center

A specialized program of CPDC’s Youth Development is the eSharp Music Center on the Edgewood Terrace campus. This center provides a means of reaching teenage/older youths through fun yet constructive and educational activities. In partnership with Berklee College of Music, classes are offered in music composition and performance and supported by programming focusing on building positive self-identities and positive leadership competencies. Students produce their own music on professional-grade MIDI equipment while collaborating with others in the studio. Projects are recorded in our state-of-the-art 64-track recording studio. Instrumental lessons, ensembles and scholarship opportunities to Berklee College of Music are available to students who show exceptional talent and initiative.

For more information about the CPDC’s Youth Development Programs, how you can help or get involved, please contact CPDC.