1. Youth Friendly Communities Keep youth stimulated Keep youth engaged Keep youth in communities

2. Youth Development in Ontario  What is Youth?  What is Youth Development?

3. Five Competencies for Youth  Physical  Social  Emotional  Intellectual  Ethical

4. Growth of YD in Ontario  Youth Programming  Youth Staffing  Youth Engagement  Youth Training

5. Specialized Initiatives Provincial Consortium on Youth in Recreation  MBA Symposium  SPRYNT  Intentional Youth Development

6. Specialized Initiatives Play Works  Do It Yourself  Youth Friendly Communities

7. What are the Developmental Needs of Youth?  Positive interactions with peers/adults  Meaningful participation  Mastery and achievement

8. What are the Developmental Needs of Youth?  Creation expression  Self-definition  Physical activity  Structure and clear limits

9. Principles of Healthy Child Development* Caring adult Friends Participation Mastery Play * HIGH FIVE A Quality Standard of Parks and Recreation Ontario

10. Differences in Child Friendly and Youth Friendly Approaches Caring Adult vs. Positive Interactions w Adults Friends vs. Positive Interactions w Peers Participation vs. Meaningful Participation Mastery vs. Mastery and Achievement

11. Differences in Child Friendly and Youth Friendly Approaches Play Vs Creative Expression, Self-definition, and Physical Activity New Area: Structure and Clear Limits

12. What’s different? Adolescence… the transition from childhood to adulthood childhood pre-adolescence adolescence adulthood -most critical brain development -language -socialization -attachment -learning -2 nd critical period -identity -life-long habits/values -inquiry and exploration - specialization - complex social roles - generativity

13. Programming implications Child Participant Broader range of interests Seeks adult approval Play as central Adult as leader Youth Engagement Special interests Seeks peer acceptance and adult recognition Need for growth and learning through play Adult as ally, mentor, facilitator, etc.

14. Youth Friendly Communities – Good Practices YAA-MAN (Youth Alliance of Manitoulin) Mandate re: tobacco use prevention; youth teams Questioned existing rules/norms Youth-led initiative Supported all 7 developmental needs Chatham-Kent Skatepark “no expertise” required Youth council structure responsive to community needs Opportunities for learning throughout Youth-led Supported most of the developmental needs

15. Do It Yourself A Demonstration Project Over 200 Applicants 22 Funded Projects 20 Successful Projects

16. Do It Yourself Djembe Club – Fort Frances LYNX – Smooth Rock Falls NSL – London Art Show – Peterborough Teen Scene Action Group - Ottawa

17. Who We Are…. Marion Price, CAE Parks and Recreation Ontario / Play Works 416-326-7065 mprice@prontario.orgmprice@prontario.org Ian Edward Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs 416-925-2243 x 22 ianedward@believeinkids.caianedward@believeinkids.ca Yvette Munro York University 647-225-5941 ymunro@gmail.comymunro@gmail.com