Merrick is dedicated to providing a variety of youth engagement opportunities in safe, healthy, and fun environments. The engagement opportunities are designed to promote a passion for life-long learning, holistic wellness, and leadership empowerment. With the guidance, support, and mentorship of caring adult staff and volunteers, youth participate in interactive, hands-on activities that strive to achieve a balance of learning and fun.
Merrick’s dedicated staff approach all opportunities to work with youth with cultural awareness and sensitivity, community knowledge and understanding, education and passion, and a genuine desire to support youth in succeeding and reaching their individual and collective goals.
We hope youth who participate in our engagement opportunities walk away with self-confidence and respect for self, others, and property; team and leadership skills; a sense of responsibility; communication skills; connection to diverse cultures and the greater community; relationships with their peers, parents, and teachers; and improved school attendance and achievement
Summer Youth Explorer's Club
The Explorer’s Club introduces youth to fun, challenging, and interactive learning experiences in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), healthy living and life skills, and food science. The goal of these introductory engagement tracks is not to steer youth into a career in science, but to plant the seed of discovery and learning. The Club hopes to create an environment where youth are actively participating in learning activities, demonstrating problem-solving skills, and encouraged to be innovators. Participants will be challenged to be both logical and creative thinkers, be strong individuals and team players, and to increase their verbal and written communication skills. Explorer’s Club members will also have the opportunity to participate in physical activities and games, go on field trips, and discover ways of giving back to their community.
Youth Leadership Council
Join Merrick’s Youth Leadership Council and get involved in your community! Open to 7th-12th grade students, the YLC will gather bi-weekly for development meetings with Merrick staff. Additional monthly engagement opportunities include:
- volunteering
- community outreach
- team building activities
- and much more!
An excellent opportunity for those seeking to build their college and professional resumes, this steering committee will lend a voice to Merrick’s youth programming and increase youth leadership engagement in the community.
EAST SIDE LEGO ROBOTICS LEAGUE
Beginning in October, Merrick will host its East Side Lego Robotics League, featuring 4th – 8th grade students that design, program, and control fully functioning robots for competition around the region and state.
Teams will meet one day per week (depending on team availability) at the Merrick Community Center between 4:30pm – 5:30pm. Some Saturday competitions will take place during the season. For more information, call 651-771-9339.
