YMCA of Greater Charlotte Launches Tailored Entrepreneurial Program, Achieving Over 80% Real-World Project Creation and Consistently Oversubscribed Classes

"Our partnership has brought fresh ideas and hands-on learning to our homeschool students. Seeing them take what they've learned and use it in real life shows how ready they are for the future. Together, we're paving a brighter path forward."
Vickie Brammer
Director of Homeschool Central at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte

The Background

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte, committed to community development and youth empowerment, realized a pressing need. In a rapidly evolving world, they recognized the importance of equipping their youth with skills that transitioned beyond traditional learning. This led them to Dream Chaser Kids, a transformative program tailored to mold students from passive consumers of knowledge to active creators of opportunity.

The Dream Chaser Kids program catered to students from grades 5 to 12 across three YMCA campuses and multiple semesters. The program’s overwhelming demand was evident each semester, with classes consistently oversubscribed.

The Challenge

While YMCA offered a range of programs focusing on physical well-being and community engagement, a gap existed in initiatives that instilled entrepreneurship and real-world financial skills. The challenge was introducing a program that would educate and inspire students, enabling them to apply their learning in real-life scenarios.

The Strategy

Dream Chaser Kids was crafted to address this void. With a curriculum tailored for the target age group, modules were introduced that seamlessly intertwined theory with practical application, emphasizing hands-on project creation and financial understanding.

Implementation:

  1. Tailored Modules: Collaborating closely with the YMCA, Dream Chaser Kids customized its modules to resonate with the attendees, ensuring relevance and engagement.
  2. Consistent Engagement: The program was rolled out across three YMCA campuses over multiple semesters, with each iteration refined based on feedback and outcomes.
  3. Skill Enhancement: A significant focus was on skill development. Post-program assessments were instrumental in gauging the enhancement of students’ understanding of entrepreneurship and financial concepts.
  4. Project Creation: Central to the curriculum was the creation of real-world projects. By the program’s culmination, students had built projects ready for launch, demonstrating their acquired skills and knowledge.

The Results

  • Skill Development: Assessments post-program showcased a marked improvement in students’ comprehension of entrepreneurship and financial planning.
  • Real-world Preparedness: Though the projects weren’t launched, over 80% of participating students had successfully built one, indicating their readiness to turn theory into practice.
  • High Demand: The program’s success was evident in consistently oversubscribing classes each semester.
  • Enthusiastic Feedback: Over 90% of students were keen on progressing with advanced modules, indicating their satisfaction and the program’s efficacy.