youth educators

Programming Best Practices

Ways Afterschool Programs Can Recruit More Older Youth (Excerpt from “Recruitment and Retention of Older Youth” from the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Program Manual, by Meeta Sharma-Holt, MSW)

During the school day, middle and high school-aged youth are present at school because they are required to be there and either they want to learn, want to see their friends, find their teachers interesting, or all of these things. The same motivations can be used for a successful older youth recruitment strategy in afterschool programs. Programs must begin by creating a relevant activity, staff it with caring, well-trained individuals and provide youth with an opportunity to provide input and socialize. Marketing to older youth about an activity also begins with building their trust about the program or services and creating excitement. The following information provides more details about how to use these principals and is a compilation of current research, conference presentations and experience.

Recruiting Middle Grades Youth

Be present in their environment! Middle grades youth need to build trust and they will only do so if they have the chance to watch you from afar, interacting with other youth. They also want to know that your staff will stay around, so the more consistent staffing, the better.
Make announcements in the school, or through “robocalls” ( an automated calling system many schools have access to)
Provide opportunities for leadership. Older students working with younger students are a great way to attend to both age groups.
Showcase previous participants’ accomplishments and activities by displaying pictures or videos in public places.
Include student opinions (from Beyond the Bell by Learning Point Associates):
- Include students on a program planning or advisory board
- Create a “suggestion board” where youth can place sticky notes any time to tell you what types of activities they want, best days of the week to offer activities and best ways to recruit them! Ask them, they will tell you.
- Regularly survey students from various student sub-groups. ( You can create a contest or give away candy for every survey returned, to increase your sample size)
- Conduct focus groups and provide food!
Offer a demonstration event regularly to give youth a visual. (Lunchtime at schools is a great time to do this, but you may also have a second demonstration at a later time so that parents can be invited – remember to offer food!)
Offer a “test ride.” Middle grades youth want to see if the activity will work for them. I f they feel forced, they may be deterred. A trial period for your activity can be offered before a final sign-up time. (Make sure you have parental consent during this period as any other. Parents need to know that their child is remaining at school with a trusted adult. This can be done with a phone call daily, until the final sign up time.)
Use digital media and the internet:
- Send text message to inform students of enrollment events
- Set up a Facebook page to create a community and communications network
- Put video of your group on You Tube , or on in-school close-circuit televisions
- Follow them on Twitter or have them follow you
Use palm cards (they seem cooler) or flyers that “buy” the youth into an event to make sure they read it. Whether you use palm cards or flyers, make sure the script and graphics reflect the interests of the youth you are serving.
Hold a contest where youth can win tickets for a raffle for every other person they sing up. Use incentives, such as stipends, raffle tickets, points toward give-aways.
Reach out to teachers to find referrals and invite teachers to the open house or demonstration event. ( Teachers are very influential for middle grades youth, especially those that youth are most attached to and/or the “coolest”)
New York Beacon Centers found the following:
Be intentional: have a plan and set enrollment number goals—start early in the summer!

Check the data—find out which youth had the most consistent attendance in the previous year’s and summer programs and reach out to them and their parents.
Send out registration forms to parents and youth early, before decisions are made.
Reach out to [participants] from the previous year.
The right staff matter—make sure that your staff are people that middle school youth flock to!

Recruiting High Schoolers

Youth in high school are much more interested in how the activity of their choice helps them achieve something. Concrete outcomes like income, trophies, trade skills, entrance into college, a chance to perform, a chance to travel or building their college applications are important.

Strategies that work well for high schoolers then include:

Plenty of choice- The input of older youth is critical. They have the ability, insight and interest in offering their ideas.
A clear understanding of what is being offered – If the intent of a program is to build academic skills through drama, say so in the brochure.
Being allowed to participate with their friends – have teens recruit other teens, this way a group joins and stays together.
Offering opportunities to drop in only or participate a few times a week, rather than daily - Generally, older youth participate from two to three afternoons a week rather than daily like elementary age youth.