YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION INC
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION INC
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION INC
Programs
YDO: Year-Round STEM/Arts Enrichment; Leadership Development; Education Planning
At YDO, we believe the achievement gap in Lawrence is driven, in no small part, by a persistent opportunity gap for our youth—the lack of accessible, consistent, quality out-of-school-time activities. In response, we deliver on a unique mission: to grow a community of self-motivated students by offering high-quality educational activities, developing supportive long-term relationships, and providing personalized opportunities for success. At YDO, we have found no one special activity or curriculum that, in isolation, propels students toward their goals. What has been effective is a combination of mentoring and frequent points of engagement, which are begun and maintained through our flagship programs. Across all these offerings, we strive to counter instability with structure and consistency; foster confidence with choices; encourage persistence with support; and build momentum by delivering rich, varied, and reliable learning and leadership opportunities, as follows: - Science Academy (3rd Grade+): We provide STEM enrichment courses that augment students’ school-based math and science education. Semester classes include Astronomy, Sports Statistics, Intro to Coding, Computer Repair, Wacky Inventions, and LEGO Robotics. Many of these courses are taught by older YDO Kids. - STEM Design Lab (5th-12th Grades): In our engineering lab, students tackle more challenging, multidisciplinary courses such as 3-D Printing & Prototyping, Motorized Carnival Games, Magnetic Inventions, Advanced Math Thinking, and Botball Robotics. Along the way, students build skills in areas such as mathematical applications/modeling, mechanical/electrical engineering design concepts/skills, and advanced coding. Like the Academy, we tap older YDO Kids to support course delivery. - YDO@Phillips Academy (3rd-5th Grades): For 16 years, YDO has taken elementary school students to Phillips Academy Andover for 15 weeks of enrichment classes, delivered by Phillips students, across three academic terms. Classes vary and have included Vocal Expression, Debate & Public Speaking, Ukulele, American Sign Language, Climate Change, and Strong Girls. - Art Clubs (3rd Grade+): These afterschool semester classes provide opportunities to develop creative interests (e.g., Dance, Creative Writing, Piano, Mixed Media Art, Photography, Ceramics). This January, we bolstered our arts offerings with the addition of programming focused on the performing arts, including YDO Strings, Merrimack Valley Youth Choir, and guitar lessons. - YDO Summer (3rd-8th Grades): YDO Summer is an academic program for our younger students and a first job and leadership development program for our older ones. Two older YDO Kids lead this program and hire local high school/college students (mainly fellow YDO Kids) to plan and teach full-day courses for our youngest participants (e.g., Financial Literacy, Dance, Mindfulness, Coding, Music Analysis, Circuits Workshop, Tumbling, Responsible Social Media, Biochemistry, Cooking, Forensics). - Leaders Hub (6th Grade+): The aforementioned teaching and leadership roles within YDO are available, and we partner with and connect students to scholarship, leadership, and entrepreneurship programs. We are also currently building out a curriculum and associated student services to support our YDO Kids in middle school specifically, as they consider, apply, and prepare for different high school options. - Postsecondary Pathways (Phase 1: 11th-12th Grade+): Delivered in partnership with Abbott Lawrence Academy (ALA), and recently expanded to Lawrence High School (LHS), this college access and success program begins serving students as juniors and continues with them through graduation and matriculation in college. Together, we develop and execute strategies for earning financially feasible technical certifications or associate’s and/or bachelor’s degrees. All upperclassmen receive free, individualized guidance with the college search, application, financial aid, and admissions processes via classes, forums, and virtually unlimited one-on-one counseling. With this capacity, we have broad reach: across families, schools, and the City of Lawrence. This breadth is matched only by the individual attention we provide students, whom we invest in early and often. And, to help ensure those youth who start with us, stay with us, we remove obstacles that stand in the way of sustained participation: cost, transportation, and parent availability.GeographiesLawrence, MA, USADatesNot indicatedSourceUser-generatedEducationChildren and youth600$1.9M
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved to Chario Inc. (d.b.a. Impala)