Ithaca Youth Bureau celebrates 75 years

Since its establishment in 1948, the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB) has served thousands of Tompkins County youth through an ever-changing list of programs and opportunities. 

In addition to recreation and after school initiatives that serve the general youth population, their youth development programs do outreach to economically disadvantaged and under-served youth throughout the county. “Youth” for IYB is ages 0 months to 20 years, which is partially why their program offerings are so diverse.

In the 1940s when IYB was established, there was a nationwide call for something for “meadling” and “troublesome” kids and teens to do. According to a June 2003 article by Carol Kammen in the Ithaca Journal, in 1945, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey established a youth agency to “supplement and aid in coordinating the care and guidance furnished to young people by the family and existing religious and social institutions.” The legislation encouraged communities to increase activities for youth and offered matching funds to communities. Ithaca received $1,300, matched locally, that funded the Kiwanis Baseball program that year.

Shortly after in 1946, 25 Ithaca teenagers formed The Ithaca Youth Center committee to establish a youth center for boys and girls of Ithaca and its vicinity. 

The 1960s saw the bureau flourish with a variety of new programs such as Tompkins County Girls Softball, golf and tennis programs, Boy and Girl of the Month, Youth Court, Children’s Matinee Series, Street Dances, After School Recreation, Student Advisory Council, Senior Graduation Party, and a Summer Wrestling Program.

The next few decades witnessed the growth of IYB with programs that have been ongoing staples, such as Kiwanis baseball, and others that have matched the needs of the times such as The Mechanical All Stars in 1977 that focused on automotive care, which transitioned to Computer All Stars in 1999. Another important milestone in 1999 was the official Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliation with the National Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Program.

IYB director Elizabeth Klohmann, who has been with the bureau as an employee since 1999 and volunteer since the 1980s, said that while times have changed, the bureau’s role has remained the same because it works.

“One thing that has remained a constant throughout the 75 years is that the Youth Bureau has always responded to the needs of youth and families in the community,” Klohmann said. “Our programs have been developed and created out of what the community is asking for and what the need is that’s trickling to the top of everyone’s mind. We are usually able to respond and having a lot of partnerships in the community helps.” 

A full timeline of events can be found at https://www.ithacayouthbureau.org/history.html.

With the community’s continued support of IYB, there have been many milestones and birthdays, but 75 years is an especially important milestone because it means this year is Cass Park’s 50 birthday. 

“One of the really fun things we have to help celebrate is a partnership with Purity Ice Cream. They have an IYB birthday flavor that incorporates our colors, sprinkles, and fruit; it’s just a really fun flavor and thing to look at,” Klohmann said. “The other thing about it is that for each one sold, Purity donates fifty cents to us, which is really cool. The flavor is limited edition but we will also have it at our birthday party in August.” 

The IYB Birthday Party will feature cake, swimming, and roller skating Aug. 5 at Cass Park from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with discounted admission to the Cass Park Pool throughout the day and to Cass Rink Roller Skating that evening. The full invitation can be viewed at https://www.ithacayouthbureau.org/uploads/4/4/0/1/44018903/iyb_party_invite_final.pdf

Other events include:

• IPLAY Bingo where each month (May, June, July, and August) IYB launches a new Bingo card that the community can use to participate in YB-related activities around Ithaca. There are a variety of activities, and most are free. Participants can turn in bingo cards at the bureau for a chance to win prizes. Instructions are in the anniversary tab of the IYB website.
• Bike Ride – IYB kicked off their 75 Anniversary Celebration with the opening of Ithaca Bike Rental for the 2023 season. Elected officials took the inaugural ride along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail to the Cass Park, Rink & Pool. The trail is currently decorated with educational signs that share details of IYB’s history. 
• Living History: Alumni Features – The Ithaca Youth Bureau focuses on Building a Foundation for a Lifetime. Each month they share feature stories of IYB alumni. If you are a Youth Bureau alumni and would like to share your favorite YB memories, please fill out this short questionnaire and visit the website for alumni stories at https://www.ithacayouthbureau.org/happenings-news.

75 Mentors – Mentors are important for youth and young people and many of the IYB programs need mentors. For example, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ithaca and Tompkins County are on a mission to get 75 mentors this year. Other youth development programs, such as College Discovery Program and Paul Schreurs Memorial Program, are in need of mentors to support the tweens and teens enrolled in them. To learn more about volunteering as a mentor visit the website to fill out an application at https://www.ithacayouthbureau.org/volunteer.html or call (607) 273-8364.