Lansing Youth Services dedicated to local families

Lansing Youth Services, a program through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCE-Tompkins), offers year-round activities and events for Lansing families. The program has proven resilient during the pandemic, and staff are excited for more opportunities in the coming months.

As program staff explained, Lansing Youth Services didn’t let the pandemic stand in its way of serving the Lansing community.

“From the very start of COVID, we switched gears and quickly offered online programming,” Program Manager Travis Judd said. “It was different in the fact that so much of our work is in-person development. Social development is a huge thing for us. And … it was challenging to offer these programs, that are so hands-on based, virtually. But we did it right away to keep our Lansing Youth Services community together, keep the [youth] interacting, stay connected. And that summer, we were able to offer in-person programming.”

Lansing Youth Services Chair Stacie Mastin said that staff worked hard to adjust to pandemic challenges because she and others know just how important the program is for area families.

“Lansing in particular does not have a little village for gathering,” she said. “We have a playground at the park down by the lake, but from an accessibility perspective, it is a little bit difficult. We don’t have a lot of space or opportunities for people to get together. I think we’re very well known for our sports programs, music, the arts. … But these other programs bring a whole different opportunity to students who don’t fall into that or gravitate towards those other more traditional, I guess, opportunities to connect with other kids.”

Among the activities Lansing Youth Services offers are numerous youth development programs, designed for youth in fifth through eighth grade. These are held at All Saints Church, right across from the middle school, and led by Judd. Some of these past programs include crafting sessions, outdoor exploration and more, all of which are free.

“The fact that we keep the program free to families, I think, is incredibly huge,” Mastin said. “It gives kids a place to be after school and until 5:30, when, quite frankly, a lot of these children might just go home and play video games and wait for the parents to come home. So, I think it fills a lot of needs for a lot of people without coming with a heavy price tag.”

In addition to its youth development programming, Lansing Youth Services also offers a youth employment program, which provides employment opportunities for Lansing School District youth ages 14 and up. The program walks youth through the full application and interview process and provides references and workplace environment training. Those interested can contact Judd at ttj22@cornell.edu for more information.

As far as activities on the horizon, Lansing Youth Services has a big one returning after a two-year-long hiatus: its Spaghetti Supper. The Spaghetti Supper is Lansing Youth Service’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Though the supper is back, the format is a bit different. Dinners will only be available to take out, and organizers are aiming to create a drive-thru-like experience with plenty of signs from sponsors and decorations. The event is being held April 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at All Saints Church, 347 Ridge Rd. Learn more by visiting tinyurl.com/y7hcch58.

Helping to make these and other opportunities possible is a dedicated team that includes Judd, Andra Benson, Cathy Gooch, Jennifer LaPenna, Deb Ryan, Carolyn Shaw and Dick Taylor, led by Mastin. Meghan Lyons serves as Lansing’s liaison to Tompkins County Youth Services, which is a big supporter of the program along with organizations like United Way of Tompkins County, Rural Youth Services, CCE-Tompkins, 4-H, the town of Lansing and the Lansing Youth Commission.

Mastin, who has led Lansing Youth Services for about eight years, joined when her son was in middle school.

“We became aware of this amazing work that was being done and the programs that were being offered after school,” she said. “He came home when he would attend the programs and just raved about them. He had so much fun. He met new kids that he wasn’t meeting through his normal day-to-day and kids from different ages, different grades and just made some great friendships and connections. … I wanted to try to get involved in seeing, how can I help?”

Judd has been with Lansing Youth Services since 2016 after six years in other youth development roles.

“I’ve loved youth development my whole life,” he said. “I went to school for education, and this was kind of just an extension of that. Being a teacher in the school district has always been really appealing. However, I love that I get to teach in multiple disciplines during this position. … I get to work and develop programs based on student interest and passions and what materials are available to us.”

Much of the reason Judd, Mastin and the rest of the team stay so dedicated is because of the continuously positive feedback they receive from participating families.

“I get a lot of feedback that students are now trying new things at home,” Judd said. “Outdoor Adventure is a very popular program all year, and believe it or not, [youth] like to be outside all winter here. And the skills that we teach during that time typically aren’t really run through in any school curriculum. So, we teach them how to enjoy the outdoors safely in all kinds of weather. And that teaches a lot of self-confidence and a lot of various skill-building, trial and error.”

Mastin added that participating students often talk about how Lansing Youth Services’ programs are a great reprieve from school life, and parents rave about the growth they’ve seen in their kids.

“It is all about how much they’ve seen their child grow, how much they appreciate … having a safe place for their children to be, the different skills and opportunities that they developed through this, the creativity component,” she said. “They’re very empowered. The youth are being able to give input on what programs we should have, freedom to really be themselves and explore. It’s not super rigid. And I think there’s is a need for that, especially now.”

Looking ahead, Lansing Youth Services’ spring programming concludes this week, with summer programming to be announced soon. Judd provided a preview of some things families can look forward to.

“We’re going to be working on a healthy food and snack special program that we received a grant for,” he said. “We’re working on a youth photo voice program where they’re doing photo projects to have their voice and specific needs represented. And the 2022 youth needs assessment’s coming around the corner. So, that will be also a huge opportunity for families to give input on what they feel like their family’s needs [are].”

Mastin said that their summer programming is always a “big hit,” so she’s excited for what’s ahead.

“We try to do as much programming in the summer as we can because we find, again, that it’s very accessible,” she said. “And some of the same youth that participate throughout the year, it really gives them a good week of programming to do during the summer, where they might not have interest in some of the other summer programs that are out there.”

To learn more about Lansing Youth Services, check out its website at tinyurl.com/yaazpdu4 or Facebook at facebook.com/LansingYouthServices.

Lansing at Large appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.