Middle School Youth: Another World

Older kids have lots of options when school lets out, but not all alternatives are positive. Convincing them to spend time at your program requires a special approach. CalSAC interviewed Ray Trinidad, a youth consultant for the state of California and an administrator at High Tech Middle School in San Diego, about attracting and keeping youth afterschool. Here's what he had to say:

How can programs attract older kids?
We have to think with a business model and remove our adult biases as much as possible, whether it has to do with music or dress or anything else. You have to use kids not only as recipients for your resources but as active contributors.

How do you know what youth will like?

You have to do some market research before you market. And informal research is best. Listen to kids in small groups at lunch or in the hall. Fads have an incredibly short shelf life, so coordinators have to be in the thick of what’s happening and know what’s going on with kids.

How do you strike the balance between providing what students like and what’s best for them?
It's important to hire the right people who can be creative about connecting with students and educating them, while providing a strong element of what they're interested in.