The Ithaca Youth Bureau strives to provide youth with the tools they need to build a successful life for themselves and change the world for the better. We believe that all citizens can be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy, and socially and civically engaged. We help prepare youth to live successful lives as adults by providing a variety of recreation and youth development opportunities that will help youth develop to their full potential. We lend support to discouraged youth who are struggling to find their place in the world. We help our program participants understand that all people have a place in this world and together we can create a better tomorrow.
The Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB), a public multi-service agency established 1948, provides a broad variety of recreation and youth development programs to promote the health, happiness, and well-being of all youth and families in the greater Ithaca area. We serve more than 7,500 youth annually, aged 0-20 years, through a wide array of programs. In addition to recreation and after school initiatives that serve the general youth population, our youth development programs do strategic outreach to economically disadvantaged and under-served youth.
Read on to learn more about each of our programs.
The Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB), a public multi-service agency established 1948, provides a broad variety of recreation and youth development programs to promote the health, happiness, and well-being of all youth and families in the greater Ithaca area. We serve more than 7,500 youth annually, aged 0-20 years, through a wide array of programs. In addition to recreation and after school initiatives that serve the general youth population, our youth development programs do strategic outreach to economically disadvantaged and under-served youth.
Read on to learn more about each of our programs.
Recreation Division (Rec)
When people play together...it's powerful!
The Ithaca Youth Bureau Recreation Division offers year-round recreation programming to Ithaca-area youth and families. Sports, lessons, camps, special events and more are offered. Try something new or pick one of your favorites - fun, new skills, refinement of current skills and/or the making of friends awaits. The Recreation Partnership, a collaboration of 10 municipalities in Tompkins County, supports many of these programs and helps keep fees affordable for all! Register for programs online through Community Pass, where you can browse our online catalog (formerly the i-PLAYbook), which is searchable by keyword, family member, program groups, age, grade, date, or location.
The Ithaca Youth Bureau Recreation Division offers year-round recreation programming to Ithaca-area youth and families. Sports, lessons, camps, special events and more are offered. Try something new or pick one of your favorites - fun, new skills, refinement of current skills and/or the making of friends awaits. The Recreation Partnership, a collaboration of 10 municipalities in Tompkins County, supports many of these programs and helps keep fees affordable for all! Register for programs online through Community Pass, where you can browse our online catalog (formerly the i-PLAYbook), which is searchable by keyword, family member, program groups, age, grade, date, or location.
Youth Development Division (YD)
Discover your potential. Pursue your dreams!
Our Youth Development staff and volunteers work together to provide a variety of mentoring and skills development opportunities to help youth realize their full potential. We believe that the key to success in all of our programs is building strong relationships between youth and caring adults. We provide opportunities for youth to experience belonging in a supportive community, solve problems and meet goals, practice generosity and take responsibility for determining their own future.
Our Youth Development staff and volunteers work together to provide a variety of mentoring and skills development opportunities to help youth realize their full potential. We believe that the key to success in all of our programs is building strong relationships between youth and caring adults. We provide opportunities for youth to experience belonging in a supportive community, solve problems and meet goals, practice generosity and take responsibility for determining their own future.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ithaca and Tompkins County - a mentoring program affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that establishes and nurtures friendships between caring, responsible adults and children with a need for such friendship.
College Discovery Program - a long-term mentoring & academic support program designed to reduce achievement gaps in the Ithaca City School District & increase participants' access to a college education. Ithaca Youth Council Ambassadors (YCA) - a group of self-directed teens from Ithaca and Tompkins County who focus on civic engagement, community outreach, and peer leadership. Outings - an outdoor adventure program that encourages teamwork, builds self-confidence, and fosters personal growth. Paul Schreurs Memorial Program - a long-term mentoring program that provides academic, personal, emotional and social support to help underrepresented youth in our community to become successful, confident, life-long learners. Youth Employment Service- a program that meets teens where they are and connects them to opportunities to work, grow, and lead in their community. |
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Recreation Support Services (RSS)
It's all about community! Make friends and get involved!
We provide programs that create safe, skill-based recreational opportunities which offer participants the chance to make lasting friendships & develop independence. RSS strives to help individuals of all ages, primarily those with disabilities, achieve their goals for happiness and well-being. Programs are offered for both youth and adults.
We provide programs that create safe, skill-based recreational opportunities which offer participants the chance to make lasting friendships & develop independence. RSS strives to help individuals of all ages, primarily those with disabilities, achieve their goals for happiness and well-being. Programs are offered for both youth and adults.
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Programs for youth (ages 3-21):
Weekend play groups Swim programs Summer camp inclusion Exercise programs Recreation program inclusion Travelers Program Programs for youth with Autism Training on inclusion |
Programs for adults (ages 21 & up):
Hiking Chorus Movie Club Board games College Sporting Events Bowling Dinner Club Dances & Yoga |
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Cass Park, Rink & Pool
Cass Park, Rink and Pool are programs of the Ithaca Youth Bureau which provide valuable health and recreation activities for residents of Ithaca and Tompkins County year-round with 32 playing fields, 2 playgrounds, waterfront and fitness trails, and tennis courts in addition to the rink and pool facilities.
Cass Park Rink is a standard size, recently enclosed ice rink that has been serving the greater Ithaca community since November 1972. Cass Rink offers public ice skating (mid-October thru mid-March), skate rentals and sharpening, rentals for broom-ball and hockey, and group skating rates with preregistration, as well as ice skating lessons. In the off-season (May thru September), Cass Rink hosts roller skating.
Cass Park Pool hosts lap swimming and public swimming (late June thru mid-August) in an Olympic sized pool with water slide and diving board and kiddie pool with season passes and swim lessons.
Cass Park Rink is a standard size, recently enclosed ice rink that has been serving the greater Ithaca community since November 1972. Cass Rink offers public ice skating (mid-October thru mid-March), skate rentals and sharpening, rentals for broom-ball and hockey, and group skating rates with preregistration, as well as ice skating lessons. In the off-season (May thru September), Cass Rink hosts roller skating.
Cass Park Pool hosts lap swimming and public swimming (late June thru mid-August) in an Olympic sized pool with water slide and diving board and kiddie pool with season passes and swim lessons.
Rentals
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Ithaca Bike Rental
Recumbent bikes, adult trikes, youth and adult bikes available for rent May - October. Boat Rack Rentals Boat Storage Rack spaces available at Stewart Park and Cass Park. Rent for the season (April 1 - November 1). Pavilion Rentals One pavilion at Cass Park & two pavilions at Stewart Park available for rent April 15 - October 15. |
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Community Connections
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IYB staff have been building and strengthening partnerships across the community to provide participants and families with the supports and opportunities they need to thrive! Join us!
If you have an idea for a program, activity, or event that you think youth would enjoy or you have ideas of how we might partner to meet a community need, please contact us. |
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Volunteers
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Volunteers are a vital and powerful part of IYB programs. There are opportunities to mentor, lead, coach, and more.... so whether you like sports, tutoring, arts, outdoor adventure, teaching, marketing, biking, or planning events we have opportunities for you to make a difference with youth who have a wide variety of interests and abilities
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