75 WAYS TO INCREASE YOUTH ATTENDANCE AT YOUR RECREATION CENTER
1. Early signups
It doesn't matter when - as long as it's early, it's a commitment
2. Announcements
Make announcements about classes and activities during events
3. Exciting activities
Youth love excitement, and want to go where there's activity
4. New activities
It helps to have new and fresh programs every so often
5. E-mail newsletter
Reach members directly through an e-mail newsletter
6. Friendly scheduling
Try to schedule activities with times that are good for the youth and parents
7. Calendars
Calendars that parents and kids can take home make it easy to plan ahead
8. Positivity
Make your recreation center a positive place to go to
9. Safe environment
Kids like to go places where they feel safe, and parents that way also
10. Surveys
Let them give input, and you can plan programs they'll enjoy
11. Flyers
Put flyers out where youth can see and pick them up
12. Signs
Put up signs letting members know about programs
13. Banners
Hang banners that advertise events going on
14. Partnerships with other youth organizations
Combine programs with other groups
15. Discounts for multiple registrations
Give discounts for signing up for more than one activity
16. Parent advisory committee
Have parents give suggestions for kids' programs
17. Newsletters
Put events and stories in a newsletter
18. Events with food and games
Hold large-scale events with food and games for families
19. Build relationships
Building relationships with youth members will make them want to be there
20. Phone calls
Reach members by calling parents and updating them on upcoming activities
21. Word-of-mouth
Talk up activities and events to youth members and families
22. E-mails
Send e-mails letting members know what programs are coming up
23. Snack food
Kids gravitate toward food - include snacks in some activities
24. Rewards
Offer rewards for participation
25. Recruit
Talk directly to youth members and parents and gather for programs
26. Contests
Have contests in certain activities to raise interest (ex. an art contest)
27. Consistency of activities
Having a consistent schedule allows members to form program routines
28. Knock on doors
You can visit neighborhood residents and promote activities
29. Variations on favorite programs
If a program is successful, try adding a variation of it
30. Phone tree
Have parents or volunteers call other parents to tell them about programs
31. Prizes
Give out prizes in activities, to raise interest levels
32. Plan popular activities more often
Schedule popular activities more often for higher turnout
33. Promote programs way ahead of time
By promoting programs early, you can reach more members
34. Talk to parents
Let the parents know what kinds of programs are being held
35. Times that give parents a break (ex. Fri. and Sat. nites)
Event times that give parents time off are often popular
36. Computer games
Many youth enjoy computer games
37. Youth planning committee
Have kids help to plan the activities they will participate in
38. Schedule new programs right after popular ones
With this combination, kids may stay after to try out the new activity
39. Low cost, high value activities
Try budget friendly activities for more families to participate
40. Exciting field trips
Plan exciting field trips, and the kids will sign up in droves
41. Family programs
More family programs means more overall participants
42. Add staff for better ratios
Adding staff members allows you to bring in more youth
43. Add volunteers to expand programs
Recruit volunteers for more and larger programs
44. Afterschool play area with games and sports
Kids gravitate to play areas
45. Mentorship programs
Have teens and adults mentor kids and attract interest
46. Celebrations (ex. pizza parties)
Kids love parties and excuses to celebrate
47. Programs parents require for their kids (ex. Crime Watch meetings)
If parents want to make them go, they'll show up
48. Youth Night
Youth nights are usually very popular and highly attended
49. Camps
Camps are a great way to get large groups together
50. Attendance goals
Setting attendance goals gives you numbers to plan for
51. Allow unsupervised activities between programs
Children like to hang out, play simple games, and do arts and crafts
52. Inclusive activities (ex. kickball and art)
The more inclusive an activity is, the more kids can attend
53. Make activities hands-on
Youth like to participate in more hands-on activities
54. Fun instructors
Have fun instructors, and youth will keep coming back
55. Give youth something to take home
Having something to take home reminds kids of how much fun they had
56. Certificates
Certificates make children feel good about participating
57. "Active" video games
Kids gravitate toward "active" video games
58. Inclusive contests (ex. poetry)
Contests can bring in less involved members
59. Suggestion box
Use members' suggestions for better programming
60. Cross promoting programs
Use lead-ins and cross promotions at the end of activities
61. Promotional Open House
Have an Open House to promote activities, classes, and evnts
62. Program variety
Having various programs brings in youth with different interests
63. Promote programs at events
Have a booth with flyers and promotional materials at events
64. Let youth share and work together
If youth have fun together, they will want to come back and join their friends
65. Know everyone by name
Kids want to be known by staff members
66. Booths at local school events
Run booths at local school events for more recognition
67. Professional employees and volunteers
Youth will feel more comfortable if your staff is professional
68. Extended summer and winter hours
Kids like the indoors during hot and cold weather
69. Adapt programs to youths' interests
If you adapt to kids' interests, they'll keep coming back
70. Allow staff and volunteers to be creative
More creativity leads to more fun and interest
71. Holiday programs
Holiday events usually bring in lots of families
72. Seasonal programs
Seasonal activities can add to your programming regime
73. Keep supplies stocked
Having enough supplies is important to having comprehensive activities
74. Sports events (ex. field games)
Sports events can attract families and lots of kids
75. Schedule programs consecutively instead of concurrently
With proper scheduling, each youth can attend just about every activity
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