CYP Teen Programs

CYP offers a variety of programs, events, and trips for Cambridge teens that centers career exploration, life enrichment, and leadership development. 

Afterschool programming is drop-in and includes homework assistance, resume writing, music and media messaging, sports, arts, community service, and other enrichment activities.

• Open to Cambridge teens ages 14 - 19 years old.
  
  
• View CYP Teen Program locations and hours.
  
  
• Cambridge teens must submit a registration form to participate in CYP Teen programming

CYP Teen Program Registration Form

CYP partners with local universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations to enhance the experience of teens through internships, workshops, events, and trips.

Career Exploration

Through partnerships with local organizations, CYP teens are immersed in experiential learning opportunities that inspire the career pathways of Cambridge teens.

Recent partnerships include: 

Harvard Food Labs: Harvard students visit Youth Centers to teach young people how to cook dishes from many different countries, offering a hands-on
opportunity to explore diverse cultures through food. Through interactive workshops, the students gain confidence in the kitchen while nurturing creativity, teamwork, and cultural appreciation. 

PAGU / Food Restore: Moses Youth Center partners with this local restaurant for the Culinary Kings and Queens program, which teaches teens culinary skills, budgeting, and health and wellness. 

National Society of Black Engineers: Frisoli Youth Center hosts a seminar and workshop that provides young people with valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences in engineering and STEAM fields.

Higher Ed Collaborations 

Lesley STEAM Learning Lab

Through a partnership with Lesley University, teens participated in a Pre-College Creative AI and Design Course, where they learned about the fundamentals of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) while earning college credits. Teens explored face-sensing AI, GenAI design thinking, and other GenAI tools. Participants earned a stipend and gained valuable STEAM skills they can apply to future educational or career endeavors. 

Harvard Museums of Science and Culture

Each fall, CYP collaborates with Harvard faculty to provide a 12-week, early work experience for young people. CYP participants develop presentation, communication, critical thinking, and data analysis skills. They also learn to leverage data to enhance the quality of their presented work. Young people experience science in a workplace and how science can play a role in social justice movements. 

College Visits

During February and April vacations, CYP brings teens on trips to tour Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), visit national monuments focused on social justice, and explore Black-owned businesses and restaurants. CYP teens have travelled to Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, DC in recent years.