WHO WE ARE
The Aptos Community Youth Program (ACYP) is a community based youth empowerment program for middle and high school youth in Santa Cruz County. We provide opportunities for youth to become change agents in their local community, and develop valuable leadership skills along the way. By becoming a member of ACYP, students have the opportunity to connect their gifts and passions with the needs of our community, and participate in meaningful projects and experiences alongside their peers.
About Our Program
BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE APTOS COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM
Our program operates on a flexible membership structure where middle and high school students who join the program are encouraged to participate in activities, projects, and events that are of interest to them and carve their own unique path in our program. By becoming a member, youth have access to our leadership projects, skill building classes, community service opportunities, social events, after school programs, and access to our ACYP student lounge in Aptos. Membership is FREE!
If you would like to join please reach out to our Director Lisa Freeman community-youth@st-john-aptos.org (please use a non school email address) to receive a copy of our parent/guardian registration form,
YOUTH LED LEADERSHIP PROJECTS AND EXPERIENCES
In our program, students are encouraged to collaborate with their peers to design and lead innovative community projects to benefit our community. In May 2021, seeing a need for more youth media outlets, a team of students launched our Gen Impact: Aptos Community Youth Program podcast in order to provide an informative and entertaining positive media outlet for youth in our community.
COMMUNITY ART PROJECTS
Our students partner with local artists to create beautiful unique art pieces for our community. You can check out our “Together We Rise,” electrical box off of Airport Blvd in Watsonville done in partnership with local artist Nessa Ledesma. In the past we have painted Little Free Food pantry’s, created art for teachers and healthcare workers during COVID-19, and you can read about our most recent “Healthy Oceans = Healthy Future” transit art project here:
APTOS COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT APTOS JUNIOR HIGH
Our Afterschool Program at Aptos Junior High meets every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15-4:45 p.m. in our Lounge on campus at Aptos Junior High School. Youth members enjoy a place to rest and recharge after school along with leadership development, art projects, fun activities, and planning service projects in our community.
REGISTRATION INFO FOR 2022-2023 school year coming soon!,
APTOS HIGH SCHOOL APTOS COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM OUTREACH CLUB
Our high school students are invited to be apart of the ACYP Outreach Club at Aptos High School which is run by student club leaders and supported by a faculty advisor at Aptos High. The club serves as the think tank for our program for the work students would like to do in the community.
The club meets during lunch on campus at Aptos High School.