In the heart of Boston, amidst the bustling streets and urban life, lies a longstanding organization that has become a second home for Boston’s youth, transforming their lives through adventure. For five decades, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) has navigated much of the city's social change, flourishing into a year-round youth development organization and remaining an iconic and invaluable asset to Boston's families by continuously enriching lives through a variety of outdoor sports. 

YES, was founded in 1968 under the city-funded Youth Activities Commission (YAC), led by Richard Williams, an African American civil rights activist from a neighborhood marked by racial tension and poverty and inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Williams aimed to provide outdoor activities for all, regardless of background or income, fostering justice and equality.  

When city funding ceased, Richard and his partner Mary relocated YES to continue serving underserved youth with donated skiing gear. While ski organizations and retailers supported YES, additional financial resources were needed beyond raffles and contests to fully sustain it. Richard's vision and efforts led to YES securing a long-term lease agreement to utilize and manage Swann Lodge, a cabin in the woods of the Berkshires Mountains.  It continues to be a mainstay of YES’s summer camp program with a capacity to accommodate 24 people and access to canoeing and hiking, expanding YES's outdoor offerings and experiences for young people from the city. 

YES ski and snowboard rental shop.

Richard introduced tens of thousands of city kids, who lacked opportunities to travel outside the city, to outdoor experiences like skiing, camping, biking, and canoeing through YES trips, providing many with their first outdoor adventure, winter coat, and job opportunity. These excursions also allow youth to interact with peers they might not usually engage with, fostering personal growth and resilience in a new environment that encourages safe risks and new endeavors. His dedication went beyond recreational trips, serving as a father figure to many young people, a trait which became increasingly important during challenging economic, social, and political times in Boston. 

As YES grew, its impact deepened. YES serves approximately 1,200 young people annually, with a focus on YES’s targeted neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain. Impressively, 75% of participants are youth of color, and an equal percentage come from low to moderate-income households. 

The mission of YES is crystal clear: to inspire youth through outdoor adventures, shaping them into confident players ready for life's challenges. From hitting the slopes in winter to paddling down rivers in summer to running at the track in the spring (and during the summer and fall, too!), YES offers diverse activities promoting physical fitness, goal-setting, and self-confidence. By tackling challenges like rock climbing and track and field races, YES nurtures teamwork, leadership, academic success, and community engagement skills in youth.  Within the YES Academy’s Leadership Corps program, youth engage in leadership development, career exploration, and college preparation.  High school seniors in the program are invited to apply to the Richard Williams Memorial Scholarship. 

Aaliyah-Youth Leadership Manager with Yousra, and Mattea- Leadership Corps Members.

Richard Williams’ passion for skiing and cultivating talent in kids sparked the founding of YES. Although he passed in 2002, his legacy was carried forward by his wife Mary who ensured its continuity and expansion. Since 2008, Bryan Van Dorpe has led as Executive Director, becoming only the third in the organization's history. Under his leadership, YES has evolved into a dynamic organization offering a year-round youth development model through outdoor sports. “Since our founding in 1968, YES has not only survived and thrived, but evolved to meet the changing needs of Boston’s young people,” says Van Dorpe.  “YES continually examines how to better serve Boston youth and strategically grow our capacity.  One significant way we are doing this right now is by building a new headquarters in Jamaica Plain.  The new facility will nearly double our physical space and enable YES to reach up to 500 more youth annually.” 

YES enriches Boston youth with lifelong learning and pathways to success, as evidenced by collected metrics. These metrics indicate significant positive outcomes in terms of skill and life quality improvement and the transformative impact YES has on its participants, fostering a sense of community and personal growth: 

As YES progresses, its commitment to empowering Boston's youth into capable leaders remains steadfast. YES’s outstanding work in youth development and pathways in Boston was recognized by United Way, which awarded them a 7-year grant to continue transforming the lives of Boston youth. “For us, receiving the United Way Grant is transformational. As a small organization without government funding, we rely on fundraising efforts to sustain and expand our programs. Grants like this with the commitment for seven years hold immense significance for us, it will go a long way to impact our programs. Moreover, to have our name associated with your United Way is a huge gift,” said Jamie Burch, Senior Director of Development at YES. 

The journeys of YES participants bring to life the organization's life-changing impact. By providing caring support, positive role models, instruction, coaching, job-shadowing, and skills for interviews and college prep, YES continues to sculpt futures and ignite passions. 

Aaliyah Y's journey to YES was indeed a serendipitous adventure, joining the organization when she was 15 years old.   

Through YES, Aaliyah discovered a passion for outdoor sports like skiing and snowboarding, underscoring the organization's role in broadening horizons and fostering a love for nature among both youth and adults alike. However, it was within the vibrant atmosphere of YES that Aaliyah found herself drawn to the sense of purpose and fulfillment that emanated from working with young minds. 

Now 26, Aaliyah is the Youth Leadership Manager. She speaks passionately about her journey from a teen volunteer to a staff member, emphasizing the importance of mentoring and the supportive community at YES. “YES is a great place to try things and if you fail, it's a really easy place to fall because you have staff and support here to help you get back up,” said Aaliyah. 

Aaliyah- Youth Leadership Manager.

Aaliyah's role at YES involves a range of responsibilities focused on teen engagement and development. She oversees the hiring, onboarding, and training of teen staff year-round, managing both school-year interns and summer program participants. Additionally, Aaliyah helps develop curriculum for the leadership core program, and organizes workshops on life skills such as leadership, job readiness, and personal finance. She also monitors the ski and snowboard rental shop, contributing to the organization's daily activities.  

For Aaliyah, YES embodies more than just a workplace—it's a tight-knit community where meaningful connections are forged, and personal growth is nurtured. "YES is a great community," Aaliyah shares. "This is a safe place for me to hang out; I have found important friendships and relationships through here." 

Similarly, Yousra L., an 11th-grade high school student, has been actively involved with YES since she discovered it in 9th grade at a school job fair. Initially, Yousra joined YES as an intern over the summer, capturing photographs and creating a mini documentary about the organization's mission and activities. This experience solidified her connection with YES, providing her with a sense of belonging and a place to de-stress after school. “YES is a place where I can calm down during the week," Yousra explains. " I come on Wednesdays and really love it. I've been here for a while now." 

Yousra-Leadership Corps Member.

Now enrolled in YES’s Leadership Corps Program, Yousra participates in various workshops, from personal finance to job preparation, and helps fit kids for skiing gear in the shop. Despite not knowing how to ski initially, she learned in January and started teaching kids by February, finding it a fun and rewarding experience. 

“YES has played an important part in my high school years. All the cool things that we get to do like we get to ski for free, we get to teach kids, we get to meet new people. It is the perfect place to really find yourself again, they're basically helping us find ourselves but also better ourselves at the same time,” said Yousra.  

Meanwhile, Mattea F.’s journey with YES began when she was just seven years old, starting with their track and field program. She continued participating in track and field until around 2020, at which point she transitioned to snow sports. After spending a year as a participant in the snow sports program, she advanced to the role of a Leadership Corps (LC) member, where she has been teaching kids how to ski for the past two or three years. 

Currently, Mattea is deeply involved with YES, not only as an Leadership Corp member but also as a member of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) and an employee. Over her eight-year involvement, Mattea, now 15, has found YES to be a pivotal part of her youth development. YES has provided her with a close-knit community, job opportunities, and has also assisted her with practical skills such as resume building, cover letter writing, and even tax preparation. “It is pretty much my second home, I live right down the street, so I'm just used to walking like three blocks to YES every day. YES has given me pretty much all of my best friends that I have now. They've shaped most of my childhood since I've been so involved with them for so long,” said Mattea.  

Mattea-Leadership Corps Member.

She believes that the connection between outdoor activities and youth development is crucial, especially for Boston young people who might not have easy access to such experiences. “I know that especially if you live in the city is kind of hard to have access to outdoor sports but having something like YES can really help you to get a feel for the outdoors and give you those opportunities and experiences that you might not otherwise be fortunate enough or be able to have,” said Mattea.  

Through their collective narratives, Aaliyah, Yousra, and Mattea materialize the essence of YES—a guiding light of hope, personal growth, and empowerment for youth from all walks of life. For over five decades, YES has been helping young people summit not just mountains, but the many peaks and valleys of life itself.  

Please call 617-267-5877 or email giving@yeskids.org, for more information.