Joint Youth Commission

01/27/2026

Hi families!
Our JYC programs through CCETC/RYS are offered at several locations and times. You can find us after school, during February Break, and on weekends for our Youth Birding program for youth bird enthusiasts!

Programs are geared for youth 10 and up-- please contact me if you have questions about the programs.

Programs to note:

BOYNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Boynton Board Games, Magic the Gathering, D&D Wednesdays after school 3:30-6pm

Boynton Makers—(Crafts, building, projects, challenges, cooking and more!) Thursdays after school 3:30-5:30pm

DEWITT MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dewitt Finally Fridays/Board Games, Magic/D&D Fridays after school 3:30-6pm

Weekends-- Youth Birding— 1/21, 2/15, 3/14, 4/12 more info on registration page

February Break Programs at the Brooktondale Community Center

Tuesday, 2/17 9am-3pm. Board Games, Magic, possibly D&D if interest
Wednesday, 2/18 (snow date 2/19) 9am-4pm Winter Olympics

For more info, and to register for Programs visit here:

http://bit.ly/3Gmz9sU

contact Beth Bannister at [email protected]

06/17/2025

The JYC/RYS collaboration with LACS teacher Desiree is in the ICSD news! Read about our project here:

A group of middle and high school students from Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) particip...

06/12/2025

The Joint Youth Commission's programs through Cornell Cooperative Extension(CCETC)/RYS has summer openings. These engaging, fun, and educational summer programs are for middle school youth who live in the Towns of Caroline or Ithaca (not City), and Villages of Cayuga Heights or Lansing. Free with donations welcome.

These middle-school age youth programs are focused on a variety of topics such as photography, volunteering, art, cooking and outdoor exploration. Our popular Sky’s the Limit Program explores flight, birding, space and rocketry. Lake Life, our Cayuga Lake exploration program, comes with a cruise with the Floating Classroom. Other programs this summer include camping trips, Summer 'Olympics', and Outdoor Adventures.
Programs run 3-4 days per week per topic and meet at a variety of community sites.

For more information and a registration form for summer programs, contact Beth Bannister at 272-2292 x229 or [email protected] or check our website at http://ccetompkins.org/4-h-youth/rural-youth-services/rys-program-sites/joint-youth-commission.

Summer programs:

June 30-July 2 Arnot overnight --please contact Beth for more info
July 7-10 Lake Life at Myers Park
July 14-16 Outdoor Adventures (3 days, 3 locations)
July 22-25 Tues-Fri ART! PLANTS! SCIENCE! Cornell Botanic Gardens program
July 28-31 Summer Olympics at Myers Park
Aug 4-7 Sky's the Limit meets at CCETC
Aug 18-21 Photography meets at CCETC
Aug 25-28 ADK wildlife and birding week trip--please contact Beth for more info
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for more details and registration, go here:

http://bit.ly/3Gmz9sU

03/05/2025

Calling all Bird enthusiasts, youth and families. Join our Youth Birders and the Cornell Raptor Club this Saturday 3/8!
We have a great day planned--
At 1pm we meet at Cornell Cooperative Extension (615 Willow Ave) for a bird walk with Suan, Diane and other members of the Cayuga Bird Club around CCE and toward the inlet/Ithaca Farmers Market.
Then the group returns to CCE for time with the Cornell Raptor Club at 2:30pm. There will be a formal presentation from the Club members with their birds, and then plenty of time to ask questions and get a close look at the birds.
Feel free to join youth as well for either or both of these times. If you want to leave youth with us, please register here:
http://bit.ly/3Gmz9sU

12/11/2024

Our JYC/RYS Youth Nature Photography Program at LACS has been amazing, and youth took so many incredible shots. Here is the online gallery, with a physical gallery at the Tompkins County Public Library starting this weekend! Youth have learned so much about framing, focusing and storytelling with their photography.

08/21/2024

Have you been to Purity Ice Cream or College Town Bagels? Learn how B&W Supply Co. collaborates with local eateries to make your dining experience great! Come see B&W Supply Co.’s showroom and discover various projects they have managed for local restaurants. To sign up email [email protected] today. Must be 11-21 and live in Tompkins County.

Tompkins County Youth Services Department
Joint Youth Commission
United Way of Tompkins County

08/16/2024

Work with me?!

On behalf of our friends at CCE:

Tompkins County 4-H Youth Development Program is looking for the right person to lead the Dryden OURS (Opportunity, Understanding, Respect, Success youth program!

With support from staff and similar programs throughout the county, the Dryden OURS Manager will coordinate creative and supportive school- and community-based programs including teaching life skills and fostering independence, informing youth about career possibilities, coordinating day camps, directing volunteer mentors from the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, and more.

If you have a degree and practical experience working with youth in grades 5-12, this could be the rewarding experience for you! This is a full-time role, and compensation starts at $21 per hour.

Learn more and find a link to apply online at CCETompkins.org/jobs.

08/14/2024

07/27/2024

A SUNY Broome grad came in second place in a national competition for the student pastry chef of the year.

07/26/2024

One of our YEP apprentices is enjoying his time at the Sciencenter this Summer learning reptile handling and science communication skills!

Tompkins County Youth Services Department
Joint Youth Commission
United Way of Tompkins County