The mission of the Ithaca Youth Bureau is to provide youth with the tools they need to build a successful life for themselves and change the world for the better. We believe that all citizens can be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy, and socially and civically engaged. We help prepare youth to live successful lives as adults by providing a variety of recreation and youth development opp
ortunities that will help youth develop to their full potential. We lend support to discouraged youth who are struggling to find their place in the world. We help our program participants understand that all people have a place in this world and together we can create a better tomorrow. The Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB), a public multi-service agency established 1948, provides a broad variety of recreation and youth development programs to promote the health, happiness, and well-being of all youth and families in the greater Ithaca area. We serve more than 7,500 youth annually, aged 0-20 years, through a wide array of programs including:
Sports leagues, lessons and clinics
Martial arts
Swimming pool, sport courts, and ice/skate rink
Academic support
After school programs
Job and skill training and subsidized employment for youth
Expressive Arts Programs
Summer Camps
Inclusive recreation support services
Children's Library and activities for toddlers and their grown up
Special events
In addition to recreation and after school initiatives that serve the general youth population, our youth development programs do strategic outreach to economically disadvantaged and under-served youth.