AMIkids

Call Directions Website

AMIkids Empowering young people to become confident, successful adults. At AMIkids, we believe in the power of transformation.

Every young person has the potential for greatness, and we’re on a mission to unlock it. For more than 55 years, AMIkids has empowered over 160,000 young people across the country by fostering confidence and a belief in success. In 1969, the seeds of AMIkids were planted in the compassionate vision of Judge Frank Orlando, the Chief Juvenile Court Judge in Fort Lauderdale. Frustrated by a revolving door of youth in his courtroom, he knew that merely locking them away wouldn’t break the cycle of systems involvement. Turning to his friend Bob Rosof, then director of the Florida Atlantic Ocean Science Institute (FAOSI), Judge Orlando initiated an experiment that would change lives. Sending boys to work on a research vessel at FAOSI, they found a transformative alternative to incarceration. What began in Boca Raton expanded to Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville, evolving into the Associated Marine Institutes (AMI). Through tireless efforts, a commitment to putting kids first emerged. In 2009, AMI became AMIkids, reflecting its expanded mission. Now, 55 years later, this visionary experiment has grown into a national nonprofit, touching the lives of over 160,000 young people throughout the United States. Today, AMIkids continues to empower young people to discover their true potential and become confident, successful adults. Our Mission: Empower young people to discover their true potential. Our Mantra: Empowering young people to believe
I CAN

10/09/2026

Thank you to our ONEderful BOT sponsors!

Each year, AMIkids’ Board of Trustees (BOT) comes together for our annual conference to connect, collaborate and look ahead at how we can continue advancing our mission and supporting young people.

We’re incredibly grateful to the organizations whose partnership helps make this important gathering possible:

General Session Sponsor: M.E. Wilson
Refreshment Sponsor: UnitedHealthcare / UMR
Student Speaker Sponsor: Tampa Bay Lightning
Lanyard Sponsor: Proforma
Supporting Sponsors: Adams & Reese, iQ4 Mobility, and The Players Club & Spa

We’re excited to welcome our Board members to Orlando this Thursday for a few inspiring days centered around leadership, connection and shared purpose as ONE AMIkids.

Stay tuned after the conference for a look at the exciting moments, meaningful conversations and special memories from our time together.
Thank you for being part of it!

ONE Mission. ONE Purpose. ONE AMIkids.

The Board of Trustees Conference is officially underway!Today we’re welcoming new faces, celebrating new board chairs, a...
10/08/2026

The Board of Trustees Conference is officially underway!

Today we’re welcoming new faces, celebrating new board chairs, and coming together around one mission, one purpose, one AMIkids.

We’re looking forward to inspiring conversations, new connections, and hearing directly from our incredible youth speakers.

Here’s to an exciting few days ahead! Let’s go, ONE AMIkids!

All month long, we’ve been sharing the incredible opportunities, career pathways, and meaningful experiences that help y...
09/25/2026

All month long, we’ve been sharing the incredible opportunities, career pathways, and meaningful experiences that help youth learn, grow, and discover their potential. And guess what? You can be part of it, too!

Did You Know You Can Make a Difference?
Here are a few ways to get involved:
✨ Give to help create hands-on learning experiences and new opportunities.
✨ Volunteer or mentor and share your time, talents, and experience.
✨ Open doors by connecting youth with internships and career opportunities.
✨ Be an advocate and help champion youth development.
✨ Leave a legacy by creating opportunities for generations to come.

NOW YOU KNOW!
Whether you give, volunteer, or open a door to a new opportunity, you can help youth discover their potential and build the skills and confidence to thrive.

How will you get involved?
Give • Volunteer • Mentor • Advocate • Hire • Leave a Legacy
🔗 Tap the link below to get involved!
https://amikids.org/get-involved/

09/17/2026

Growth doesn’t happen in a comfort zone…
It happens when young people step into the wild and discover what they’re truly capable of.
Through the AMIkids Wilderness Challenge, our youth take on the great outdoors to confront their fears, build unbreakable resilience, and learn to trust themselves and their peers.

Every trail hiked and obstacle tackled becomes a powerful metaphor for life, proving that with courage and community support, no challenge is insurmountable.

These intentionally designed experiences do more than just build skills; they spark new passions and help young people unlock their full potential.

🧡Want to help us create more life-changing opportunities for youth? Tap the link in our bio to get connected, volunteer, or support our programs today!

LearnByDoing MentorshipMatters

09/16/2026

Did you know experience can inspire growth?
 
At AMIkids, experiential education is at the heart of our mission. It’s truly what makes us unique.
 
Young people have opportunities to learn by doing, try new things and discover their potential. Through meaningful experiences, they can build confidence, develop resilience, strengthen communication and teamwork, and discover strengths they may not have known they had.
 
Whether they’re taking on a new challenge, facing a fear, working together or exploring something new, each experience is an opportunity to grow and see what’s possible.
 
Because sometimes, a new experience can help you discover something new about yourself.
 
Learn more about Experiential Education at AMIkids:
Experiential Education
 
Stay tuned for more “Did You Know?” facts from AMIkids throughout the month!
 
BuildConfidence

Did you know? There’s a lot more to AMIkids than you might think.For nearly 57 years, AMIkids has been creating opportun...
09/02/2026

Did you know? There’s a lot more to AMIkids than you might think.

For nearly 57 years, AMIkids has been creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, build skills and discover their potential.

From classrooms to job sites, from behavioral health services to the water and wilderness, AMIkids supports the whole young person through experiences designed to help them grow.

And this month, we're showing you what that looks like.
Follow along all September for moments from AMIkids, and discover more about what we do at amikids.org.

08/28/2026
This week, we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week at AMIkids with a special all-employee meeting that brought our incredi...
08/28/2026

This week, we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week at AMIkids with a special all-employee meeting that brought our incredible team together!

Every day, our staff shows up with passion, dedication, and a commitment to helping young people grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Celebrating our team is about more than saying thank you. It’s about recognizing the people who bring our mission to life and make a lasting difference in the lives of the young people we serve. We’re so grateful for all they do!

Together, we celebrate. Together, we inspire. Together, we are .

Address

5915 Benjamin Center Drive
Tampa, FL
33634

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18138873300

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AMIkids posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category