Element 7: Youth Participation and Engagement

A quality program provides opportunities for youth to participate in planning, to exercise choice, and to engage in a rich variety of offerings.

• Program ensures that youth both actively participate in program activities and in program design
• Youth are given meaningful roles and have a variety of opportunities to lead activities, assess the program and staff, and contribute ideas
• All youth feel ownership of the program
• Youth enjoy activities, are excited to attend the program, and recruit friends to join