Youth Development Council
ABOUT
Purpose and Mission of the Youth Development Council of Greene County
The purpose of the Youth Development Council of Greene County, Inc. is to respond to the concerns of the community about the perceived lack of comprehensive youth development programming. “Comprehensive youth development” as used here means an everyday after-school and summer program which provides opportunities and programs to enhance the academic, social, personal and spiritual development of the children and youth who attend.
Child Safety
Stanardsville Area Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) began in 2012 under the leadership of Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Morris to engage the community in an effort to determine how best to improve public safety in the Stanardsville area. Several public forums were held, with up to 100 people participating, and a Steering Committee was organized to investigate further steps to promote community safety. One major theme emerging from those meetings was that the county’s youth have few options for after-school activities due primarily to the lack of any comprehensive youth development program. Consequently, SACSI identified after-school and summer youth activities as the highest priority need for enhancing public safety in the community.
Our Staff
Board of Directors
President, Ron Morris - Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge in the 16th Judicial District of Virginia
Vice-President, Andrea Whitmarsh -Superintendent, Greene County Schools
Treasurer, Bishop Michael Jackson - Pastor, Emmanuel Christian Center
Secretary, Heather Myers
Board Members
Jesse Magruder
Barbara Nye
Carl Schmitt
Catherine Thomas
Advisory Council
Roy Dye
Charlotte Gilbert
Nancy Haney
Dumisile Martin
Bert Nye
Gretchen Stelling
Kathryn Thomas
Give us a call:
434.760.4322
Executive Director
Michael Alley
Michael Alley a former high school football coach, teacher, youth minister, and current Student Success coordinator for Greene County Schools is on his 9th year as the Executive Director for the Youth Development Council of Greene County. He oversees the overall operation of the YDC after-school and summer camp programs. The program is designed on the needs and interests of the students and their parents. The YDC staff and volunteers shares his same love and care for kids.
In The News!
YDC After-School Wrap-Up
This fall the YDC students are once again together in person. The after-school program started almost at full capacity and now is serving 48 students from Nathanael Greene Elementary, Ruckersville Elementary, and William Monroe Middle schools. The returning students were excited to be back as well as our new 3rd and 4th grade students.
The YDC students are receiving homework and reading assistance, enjoying some outdoor activities, working on character development, being creative with art and STEM projects, and eating healthy snacks. Seven JMU Occupational Therapy students have joined us on Thursdays to help students learn about controlling their emotions through games, projects, and activities. Our student to leader ratio averages 2 to 1. This low ratio helps us to better serve and connect with students especially with homework assistance.
The 2022 YDC Summer Camp theme was “Venture.”
Are you willing to take a risk?
This summer the YDC campers were encouraged to try something new. (Interact in new ways…Make something new…Move in new ways…Impact someone new…Attempt new hobbies…Eat something new.)
The YDC campers experienced over thirty activities! Character Building, Outdoor Games, Swimming, Fishing, and every Activity imaginable continued to make this the best summer camp around. Some of the camp’s highlights were learning Sign Language, Bee Keeping, Cooking, Fishing (over 100 fish caught!) and serving Feeding Greene.