Tag: fingerlakes

Teen-Led Initiative Receives $10,000 to Support Other Teens

During the 2025-2026 academic year, a group of TEEN DAY Ithaca participants set out to create an innovative program to support their peers. Eleven teens registered for Lead4Change – a leadership program where they developed skills they would need; created an initiative (OPT-In) to help their community; and, eventually, applied for a grant to continue funding this project.The team applied for a grant of $10,000, and they were rewarded the full amount to go toward funding this project into the future!

Join Us!

TEEN DAY Award Ceremony and Reception
August 17th @ 5pm
Third Street Meetinghouse
120 Third St., Ithaca

Lead4Change and OPT-In

Lead4Change is a curriculum for grades 6-12. It teaches skills such as leadership, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, career-readiness, and goal setting.

A group of students came together weekly to work through the Lead4Change curriculum. Throughout the process, the teens met together to watch lessons, complete worksheets, and plan for their project. 

In the 2024—2025 school year, a group of three teens had participated in Lead4Change (they also achieved a grant of $10,000!) Two came back, and they brought the community initiative they had worked on last year.

“It’s helped me to develop a lot more confidence in leading something and also just understanding what that takes.” -Amaya (L4C and OPT-In participant)

That project is called the On Purpose Teen Initiative (OPT-In). It is an initiative designed to support teens both financially and socially as they explore their interests, build skills, and bring ideas to life. 

OPT-In strives to bring encouragement and community and motivate teens to take that first step with their ideas. Participants work on self-directed projects of their choice: anything from creative pursuits, to hands-on builds, to community initiatives.

To support these projects, OPT-In offers microgrants of up to $100; weekly meetings for support, troubleshooting and accountability; and a collaborative, teen-centered community. This was all led and organized by many of the teens who participated in Lead4Change.

“It was really nice to have peer support and to have a schedule and fun meetings.” -Anya (OPT-In participant)

OPT-In was able to support 15+ teens this cycle (some were also members of the Lead4Change team), each with a unique project. Projects included building a playhouse, creating a website to help teens find volunteer opportunities, designing and making an outfit, long-distance walking, crocheting small cats, designing a board game, and more.

Some projects needed funding, and some just needed accountability and support. At the end of the cycle, there was a showcase, where participants could display and/or present their process and result.

OPT-In has had a positive impact on many teens so far.

“I think I grew a lot in this program, both from a leading standpoint and from contributing peer support.” -Lonny E.

“I think it made me realize just how much I could get done if I decided that I wanted to.” -Abby

Looking Ahead

With this $10,000 grant, TEEN DAY plans to continue cycles of OPT-In for the school years of 2026-2027 and 2027-2028…and hopefully beyond that! There will be some changes and improvements building off the success of the first year, including raising the maximum microgrant amount to $200.TEEN DAY is so proud of this team, and are looking forward to the 2026-2027 cycle!

Join Our Team of Educators for 2026-2027

**Updated 3/30/26**

TEEN DAY Ithaca is in the process of hiring teaching staff for 2026-2027, and we’d love to connect with YOU!

There is often no demand for specific credentialing. Classes are/have been taught by professors, graduate students, undergraduate students, professionals, and enthusiasts of all stripes. We strive to find people who are, yes, comfortable in a room full of teens and confident in offering instruction on a subject. However, what we look for most of all are people who are passionate about what they’re doing. Whether it’s Algebra or Art, we’re after people who are willing to share their excitement about a topic with our participants. Most of our courses are offered 1 day/week on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Contact admin@teendayithaca.org for more info or to apply.

LOWER-LEVEL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR:

Most of our educational areas at TEEN DAY operate in a three-year rotation, allowing most participants to take most classes, regardless of when they enter the program. Our lower-level science rotation consists currently of Life Science and Physical Science, with Earth Science being an overlapping year between our upper-level science courses. (Though from a teaching perspective, Earth Science is included in our lower-level course rotation.)

The ideal candidate will move through this rotation each year, teaching the relevant coursework. There is ample support for lesson planning and some existing infrastructure for labs and course planning. There is a lot of room for creative interpretation and outside-the-box instruction in all areas. Instructor applications will also be accepted for next year’s Physical Science course without the intention of teaching for TEEN DAY for the full rotation.

For more detailed information about the position, course descriptions, relevant requirements, and compensation, visit https://teendayithaca.org/lower-level-science-instructor/.

ART INSTRUCTOR:

Art classes at TEEN DAY operate in two different ways. Some years, we offer “generalist courses” with a connective theme or project that brings a variety of artistic modalities together, allowing participants to sample various techniques and art supplies all while working toward a new understanding of a topic. Some years, we offer expert instruction in a single medium or method, providing an opportunity for participants to delve deeply into one specific component of art (e.g., an En Plein course or one in Watercolor).

Previous Art courses that have been offered include: Oil Painting I & II, Mixed Media Art, Botanical Illustration, Stained Glass, Art of Being (art inspired by individuals). When applying for this position, applicants should propose a focus of study informed by their own interests and abilities.

For more detailed information about the position, course descriptions, relevant requirements, and compensation, visit https://teendayithaca.org/job-description-art-instructor/.

LOWER-LEVEL MATH INSTRUCTOR:

Most of our educational areas at TEEN DAY operate on a three-year rotation, allowing most participants to take most classes, regardless of when they enter the program. Our lower-level math rotation consists currently of Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II (cross-listed with Tompkins Cortland Community College as MATH120).

The ideal candidate will move through this rotation each year, teaching the relevant coursework. There is ample support for lesson planning. There is a lot of room for creative interpretation and outside-the-box instruction in all areas. Instructor applications will also be accepted for next year’s Algebra II (Math120) course without the intention of teaching at TEEN DAY for the full rotation.

For more detailed information about the position, course descriptions, relevant requirements, and compensation, visit https://teendayithaca.org/job-description-lower-level-math-instructor/.

CHEMISTRY INSTRUCTOR:

Our Upper-Level Science rotation in 2026-2027 is Chemistry. In this class, students should be introduced to key chemical principles, including topics such as atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, bonding, gases, liquids, solids, solutions, equilibrium, acids and bases, and organic chemistry. There is ample support for lesson planning with syllabi, lab recommendations and instructions, and notes from previous instructors. Text used: Introductory Chemistry (4th edition) by Nivaldo J. Tro

For more detailed information about the position, course descriptions, relevant requirements, and compensation, visit https://teendayithaca.org/job-description-chemistry-instructor/.