Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
Enfield Harvest Fest 2019

Enfield Harvest Fest 2019

Joint Youth Commission - Boynton; Rural Youth Services

After-school cooking class at Boynton Middle School through JYC

Dryden & Enfield group, 2014; Rural Youth Services

Dryden & Enfield youth relax after a hike with Rural Youth Services

Joint Youth Commission - DeWitt, Rural Youth Services

Vegetable gardening at DeWitt with the JYC program

Rural Youth Services

Youth who live in the communities of Ithaca, Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Freeville, Groton, Lansing, Newfield, Trumansburg and Ulysses can enroll in free or low-cost programs offered through Rural Youth Services (RYS). Since 1995, Rural Youth Services (RYS) has provided a place to try new things and to belong by offering engaging activities after school and throughout the summer. Programs are free or low cost to participants.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities

Graphic for Rural Youth Services: Find an RYS Program near you!

Rural Youth Services

Rural Youth Services offers a variety of fun, interesting programs for youth who live in communities across Tompkins County. Find a program near you!

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Dave Hall (right) at hike, 2014, Dryden & Enfield programs; Rural Youth Services

Dryden RYS

Middle school aged youth in the Dryden area can enroll in school-year and summer programs with 4-H Educator Dave Hall.

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YOURS and OURS program participants, Dryden Rural Youth Services, O.U.R.S.

Y.O.U.R.S. & O.U.R.S.

Cornell University student volunteers provide youth in Freeville mobile home parks with mentoring, games, crafts, outdoor activities, and field trips.

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Legos at Lansing RYS program

Lansing RYS

Lansing Rural Youth Services offers year-round programs for middle school youth, after school, during school breaks and during the summer.

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Contact

Shelley Lester
Rural Youth Services Coordinator
sjl44@cornell.edu
(607) 272-2292 ext. 141

Last updated September 11, 2023

Rural Youth Services

RYS Program Sites

Partners

Tompkins County Youth Services
Caroline Youth Commission
Village of Cayuga Heights
Danby Youth Commission 
Dryden Youth Commission
Enfield Community Council
Groton Youth Commission
Lansing Youth Service Committee
Village of Lansing
Newfield Youth Commission 
Town of Ithaca

Program Manager Resources

Tompkins County Municipality Address Look Up

Tompkins County Road Municipality Town Village

Helpful Staff Info

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Events

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RYS Coordinators

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Shelley Lester
Rural Youth Services Coordinator
sjl44@cornell.edu

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Athena Steinkraus
Rural Youth Services Assistant Coordinator
ahs38@cornell.edu

Cool Quotes

"Leaders and staff of youth development programs create an atmosphere of hope.The positive, youth-centered atmosphere conveys the adult’s belief in youth as resources to be developed rather than problems to be managed."

- Jodie Roth, Ph.D.

"Two decades of youth development research has found that "problem free is not fully prepared" emphasizing that youth programming goals must focus on adding support to the natural developmental process."

- Karen Pittman, Merita Irby
& Thaddeus Gerber

"Needs of youth cannot be met by one program alone. We need diversity of choices for all youth"

- Amy Rand, former CCE-Tompkins Evaluation Specialist