Youth for a Better Future: Making Waves in and out of the Water
February 27, 2025
by Lindsey Duda
Last summer, the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation (CYCF) partnered with Youth for a Better Future (YBF) to provide swimming lessons, Adventure Boating Camps and sailing classes to local kids ages 6-18, and are excited to see nearly 50% of their participants are returning this summer to take classes at CYC Belmont’s sailing school.
YBF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring youth to better their world by showing them how to take charge. For more than 12 years, they have been empowering young people through innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs—and starting in 2024, they introduced a swimming program with support from the CYC Foundation. This January, several of YBF’s youth began swimming lessons again, and we’re happy to report that they are already mastering new techniques.
“Last June, a dozen YBF students absolutely loved a solid week of adventure boating, and they all want to come back,” said Adem Aluka, Founder and Executive Director of YBF.” In December 2024 at the end of year event and fundraiser hosted by Adem, YBF gave a “great parent award” to Cassandra Tyree, who has four grandchildren living with her and six more living nearby on the near north side. “Cassandra asked me to get her kids some swim lessons and luckily we were able to at DePaul’s Ray Meyer gym,” said Aluka. “Six of her grandchildren took to the water immediately during the eight week course, and in a few weeks they were even doing flip turns!”
This summer, new and returning YBF participants will be joining us at Belmont to take part in an Adventure Boating Camp. A day in adventure boating consists of several activities, including: sailing on our 23' Sonar keelboats, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, and marine-based STEM education lessons. These sailing camps are intended to deepen young sailors' boating experience and knowledge beyond what any one-day event or sail can do.
“Our Adventure Boating Camp is a great way for students to be involved with Lake Michigan, and a great option for youth who may not be interested in competitive sailing, but still want to spend some time on the water, safely, with friends.” said Caroline O’Malley, CYCF’s Community Sailing Manager. “10 YBF kids joined us for adventure boating in 2024, and this year we expect about 75% of the class from last year to return for level 1 420’s. Additionally, we have 15 new participants coming from YBF for adventure boating, so it’s exciting to see this program really start to gain traction and see these kids become more engaged on the water.”
YBF is one of many community organizations that the CYC Foundation supports in an effort to bring the joys and benefits of boating to all.
In 2025, the CYC Foundation anticipates being able to expand their financial support for programs like these. Follow the CYC Foundation on Instagram to check in on their progress and see what other activities we’re working on over the winter to get our kids ready for summer on Lake Michigan!