Peace Neighborhood Center Youth Programs

Peace Neighborhood Center Youth Programs offers after-school and summer programming for K-12 youth. The after-school program includes individualized academic support, age-appropriate social-emotional learning, enrichment and recreational activities, field trips, and STEAM-themed creative experiential learning opportunities. Program options also include REACH After-School Program for elementary youth, Alternatives for Youth (AY) After-School Program for grades 6th-8th, College & Career Prep Program for high school youth, Summer Day Camp with STEAM-related theme, special interest clubs, and academic work time, Leadership Development Camp with structured educational and recreational activities, SEL, a STEAM-related theme, and final projects, and Family Enrichment Program workshops and family events.

Programs

• After-School Programs — elementary, middle, and high school youth · School year · Provides individualized academic support, age-appropriate social-emotional learning, enrichment and recreational activities, field trips, and STEAM-themed creative experiential learning opportunities.
• REACH After-School Program — elementary youth · Tuesdays & Thursdays during the school year · An enriching and educational after-school environment; offers over 80 families each year? No, this is for youth and offers nearly 100 children each school year.
• Alternatives for Youth (AY) After-School Program — grades 6th-8th · Mondays & Wednesdays during the school year · Mentors middle school students while offering academic tutoring, leadership skills development, self-esteem and self-sufficiency support through SEL discussion groups.
• College & Career Prep Program — high school youth · Monday through Thursday during the school year
• Summer Youth Services — elementary, middle and high school youth · Eight weeks each summer
• Summer Day Camp (SDC) — elementary youth · Six weeks each summer · Elementary-age summer camp with a STEAM-related theme, special interest clubs, and academic work time built into the day.
• Leadership Development Camp (LDC) — middle school youth · Six weeks each summer · Middle school summer camp with structured educational and recreational activities, SEL, a STEAM-related theme, and final projects.
• Counselors in Training (CITs) — rising 9th graders · During Summer Day Camp · Embedded in Summer Day Camp to help with younger kids and take weekly field trips to local sites and colleges.
• Academic Bridge Camp — Two weeks at the end of the summer · Helps bridge the gap between summer and school.
• Family Enrichment Program — parents/adults · Weekly workshops; family events and outings · Mandatory for parents who have children attending youth programs; includes adult-only workshops.
• Wellness Program — parents, youth, and families · Weekly wellness activities; age-specific support groups
• Case Management Services — families and individuals · One-on-one throughout the community · Provides financial and emotional support, including help with heat shutoff prevention, advocacy with agencies, and holiday toys and food assistance.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• General schedule: Peace’s core programming in Ann Arbor is year-round after-school and summer programming for K-12 youth.

About the provider

Peace Neighborhood Center’s mission is to provide programs for children, families, and individuals who are affected by social and economic problems. Peace helps people discover options, enhance skills, and make choices that lead to self-sufficiency and positive community involvement. Peace works with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, which enables Peace Youth Program Staff to be embedded in schools. Weekly lunch-time drop-ins and classroom visits provide additional support. Peace also serves over 160 young people each summer through Summer Youth Services and assists over 400 households in Washtenaw County each year through Case Management Services.

Peace’s Youth Services Pledge includes promises to love and respect family, respect others and self, honor and respect elders, strive to keep learning, take responsibility, and be honest and express feelings and needs. The Five Rules of Success are: Respect Everyone and Everything, Listen, Follow Directions, Cooperation, and Think and Respond Appropriately.

What families say

“I first came to Peace’s Summer Day Camp when I was five, the summer before first grade [at Bryant Elementary School]. I spent every summer at Peace. I still remember how much my mother appreciated that Peace was affordable and that I had a safe place to be in the summer, instead of just hanging out in the neighborhood.” — Anabel Cruz

“I first came to Peace when I was twelve, as a rising 8th grader for the summer Leadership Development Camp (LDC).” — Raven Vawters

“I love working with young children and watching them grow. The first grade campers I had as a Summer Day Camp Counselor are now entering 9th grade themselves.” — Raven Vawters

Last updated October 27, 2026.