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A diverse group of smiling adults poses together indoors, some wearing YMCA shirts, in a casual group photo.

Summer Program Brings Brain Science to Life

People Newspapers

Bridget Reis

YES YOU CAN! Initiative teaches how brains work, and how youth can manage choices.

Overview

What if one of the most powerful mental wellness lessons for young people starts with understanding that the brain is constantly changing? A collaborative summer initiative is helping Dallas-area youth see brain science not as an abstract concept, but as a practical tool for navigating emotions, making decisions and building resilience. The YES YOU CAN! initiative, launched in 2025 through a partnership among the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Grant Halliburton Foundation, Metrocare Services, Momentous Institute and the Center for BrainHealth, focuses on teaching young people about brain plasticity and their ability to influence how their brains grow and adapt. The pilot program reached 399 youth through multiple camp formats, while also training 350 counselors and engaging 340 parents through educational sessions. Organizers translated neuroscience into hands-on activities, including a “settling your glitter” exercise that visually demonstrates how calming strategies can help regulate emotions, and teamwork challenges that strengthen communication, problem-solving and emotional regulation skills. According to the article, the program delivered measurable results: 92% of counselors reported improved camp behavior, 92% of teens said they felt safe expressing their feelings and 89% said they gained useful mental wellness tools. Leaders credited the program’s success to its whole-child approach, which simultaneously supports youth, families and staff.Read more at the People Newspapers

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Laura Bloom Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at Center for BrainHealth.

Laura Bloom Gordon

Chief Marketing Officer

Related Information

A coalition of five organizations, including Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, Texas, has come together to create “YES YOU CAN!” — a pilot program that will deliver critical mental health support to nearly 600 children and teens participating in YMCA summer camps and learning academies.

Pilot Program at Local YMCA Summer Camps to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

Summer inspires us to change routines, gain perspective and expand our realm of possibilities – an especially important experience for young minds. Yes You Can, a new pilot program launching in June, will support better brain health for hundreds of YMCA campers by delivering mental health education and training.