"Find Your Yes Day" – The Ultimate Field Trip for Franklin County Youth

Describe the Issue or Situation: Franklin County youth face a growing need for healthy, positive engagement during out-of-school hours. Many students are unaware of the wide variety of extracurricular activities available to them locally, which could help them build skills, connect with peers, and stay out of trouble. Ensuring students have access to enriching opportunities and the support of caring adults is crucial for their development, wellness, and substance use prevention.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response: In response to this need, Just Say Yes, in partnership with local organizations and volunteers, hosted Find Your Yes Day – a two-day field trip held on September 16 & 17, 2024, at the Kentucky State University (KSU) Research Farm. The event aimed to introduce Franklin County 6th graders to a wide array of youth activities offered throughout the county. Over 15 activity stations were set up, allowing students to explore various programs, ranging from robotics to agriculture and arts. Key partners, such as Franklin County 4-H, played a vital role in offering engaging activities like navigating robots through an iPad maze.

Students also received their first Yes Card, an electronic gift card that can be used to pay for extracurricular activities from a list of approved providers. This initiative encourages ongoing participation in positive, supervised programs.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience: The target audience for Find Your Yes Day was all 6th-grade students in Franklin County, with a total of 1,158 youth participating in the event. The field trip brought together students from different schools, providing them with the opportunity to try new activities and discover how they could use their Yes Card dollars throughout the year.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact: 

Find Your Yes Day successfully engaged 1,158 students, introducing them to a variety of extracurricular activities available in Franklin County. Franklin County 4-H, has been a proud Yes Card provider since the program’s inception. Their continued partnership with Just Say Yes, including their participation in Find Your Yes Day, helped students explore hands-on activities like navigating a robot maze using iPads. This allowed students to experience firsthand the type of programming they can access through their Yes Card.

Post-event evaluations revealed a significant increase in student awareness of local activities, with many students expressing interest in joining programs they had not previously considered. Over 85% of participants reported excitement about using their Yes Card to continue their involvement in these programs, which is key to preventing risky behaviors and promoting positive youth development.

Furthermore, program providers and partners, including Franklin County 4-H, reported a notable rise in inquiries about their offerings following Find Your Yes Day, indicating that students were eager to pursue their newfound interests. This event not only helped students discover activities they enjoy but also strengthened connections between youth, their peers, and community organizations. These bonds are critical for long-term personal growth, positive development, and community engagement.