Beyond the Game: Engaging & Retaining Youth in Urban Recreation

Institution: Algonquin College

CSWB plan priority / Ottawa's 2023-2026 Term of Council priority: Integrated and simpler systems

Project Term: Fall 2024 and Winter 2025

Course Code: DSN8014 Industry Project

Professor(s): Jed Looker

Group Member(s): Man Oi Alice Cheung, Nirmal Panchal, Pragya Gouti, Swaathy PS

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Objective(s): Beyond the Game: Engaging & Retaining Youth in Urban Recreation aims to understand what helps youth join and stay in Ottawa’s recreational programs. We’re looking at barriers like accessibility, inclusivity, and communication to see what makes it harder for youth to stay involved.

Our goal is to find ways to make programs more youth-friendly by aligning activities with their interests and making information easier to access. We also want to explore how mentors and coaches can create a more welcoming and supportive environment.

By listening to youth and identifying what works and what doesn’t, this project will provide insights to help improve recreational programs. The goal is simple, make sure youth feel included, supported, and excited to participate in activities that matter to them.

Potential for Impact: 

Short-Term Impact:

• Improved Communication: Clearer advertising and outreach will make it easier for youth to find and understand available programs. Using social media and other familiar platforms will help ensure that information reaches them in a way that captures their interest and encourages participation.

• Streamlined Collaboration: Strengthening coordination between organizations will create more efficient and unified service delivery. This will reduce gaps in programming, minimize duplication of efforts, and make it easier for youth to navigate available opportunities.

• Optimized Space Utilization: Underutilized recreation spaces will be better activated to offer engaging and accessible programming. By making better use of existing facilities, programs can be brought closer to youth in different neighbourhoods, increasing participation and ensuring that available resources are fully leveraged.

Long-Term Impact:

• More Youth Staying Involved: If activities fit their schedules and interests, teens will be more likely to stick with them long-term.

• Better Community Connections: When programs are more consistent, youth will form stronger relationships with staff, mentors, and other participants.

• Lasting Engagement: By improving accessibility and making recreation more youth-friendly, participation will grow, helping create a more active and connected community over time.