Winter 2008 — Vol. 61, No. 1

An academically talented ninth-grader preparing for college … an 11-year-old truant assigned to the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice … a child terminally ill with cancer having the time of her life at summer camp … professionals seeking innovative approaches for their work with young people … foster parents looking for ways to bond with their biological and foster children. Seemingly unrelated groups, yet they have a common bond. Few would guess that bond is Clemson.

Summer camp to year-round commitment

Last spring, when Crystal Brown stepped foot on the grounds of the R.M. Cooper 4-H Leadership Center in Summerton, sweet memories came flooding back. The site of moss-filled trees along nature trails and the quiet beauty of Lake Marion took her back nearly eight years before when this had been a regular place of retreat and reconnection for her family. Vividly, she recalls spending one weekend every month at the place she calls “Camp Bob Cooper,” participating in FAYS — Family And Youth Strengthening, a program for foster families operated by Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute with the S.C. Department of Social Services.

“I remember having such a great time and always looking forward to going to Camp Bob Cooper!” she says. “There were foster families like us from all over the state. As the biological child, I got to know my parents and the foster children who lived with us better. FAYS really strengthened me and helped me realize the importance of family and taking time out together.”

A bus tour coordinated by the University’s Office of Service Learning led Crystal and other Clemson students to the Cooper 4-H Leadership Center for an up-close view of the impact of public service. Now a junior majoring in microbiology, Crystal didn’t know the Clemson connection years ago when she attended FAYS as a middle school student from rural Eutawville.

“I have loved Clemson since the day I set foot on the campus,” she says. “But visiting Camp Bob Cooper recently made me appreciate Clemson even more for reaching out beyond the campus. Besides giving students an excellent education, Clemson is impacting people all across the state and helping young people be successful and productive citizens.”

Helping young people succeed — while making a distinct difference in the name of Clemson University — is the Youth Learning Institute’s mission.

Established as part of Clemson Public Service Activities in 2003, the institute grew from a nine-week summer camp program into a year-round operation with more than 200 full-time and seasonal employees. With outreach to over 29,000 participants a year, the Youth Learning Institute is recognized as a pioneer in the development and operation of innovative, high performance learning environments.

Strong partnerships for striking results

Executive director Jorge Calzadilla says nothing happens in the absence of strong partnerships.

“YLI’s success rests on our ability to recognize the need for services and find willing partners to create solutions,” says Calzadilla. “It’s what makes Clemson different. We’re an institution of excellence in academics, research and public service.”

Hundreds of external partnerships have resulted in 77 groundbreaking programs across four major divisions: youth development, family and adult outreach, special needs and professional development.

Perhaps one of the best examples of partnership success is the Youth Development Center, a collaborative program of YLI and the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Located at the W.W. Long 4-H Leadership Center in Aiken and operated by YLI, the center is a 45-bed, co-ed, alternative placement facility for juvenile status offenders assigned to DJJ for short-term sentences.

Established in 2004, the center has served more than 600 young people, most who came as a result of not being successful in public schools because of learning differences. The center is credited with helping them get a second chance on life and avoiding the precarious environment behind the fence of a juvenile prison.

DJJ director William Byars says, “The success of our partnership with Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute has far exceeded our expectations. In just three short years, we have made tremendous strides in improving the face of South Carolina’s juvenile justice system. Creation of the Youth Development Center, policy reform, decreased recidivism, facility improvements and staff training are just a few of the accomplishments we’ve achieved together.”

‘Nonprofit heart’ with ‘business mindset’

From sites to partnerships to programs, Calzadilla says an organization like YLI must operate “with a nonprofit heart and a business mindset.” The organization’s track record of steady financial growth is evidence. Over a period of 17 years — from Calzadilla’s beginning operations of 4-H Summer Camp through the creation of YLI — YLI has achieved a 9:1 return on investment when comparing total funds allocated by the state ($4.2 million) to the amount of revenue leveraged by YLI (over $36 million).

“Although part of a state agency, we’ve never solely relied on state funding. By offering top-quality, one-of-a-kind experiences that impact people’s lives, we continue to generate the largest part of our annual income through fee-based programs, grants, gifts and major contracts. It’s about ensuring our sustainability while maintaining our commitment to public service.”

Whether it’s a senior citizen participating in an intergenerational summer camp with his grandchild or a DJJ correctional officer attending professional development training, the Youth Learning Institute understands that making the greatest impact in youth development means reaching out to those who work with youth.

“Everything we do is in the spirit of helping youth,” says Calzadilla. “It’s a privilege to continue Clemson’s rich history in youth development. Today, YLI is working diligently to identify resources to address the diverse needs of youth in our society. There’s a lot of work to be done, and our goal is to make everything we touch better than we found it. That’s the Clemson way.”

For more information about YLI at Clemson, go to www.clemson.edu/yli or contact Pam Bryant, public relations director,
at (803) 553-7705 or pbryant@clemson.edu.