Program Overview

First State Squash is built on a model that in order to have a meaningful impact, team members must be offered structured programming with great frequency and that our organization must invest significant resources to ensure they continue on paths of academic and athletic success. Team members are recruited in fifth grade with the intention of remaining members of First State Squash through their educational transitions into the workforce, totaling approximately twelve years.

First State Squash is operated by a small full-time staff dedicated to providing multi-faceted programming. Students and their families are required to maintain a strong commitment to First State Squash, attending 90% of their individual program hours, over the course of their middle and high school careers. 

Students attend daily programming three days a week and are picked up from local public and charter schools by First State Squash staff and brought to the Central YMCA. Wilmington’s Central YMCA provide access to dedicated classroom space and racquetball and squash courts. Each programming day, team members receive:

• One hour of squash training 

• One hour of individualized academic support, and literacy-based enrichment

• A healthy snack

Our Goals

First State Squash’s short and long-term goals have been identified to help illustrate the program’s longitudinal and multi-faceted impact on participant’s lives. Annually, First State Squash seeks to measure the following outcome goals to ensure we are providing meaningful daily and long-term programming and mentorship.

Short-Term Goals

• Improve academic performance 

• Strive to maintain physical wellness and healthy nutrition 

• Bridge gap to new opportunities within and beyond with Wilmington community 

• Promote a commitment to community engagement

• Enhance self-confidence and resilience 

• Encourage regular and consistent goal setting 

• Support realization of unique leadership qualities 

Long-Term Goals

• On-time completion of high school

• Matriculation to and graduation from institutions of higher education

• Engaged citizenship and career readiness upon competition of a degree

• Development of life-long habits of personal health and wellness

Academics

First State Squash actively and intentionally seeks to prepare students for high school and college by introducing them to a rigorous academic environment. Our staff work to collaborate with our partner schools and educators to best offer a variety of academic supports to team members. The essential components of our academic programming include:

• 1 hour of small group and individual homework help and tutoring, twice a week, for the entire school year

• 1 hour of direct instruction literacy enrichment, once a week, for the entire school year 

• Reinforcement of foundational skills like organization, time management and goal-setting

• 20 days of First State Squash summer academic programming 

• Connection to external academic opportunities on college and private school campuses

Health and Wellness

Students are consistently coached and encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles. Participants engage in an hour of physical activity and squash each programming day. In addition, First State Squash team members compete in a variety of individual and team squash tournaments, along with matches against local competition. 

The sport of squash serves as an effective after-school hook because it is: 

• A physically and intellectually demanding sport

• A life sport that places a high value on sportsmanship and discipline

• Can help provide access to selective high schools and colleges

Numerous SEA program students have attained state and national US Squash rankings and many have gone on to compete on college teams such as Bates, Colby, Hamilton, Harvard, Hobart, Northeastern, Tufts and Wesleyan.

Character Development