LakeStreet
Youth Labs
Welcome to LakeStreet Youth Labs!
Our student-centered programming is designed by a team of experienced educators, community partners, and GMCC staff. The core beliefs driving the program design process are: every young person has genius; all youth deserve access to high-quality educational methods and the latest technologies; and the well-being of the whole child (mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual) is critical to fostering youth development.
We focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) programming, tutoring and homework help, digital access, career exploration, and meeting the immediate needs of the youth and families in our neighborhood.
Upcoming Programming – 2025 STEAM Summer
Summer Camp 2025 is now WAITLIST ONLY.
If you would like add your student to the waitlist, you may register here and a staff member will notify you if space becomes available.
A no-cost, full day summer camp for students entering 1st-8th grade. Join us for hands-on STEAM activities, outdoor play, games, reading, and
weekly field trips! Halal breakfast & lunch will be provided daily.
Where: GMCC (1100 E Lake St)
When: Monday to Friday, 9 AM-4 PM, July 28-August 29
Register per week! Weekly Themes:
Week 1: Community Creators
Week 2: Flora & Fauna
Week 3: Outdoor Adventures
Week 4: Extraordinary Engineering
Week 5: Fun in the Sun
Current Programming
Classes in partnership with Andersen United Middle School, Beacons Afterschool, & MPS Community Education:
Art & Jams
On Mondays, students will learn about music from around the world & across the decades while creating art inspired by it! From hip-hop to marimba to KPOP, students will explore a variety of genres & their cultural influences.
Garden Club
On Thursdays, students will visit the Urban Ventures community garden to dig in the dirt, plant seeds, and learn about agriculture!
Career & Leadership Development
A PAID opportunity for 9th-12th graders!
From January 8th-April 30th, 2025 a 10-student cohort will meet weekly to engage in job shadowing, mock interviews, resume building, and other workforce readiness activities.
Students will receive a $500 completion award and a $500 education stipend upon completing 70% of sessions.
Questions? Contact us:
Meghann Gordon, Director of Youth Initatives: mgordon@gmcc.org or 612-588-4655
Deeq Abdi, Youth Program Manager: dabdi@gmcc.org or 612-1579
Previous Programming
2024 STEAM Summer
During the month of August, we held a second year of our NO-COST, full-day summer camp for students entering 1st-8th grade. Campers participated in STEAM activities with visiting instructors, outdoor play, games, reading, and weekly field trips.
Each week had a different theme; click below to read Engage posts about each week:
Week 1: Fun with Friends
Week 2: Robots Rule!
Week 3: Wild Wilderness
Week 4: Art Adventures
Week 5: Summer Sun
Stay tuned for our STEAM Summer Yearbook with photos, art, & stories from camp!
2023 LYL Summer Camp
(formerly called Genius Labs)
To read more about the 2023 LakeStreet Youth Labs Summer Camp, click the link below or scroll to check out a digital version of our yearbook, which compiles photos, art, quotes, and stories from the summer:
Tech Teens
Tech Teens was a Saturday out-of-school experience that focused on the development of digital technology skills through hands-on, challenge-based activities that foster creativity, independence, critical thinking, and self-awareness. The goal of Tech Teens was to spark an interest in technology, expose students to the many areas of the tech field, and position them for careers in technology or those that require use of technology.
Tech Teens continues through the teen segment of STEAM Saturdays, focusing on topics such as coding and robotics.
