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.
LakeStreet Youth Labs is officially I-SAC Accredited!
We’re proud to announce that our program has officially achieved I-SAC Accreditation through Ignite Afterschool! This milestone reflects months of hard work, collaboration, and a deep commitment to quality — including meeting 92 rigorous benchmarks focused on Continuous Program Improvement. From coaching sessions to guided data reflection, our team leaned into the process with purpose and heart.
A huge thank-you to our staff, families, and community for supporting this journey. Here’s to raising the bar for youth programs across Minnesota!
Learn more about the accreditation in this blog post.
LakeStreet Youth Labs Newsletter
Want to receive updates on our year-round youth programming and learn about community events, opportunities, & resources for families?
Fill out the form below:
Upcoming Programming
Camera Club!
FREE monthly photography workshops for youth grades 6-8!
Saturdays, 10 AM-12 PM, May 30th & June 6th
Students are invited to channel their inner photographer with workshops on DSLR camera basics, photo composition, editing, and more!
Cameras will be provided during class time + snack is included!
All skill levels welcome!
Questions? Email Len Sanqui at lsanqui@gmcc.org
STEAM Summer Camp
A NO-COST, full-day summer camp for rising 1st-6th graders. Join us for STEAM activities, outdoor play, games, reading, and weekly field trips!
Halal breakfast & lunch will be provided daily.
Weekly themes include:
Week 1 (August 3-7): Community Creators
Week 2 (August 10-14): Wild World
Week 3 (August 17-21): Outdoor Adventures
Week 4 (August 24-28): Spectacular Space
Week 5 (August 31-September 4): Summer Surprises
Registration waitlist is OPEN below!
Spring 2026 Programming
Classes in partnership with Andersen United Middle School, Beacons Afterschool, & MPS Community Education:
Monday: 3D Printing
On Mondays, students will learn how to create & print their own 3D designs, and leave with cool projects to take home!
Tuesday: Biking
On Tuesdays, students will go on bike rides around the city, using Bikes4Kids bikes that they can take home after!
Questions? Contact us:
Meghann Gordon, Director of Youth Initatives: mgordon@gmcc.org or 612-588-4655
Mohamed Salad, Youth Program Manager: msalad@gmcc.org or 612-276-1579 (Fluent in Somali/Soomaali)
Rashad Nins, Youth Program Manager – Career Exploration: rnins@gmcc.org or 612-286-8406
Juan Davila, Bilingual Program Coordinator: jdavila@gmcc.org or 612-286-8408 (Fluent in Spanish/Español)
Previous Programming + Blog Posts
2026 Leadership & Career Cohort
We have successfully wrapped up our second Leadership & Career Exploration program!
2025 LYL STEAM Summer Yearbook
Flip through the digital yearbook to view photos, art, quotes, & stories of our 2025 campers
LakeStreet Youth Labs Achieves I-SAC Accreditation
Accredited programs demonstrate high levels of quality, safety, & professionalism.
2025 STEAM Summer
During the month of August, we held a third 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 blog posts about each week:
Week 1: Community Creators
Week 2: Flora & Fauna
Week 3: Outdoor Adventures
Week 4: Extraordinary Engineering
Week 5: Fun in the Sun
2024 STEAM Summer
Our second year of LYL STEAM Summer Camp was in August 2024!
Each week had a different theme; click below to read blog posts about each week and read the 2024 STEAM Summer yearbook below!
Week 1: Fun with Friends
Week 2: Robots Rule!
Week 3: Wild Wilderness
Week 4: Art Adventures
Week 5: Summer Sun
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.
LakeStreet Youth Labs is funded in part by the MN Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families Youth Interventions Program (YIP) grant.
Oversite of YIP funded projects is done by a part of GMCC’s Leadserhip Team.
Adrienne Dorn, Executive Director: adorn@gmcc.org
Megan Young-Black, Operations Director: myoung@gmc.org
Meghann Gordon, Director of Youth Programs: mgordon@gmcc.org