Youth Programs
Equipping young people with knowledge and tools to navigate the job market and plan for the future for all youth aged 15-30 throughout the Yukon.
Register to our next Youth Employment Spring Cohort!
Be one of the 12 Yukoners between the age of 15 to 30 years old who participate to the Youth Employment and Skills for Success Program (YESS Program).
This program runs from April 27th to June 12th 2026 in Whitehorse.
Apply before April 13th 2026 via this online form:
About Youth Programs
The Yukon Literacy Coalition teams up with community partners to develop and deliver exciting, youth-specific programs. The Skills for Success are integrated into all youth programs, helping participants boost their career prospects and ignite new interests. Designed to be informative and engaging, our programs ensure that every young person can find something thrilling that supports their growth and sets them on a path to success.
Past YESS Cohort
In February 2026, our latest Youth Employment Skills and Strategy (YESS) cohort took Whitehorse by storm, proving that building a career is about way more than just sitting behind a desk. Over four high-energy weeks, these talented young Yukoners immersed themselves in a whirlwind of hands-on learning that blurred the lines between life skills and professional growth.
They didn’t just talk about confidence and public speaking; they lived it while mastering manual trades at Yukonstruct to build custom nightstands and feeling the heat of the forge with the glass blowers at Lumel Studios. From finding their flow at Climb Yukon and practicing discipline with Eight Days Martial Arts to honing their digital branding through in-house illustration workshops, this group explored the incredible diversity of the Yukon workforce.
Between the adventures of archery, snowshoeing, and bouldering, the cohort also tackled the essential “adulting” skills that make a long-term career possible. We dove deep into the nuts and bolts of financial literacy, budgeting, and resume building, paired with mock interviews tailored to real-world Yukon job openings. Recognizing that a healthy career starts with a healthy mind, the youth also participated in vital sessions on workplace boundaries, self-regulation, and navigating mental health resources. Now equipped with their newly earned First Aid and Food Safe certifications, these participants are heading into their three-week subsidized work placements ready to make a real impact.
It’s been an inspiring month for this tri-territorial initiative—run in partnership with Ilitaqsiniq and the NWT Literacy Council and funded by the Government of Canada (ESDC)—as we continue our four-year legacy of empowering Yukon youth to lead the way.
Current Projects
YESS Program
The Youth Employment Skills and Strategy (YESS) project is a 4 weeks activities-based program for Yukon youth aged 15 to 30, followed by 3 weeks subsidized work placement. The program takes place in Whitehorse and other Yukon communities year-round. This tri-territorial initiative runs in partnership with Ilitaqsiniq and NWT Literacy Council. It is funded by the Government of Canada (ESDC). The Yukon Literacy Coalition has successfully run for the last four years, increasing employable skills for the Yukon youth.
Youth Financial Literacy & Skills for Success
The Youth Employment Skills and Strategy (YESS) project is a 4 weeks activities-based program for Yukon youth aged 15 to 30, followed by 3 weeks subsidized work placement. The program takes place in Whitehorse and other Yukon communities year-round. This tri-territorial initiative runs in partnership with Ilitaqsiniq and NWT Literacy Council. It is funded by the Government of Canada (ESDC). The Yukon Literacy Coalition has successfully run for the last four years, increasing employable skills for the Yukon youth.
Youth Financial Literacy and Skills for Success involves teaching youth essential skills and financial health through preparedness-based activities. Financial health and essential skills are important for youth as it empowers them to make good decisions and helps build a positive relationship with money, increasing the chances of youth having secure finances as adults.
Youth-focused skills training meets the unique circumstances and needs of our Yukon Youth. Youth are provided with relevant information that allows them to learn, understand and develop the skills required to become more prepared, confident, and informed when making important life decisions. This approach allows programs to tailored to learning and skill development unique to the circumstances of specific youth, their communities, and their stage in life.
Youth Financial Literacy is being delivered in most schools throughout the Territory to ages 5-12. Workshop topics range from coin recognition to preparing for post-secondary.
The program also consists of a variety of workshops suitable for ages 5-18. Our Skills for Success programming focuses on one activity to build upon the participants skills and financial literacy. Activities include backcountry cooking, introduction to ceramics, employment readiness, and fishing lure making. These skills allow for participants to engage in experiential learning while building their essential skills and financial health.
Three for Change
The Yukon Literacy Coalition (YLC), NWT Literacy Council, and Ilitaqsiniq are collaborating on a project called ‘Three for Change’. This initiative aims to create and provide Skills for Success training programs and establish Social Enterprises across the North and within each Territory, aiming to provide opportunities for community capacity building and training. Despite their differences, the Territories face similar opportunities and challenges, fostering mutual learning and support.
Although many of the programs within this project have been targeted towards adults, YLC hosted a vibrant summer camp in 2024. The camp was called P.L.A.Y Camp and was for children aged 7 to 10. The acronym “P.L.A.Y” stands for “Physical Literacy and You,” reflecting YLC’s dedication to fostering holistic development through engaging activities aimed at enhancing physical skills, confidence, and overall well-being. P.L.A.Y Camp includes a bursary program to provide financial assistance, ensuring that more children can participate despite financial constraints. Through this program, YLC strives to make the joys and benefits of our Physical Literacy Summer Camp accessible to all.
YESS Program promo video
See a program you like?
Contact: Mark Steudle, Program Manager
mark.steudle@yukonliteracy.com
Our programs are free, inclusive, and designed for you!
Or… visit us in person!
Lots of our youth programs happen right here on the 2nd floor at Horwood’s Mall at the end of Main Street in Whitehorse.
Stop by, talk with us and see what we are all about!
