Run by the Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center and a United Way agency, the YAPAtorium is a place “for students, by students.” YAPA stands for Youth Adult Partnership Aberdeen, and the facility caters to youth aged 10 to 17. With a free membership, it’s open to anyone within the age range. What makes the YAPAtorium unique is that its events and programs are run entirely by a youth board, with no adult members except for Nick Eilts, the Executive Director. We caught up with three of the board officers—Daniel Villegas (16), Secretary; Isabel Ross (13), Vice President; and Ashlyn Madsen (12), President—to learn more about what makes this place so special.
Q: How long have you been coming to YAPA?
Ashlyn: About two years.
Isabel: One year.
Daniel: Around two years.
Q: What made you keep coming back?
Ashlyn: All the fun activities they host here.
Isabel: I first came for the video games, but as I kept coming, I started playing drums and socializing with everyone. It’s been a lot of fun.
Daniel: Honestly, it was the environment and the community. It’s very welcoming. I moved here from Idaho, and this was the first place that accepted me. I appreciated it and continue to come.
Q: How did you transition from hanging out to taking on a leadership role?
Daniel: Nick encouraged me to join the youth board and even suggested I go for a position. I trusted him, and I went for it.
Ashlyn: I enjoyed sharing ideas, and I thought it was cool to be a leader and help others join the youth board.
Nick: Do you think the success of your cooking class influenced your decision to take on a leadership role?
Ashlyn: Yes! I had the idea for a cooking class, and it quickly became a thing with lots of people attending.
Q: Was this your first leadership position?
Ashlyn: Yes, it’s my first.
Isabel: My first too.
Daniel: I’ve been president of student council at schools I’ve attended in the past, but nothing in Aberdeen.
Q: How has your experience been so far?
Ashlyn: It’s fun. You get to lead the group, and everyone recognizes you—it’s pretty cool.
Isabel: As Vice President, I don’t think it makes much difference, but I’m secretly glad to have the title [everyone laughs].
Daniel: Typing is a hobby of mine, so being the secretary is great. I type fairly fast, like 130 words per minute.
Q: What support do you get from Nick that allows you to experiment and try new things?
Ashlyn: We don’t get in trouble if we make mistakes. It’s okay to do something wrong here.
Daniel: There’s no pressure. After events, we go through the pros and cons, discussing what worked and what didn’t. It helps us plan future events better.
Q: There are no adults on your board, correct?
All: Yeah, except for Nick.
Q: Does Nick lead the meetings, or does he just help keep things on track?
Daniel: He mostly just helps keep things on track.
Ashlyn: He tells us what we’re going to talk about, and then we discuss it.
Q: What are some of the most fun things you’ve done at YAPA?
Isabel: Super Smash Bros. tournaments.
Ashlyn: The holiday parties are really fun. The decorations are crazy but cool.
Daniel: The Nintendo Jam competitions. They’re a crowd favorite, and I enjoy them a lot.
Q: What’s been the most challenging aspect for you?
Daniel: Balancing other commitments like work and school. It’s hard to find time.
Ashlyn: Making it to meetings can be tough because I’m busy, but I try my best to come.
Isabel: Finding time is difficult, especially with school and homework. Sometimes I end up doing homework at midnight [all laugh]. But it’s worth it.
Q: Do you feel more outgoing and social since joining YAPA?
All: Yeah.
Ashlyn: Everyone here is nice and doesn’t judge you.
Q: Why do you think YAPA is important?
Daniel: I believe the reason it was founded was to prevent people, kids especially, from doing drugs and stuff as a pastime activity. And honestly now, it just gives kids a free and safe space to be, and I really do admire the work that Nick and the staff put in around here to make sure that’s the case.
Ashlyn: It helps kids be more social. Without this place, many would just stay home, but here, they can come and talk to everyone.
Isabel: “Where youth stays golden.” (YAPA’s slogan) [all laugh]
Q: How would it be different if the board was half kids and half adults?
All: [Groans]
Ashlyn: No. I feel like sometimes grown-ups can be boring. We do have good meetings. We have fun, but I feel like the adults would make it TOO serious and we wouldn’t be able to have any fun.
Daniel: It would be awkward.
Ashlyn: And adults would probably limit our screen time [all laugh]. We’re here to have fun, not to have limited screen time!
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
Ashlyn: It’s just awesome. Everyone should come.
Isabel: It’s rad and “kool” with a “k.”
Daniel: Yeah, I second that.
The YAPAtorium offers a unique, youth-led experience that fosters creativity, community, and leadership. It’s a haven for young people to explore their interests, make friends, and have fun. If you’re in Aberdeen and between the ages of 10 and 17, it’s a must-visit. And if you’re an adult, well, maybe you’ll have to settle for admiring it from the outside—or better yet, encourage the youth in your life to get involved! //
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