Go For It (GFI): A Teen Leadership Retreat
Program Overview
The Go For It (GFI) Conference, which occurs annually over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, is a three-day inspirational and motivational character development conference that builds servant leaders through a focus on introspective reflection, personal discovery, and skills development. Through in-depth guided discussion, small group activities, and team building, teens hone leadership skills and explore their own values away from the pressures of their daily lives.
In a rare space where teens can truly be themselves, students have fun, forge lasting bonds with peers from throughout the Commonwealth, and return to their communities better prepared to be effective servant leaders in their home, school, and community.
Character Development Curriculum
Throughout GFI, students focus on our five pillars of character development: Responsibility, Relationship Building, Emotion Management, Empathy and Personal Development. The related activities engage students in:
- Self-exploration and understanding your leadership style
- Celebrating and understanding diversity and inclusion
- Building and strengthening relationships
- Discussing current social issues & addressing issues in your community
- Learning from the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
- Understanding your leadership style
- Setting life goals
- Fun and games
Why Attend GFI?
After attending GFI, students showed an increase in:
- believing they have the ability to build lasting relationships.
- self identity awareness.
- level of familiarity with goals and ambitions.
GFI Dictionary
GFI is a fun and transformative experience where teens across Kentucky engage in various activities that range in energy levels and all aspects of our character development curriculum above. Below is a GFI “dictionary” to provide some more information for these activities:
- Family: Students will be placed into groups of 10-12, along with 1-2 adult facilitators at GFI, where they will be guided through the program written by a YMCA staff member.
- Friendship Rock: Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and create new friendships at GFI, so the Friendship Rock is passed from one student to another as a symbol of a new friendship.
- Morning Madness: Each morning, students begin with energetic icebreakers and games to wake up and get excited for the day.
- Morning Meditation: In addition to morning meditation, students will be led through a quiet meditation to take time to reflect on their goals and mentally prepare for the day.
- “Participate, Don’t Anticipate”: Throughout GFI, students will often hear KYYMCA staff and volunteers repeating this phrase in order to encourage students to live in the moment instead of thinking ahead to what might be coming next!
- Y-Pal: While in families students will be paired with another student, “Y-Pal.” These students are able to form an immediate bond with one another early in the conference, so that anytime throughout the conference students know they always have at least one friend, in which they can connect.
Registration & Fees
| Go For It! Upcoming Conference | 2025 Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| GFI 2025 (Gr. 6-12) | January 18-20 | TBA |
Registration now closed. Stay tuned for GFI 2025
2024 Student Y Member Fee – $270
2024 Non-Members Fee – $280
Registration is now closed. Contact Becca Dunn at becca@kyymca.org for question or concerns.
Discounts and Scholarship Info
Scholarships
The Y is committed to ensuring access to our programs for all interested students. If a student has not yet applied for a need-based scholarship this school year, the student and parent/guardian must fully complete the need-based scholarship application. Applications can be completed at www.kyymca.org/scholarship. For any need-based scholarship received for KYA the same percentage can be applied to GFI, KUNA, and LTC during the same school year.
Scholarship applications should be submitted by no later than December 9, 2024. Any applications received after this date may not be applicable to GFI 2025. Please contact Becca Dunn at becca@kyymca.org for assistance.
Discounts
A Pioneer Discount is available on a limited basis to those students who are the first from their schools to attend GFI and will cover a maximum of five students from each school that qualifies. On time registration is required, and only one discount is allowed per conference, including need-based scholarship. This discount will be $50 and is only offered to students attending a school in Kentucky.
A KYA Discount is available to those students who attended a KYA conference during the 2024 season. This discount will be 10% off and is only applicable to students who attended a KYA conference during the 2024 season. Students who did not attend a conference will not be eligible for the discount. Code will be announced at the end of KYA 2024.
