Moorelands City Programs
A safe space for kids to discover and build on their strengths.
Moorelands Kids offers two City programs for children and youth in the NIAs (Neighbourhood Improvement Areas) of Humber Summit, Humbermede, and Lawrence Heights.
Moorelands City Clubs and Moorelands City VITAL Youth offer children and youth in middle and high school the chance to build life and leadership skills in a safe, structured environment. Our programs are rooted in positive youth development to help kids build confidence and increase their sense of self-worth, develop character, and establish positive relationships with peers and adults.
More Confident
91% of participants said they felt more confident after participating in a Moorelands Kids program in 2025.
Grew in Leadership
87% of participants said that Moorelands Kids programs helped them grow their personal leadership skills in 2025.
Had Positive Role Models
86% of participants reported that staff in a Moorelands Kids program were positive role models.
Improved Teamwork
91% of participants said they improved their teamwork skills in a Moorelands Kids program in 2025.
Moorelands City Programs
City Clubs
Moorelands City Clubs is a middle school leadership program offered to youth in grades 6 to 8. The program helps youth develop leadership and life skills through fun, hands-on experience.
Available to students at Humber Summit Middle School, Gulfstream Public School, and Lawrence Heights Middle School.
City VITAL Youth
Moorelands City VITAL Youth online/in-person hybrid program for high school students is an advanced personal leadership development program. We provide Toronto youth with vital social connections, leadership and employment skills, and the opportunity to put those skills into action.
Benefits of Out-of-School Programs
Out-of-school programs bring a wide range of benefits to kids, families and communities. Out-of-school programs are shown to boost academic performance, promote physical health, reduce risky behaviours, and provide a safe, structured environment for kids.
- Access to safe, reliable and quality childcare is fundamental for enhancing children’s development in Canada. [1]
- Some children may not be able to access physical activities and sports when they are coming from low-income families, yet this demographic of children would benefit most from these activities. [2]
- Findings suggest that mental health concerns may be amplified by stressors related to school (19%), financial issues (13%), and social isolation (11%). [3] After-school programs help to reduce the risks associated with mental health by introducing protective factors that increase social connections and help strengthen academic skills.
- A growing body of evidence shows that structured out-of-school programs, like those offered at Moorelands Kids, improve academic achievement and school engagement; increase self-esteem and lower rates of depression; better peer relations; reduce problem behaviours like delinquency and substance abuse; improve leadership; and increase civic engagement.
- Out-of-school programs help children develop social and practical skills, build positive relationships with peers and adults in a safe environment, and build competence.
- Programs that teach children social and emotional skills have positive effects on grades, school attendance, test scores and social behaviour.
- Community programs provide an opportunity for children to build positive relationships with adults as role models and mentors. Having at least one supportive, nurturing and attentive relationship in a young person’s life can significantly reduce their likelihood of engaging in high-risk behaviours, increase their likelihood of success in education and promote their health and wellbeing.
