By George Wang–CYOC Board Member | CYOC-So What Else Outreach Co-Leader
On July 31, 2026, under beautiful sunny skies at Anacostia Park in Washington, D.C., the 2026 Youth Summer Olympics brought together hundreds of young campers from So What Else (SWE) summer camp sites across the Greater Washington area for a day filled with sports, creativity, learning, and community connection.
Organized by So What Else (SWE) in partnership with Mentoring Through Athletics (MTA) and supported by volunteers from the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC), this full-day community event promoted youth health, wellness, teamwork, and unity through movement and fun. Campers participated in Olympic-style competitions, STEM activities, art projects, and wellness stations while representing different “countries” based on their summer camp sites.
The event celebrated the true Olympic values of friendship, respect, diversity, teamwork, and perseverance, giving children an opportunity to build confidence, make new friends, and develop important leadership and social skills.
Partnership Between CYOC and So What Else
The 2026 Youth Summer Olympics marked the second consecutive year that CYOC helped organize and support this meaningful community event. Building on the success of the 2025 Youth Summer Olympics, this year’s collaboration demonstrated an even stronger connection between the two organizations.
Over the past few years, CYOC and So What Else have worked together in many areas, including food distributions, donation drives, and youth community service programs. The Youth Summer Olympics expanded this partnership by focusing on youth development, providing children with opportunities to stay active, explore new interests, and connect with peers from different communities.
Through this continued collaboration, CYOC volunteers were able to take on greater responsibilities, contribute more actively to event operations, and help create a memorable experience for hundreds of campers.
CYOC Volunteers Arrived Early to Build a Successful Event
With clear skies and warm summer weather, the park was full of excitement from the beginning of the day. The CYOC volunteer team was the first group to arrive at Anacostia Park, arriving early in the morning before campers and many other participants.
CYOC volunteers immediately began supporting event preparation by unloading supplies, organizing equipment, setting up activity stations, preparing sports areas, arranging materials, and helping transform the park into an Olympic-style event venue. Working closely with So What Else staff and other partners, volunteers made sure each station had the necessary supplies and was ready before the campers arrived.
After setup, volunteers participated in an orientation led by event coordinators, reviewing the day’s schedule, emergency procedures, camper movement, safety expectations, and station responsibilities. This preparation allowed the event to begin smoothly and ensured that every camper could enjoy a safe and organized experience.
A Day Filled with Sports, STEM, Art, and Wellness Activities
The 2026 Youth Summer Olympics featured nearly twenty activity stations covering four major areas: sports, STEM, art, and healthy living.
Campers participated in a wide variety of activities, including soccer, basketball, dodgeball, relay races, obstacle courses, tug of war, flag football, carnival games, and sumo bubbles. Beyond athletics, campers explored STEM and creative activities such as slime creation, paper airplane competitions, rain cloud and fossil making, Olympic medal design, shirt design challenges, and DIY fans.
The event also emphasized healthy living through activities such as hydration education, positive affirmations, and nutrition lessons. Campers learned that being healthy involves not only physical activity but also positive thinking, teamwork, and caring for themselves and others.
CYOC Volunteers Supporting Every Station
Throughout the entire event, CYOC volunteers were present at activity stations across the park, helping ensure that every camper received guidance, encouragement, and support.
At the art stations, CYOC volunteers helped children express their creativity by encouraging them to draw, design Olympic-themed crafts, and complete hands-on projects. At STEM stations, volunteers demonstrated activities, explained instructions, and worked patiently with campers as they created slime, folded paper airplanes, and completed science-based projects.
At sports stations, CYOC volunteers helped monitor activities such as dodgeball and basketball, explained rules, encouraged teamwork, and supported campers during games. Volunteers helped create a positive environment where children of different ages and skill levels felt comfortable participating.
Whether helping a child complete a craft project, showing them how to fold a paper airplane, guiding them through making slime, or encouraging them during a sports competition, CYOC volunteers served as mentors and role models throughout the day.
Building Connections Beyond Competition
Although the event was organized around Olympic-style games, the most meaningful part of the day was the connection created among campers, volunteers, and community partners.
Children from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and cultures came together through shared activities. They learned how to cooperate with teammates, respect others, overcome challenges, and celebrate each other’s achievements.
The smiles, laughter, and encouragement throughout the park showed that the true success of the Youth Summer Olympics was not measured by scores or awards, but by the friendships and confidence built during the day.
A Successful Ending Through Teamwork
After lunch, campers continued enjoying selected afternoon activities. The day concluded with the Kickball Championship and Awards Ceremony, celebrating the enthusiasm and participation of all campers.
CYOC volunteers continued supporting the event by cleaning stations, organizing equipment, packing supplies, and helping restore the park. Just as CYOC volunteers were among the first to arrive, we also make sure the event was completed successfully.
A Meaningful Experience of Service and Leadership
The 2026 Youth Summer Olympics was a powerful example of how community partnerships can create positive opportunities for young people. Through the continued collaboration between So What Else, CYOC, and all volunteers, hundreds of children experienced a day filled with friendship, learning, and joy.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute as a CYOC volunteer and to work alongside so many dedicated individuals. This experience strengthened my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while reminding me of the importance of service and community involvement.
As CYOC and So What Else continue building this partnership, we look forward to creating more opportunities to empower youth, support communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Website Editor: Grace Yan
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