Youth Programming

WorkshopsVisitBEACON
Our youth programming is intended for teens—but we can be flexible about our definition of “teen.” If you have questions about whether or not a workshop is a good fit for the young people in your life, please email raperj@gcc.mass.edu.
Sorry, there are currently no upcoming Senior Symposia events scheduled. Please check back in the fall or spring for an updated catalog!
Did you know that early exposure to college increases the likelihood that students will pursue higher education?

Community Engagement and the GCC Admission team welcome special visits to campus by youth groups, clubs, organizations and schools to learn more about what we offer and to help prepare students for their college careers. If you’re interested in bringing a group to campus, contact Judy Raper, Associate Dean for Community Engagement, at raperj@gcc.mass.edu.

BEACON (Believing Every Adolescence Can Open New Doors) is an alternative high school program that serves Greenfield High School. BEACON supports students in grades 11 and 12 who are still enrolled in school but are at an increased risk of dropping out.

BEACON students spend their mornings at GHS participating in core academic subjects with GHS teachers and spend their afternoons at GCC for BEACON programming that includes the following components:

  • Academic Coaching and Credit Recovery: Students spend an hour each day on completing school assignments, studying for tests and when needed, working to receive credits for previous classes that they have failed
  • Service Learning: Students work in small groups to design and lead community service projects aimed at addressing social challenges about which they are passionate
  • Entrepreneurship: BEACON students develop an entrepreneurship mindset through creating and piloting their own business ideas and developing key real-world skills

GCC is exploring ways to grow the program with an eventual goal of offering the program to every high school in Franklin County. To learn more about BEACON, contact Max Fripp, frippm@gcc.mass.edu.