Suburban YMCAs of Philadelphia get into the esports trend for entertainment
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is set to launch an esports lab in collaboration with Metro Esports, providing a safe and educational gaming environment for kids and young adults. This initiative is part of a growing trend in the United States, with multiple YMCA branches across the country adopting similar programs.
Located at the Oscar Lasko YMCA and Childcare Center in West Chester, the esports lab will open its doors in September 2024. The lab will feature 12 PC stations and three TVs connected to various gaming consoles, offering scheduled open play hours, competitive events, and integration with technology camps.
The lab's primary focus is to bridge the gap between the real and artificial worlds, ensuring a safe environment for kids to game with one another. To achieve this, the lab will use AI-software from Kidas and employ in-person human proctors to limit the risk of cyberbullying and online predators.
John Zabel, a 10-year-old member, expressed his enthusiasm about the availability of the esports lab, stating it makes him want to return to the YMCA. The lab aims to introduce kids to careers in STEM fields through gaming, with programming including coding classes, building-your-own-PC classes, and lessons touching on engineering and mathematics.
The lab will restrict game titles based on the gamer's age, catering to a wide age range, from as young as 6 to adults. Approximately 300 to 500 members and nonmembers use the lab each month. During the summer, camp members will also have the opportunity to game in the area.
Evan Decker, a recent Drexel University graduate and camp instructor, works at the lab, helping kids navigate an evolving virtual world. Decker constantly monitors screens for problems and reviews AI-generated Kidas reports to check for signs of online bullying or harassment.
Taylor Kassel, the executive director of the branch, stated that the esports lab offers a different space for kids not involved in traditional sports at the YMCA. The lab's aim is to change the demographic of people attending the YMCA, appealing to those who may not have been interested in traditional sports or activities.
The esports industry has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry, and the popularity of youth-oriented gaming has led to similar safe, educational esports initiatives in various countries. While data on the global presence of YMCA esports initiatives is limited, the presence of multiple gyms in different states indicates it’s a growing trend domestically.
References: [1] YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. (n.d.). YMCA Esports. Retrieved from https://www.ymcagtampa.org/ymca-esports [4] YMCA of the Fox Cities. (n.d.). YMCA Esports. Retrieved from https://www.ymcafoxcities.org/ymca-esports [5] YMCA. (n.d.). YMCA Esports. Retrieved from https://www.ymca.net/ymca-esports/
- The esports lab at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, in collaboration with Metro Esports, will offer a variety of gadgets and technology, including PC stations and gaming consoles, catering to a wide age range from 6 to adults.
- To support personal growth and learning, the esports lab includes programming focused on education-and-self-development, such as coding classes, building-your-own-PC classes, and engineering and mathematics lessons, aiming to introduce kids to careers in STEM fields.
- In addition to providing a safe and educational gaming environment, the lab will also feature cybersecurity measures, using AI-software from Kidas and employing human proctors to limit the risk of cyberbullying and online predators.
- The growth of the esports industry has led to an increasing trend of safe, educational esports initiatives in various countries, and the popularity of youth-oriented gaming has led to similar programs in numerous YMCA branches across the United States, signifying a growing presence of data-and-cloud-computing and technology in lifestyle, home-and-garden, and life-long learning.
