Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy

The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is the signature program of Nationals Philanthropies, the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals. Conceived as part of a public-private partnership between the District government and Major League Baseball in the deal that brought the Nationals to Washington, D.C., the Academy operates out of a state-of-the-art, nine-acre education and recreation campus constructed in the Fort Dupont Park neighborhood in Ward 7. Through a holistic youth development program – including academic enrichment, physical activity, and health education – the Academy imparts a lasting impact on the lives of school-age children living east of the Anacostia River.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR PROGRAMS BELOW:

YBA PLAY Summer League

YBA PLAY delivers fun and free instructional clinics to kids, ages 6 to 12 in underserved communities, giving them the chance to learn and love the game of baseball with year-round clinics and summer league teams. Nike, the Official Uniform and Footwear Supplier of Major League Baseball, serves as the first-ever presenting sponsor of YBA PLAY by providing direct financial support for program operations and equipment along with apparel for summer league uniforms.

By reducing the barriers to access, both geographic and financial, providing young people with a positive, high-paced, engaging youth baseball experience, YBA PLAY can increase the consistent participation of youth in underserved communities by supporting the emotional and physical development of its participants.

BASE After-School Program

Available to third through eighth-grade students in Wards 7 and 8, the program delivers holistic enrichment that focuses on reinforcing core academics with a particular emphasis on mathematics, enhancing problem-solving skills, and exploratory enrichment experiences that expose Scholars to new topics. The program runs three days a week during the school year and includes:

• Study hall for structured support on homework and classroom content from Academy staff, peers, and volunteer mentors – including access to Chromebooks in order to complete web-based assignments and activities.
• Enrichment activities organized by Academy staff to engage Scholars in supplemental learning across a wide variety of topics, including science experiments, poetry writing, woodworking, health and nutrition, and employment preparation.
• Mentoring through a weekly session with an adult volunteer who offers support in goal setting, communication, healthy relationships, critical thinking, and other guided topics