For youth development leaders, it is also a time to build skills that support long term safety and independence. At Texas Youth Action Network (TYAN), safety is part of Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Youth Adult Partnerships (YAPs). That means moving beyond rules and focusing on shared responsibility, skill building, and youth leadership. 

Safety doesn’t happen by accident. So, we’ve gathered key tips to help you keep it a priority all summer long, while also empowering youth to stay engaged and have a voice in the decisions that impact them. 

Helping Youth Understand Summer Risks 

Texas summers bring extreme heat and increased outdoor activity. Young people are more vulnerable to heat because they may not recognize early warning signs or regulate temperature effectively. 

Rather than reacting after a problem, we can help youth notice patterns, such as: 

• Skipping water or breaks. 

• Headaches, dizziness, or fatigue. 

• Pushing through discomfort. 

You can ground this learning using the CDC’s Extreme Heat Safety Toolkit, which outlines early signs like heavy sweating, weakness, and nausea. Reviewing this together helps youth connect knowledge to real experiences. 

Making Safety a Shared Skill 

Try this Shared Planning Check In when partnering with youth this summer.  

Before an activity, ask youth to lead the discussion and follow-through: 

• What do we need to stay cool and hydrated? 

• When should we take breaks? 

• What signs should we watch for? 

• What is our plan if someone feels sick? 

This builds leadership and peer accountability within YAPs when the answers are decided on collaboratively, and plans are known, i.e. when breaks will be taken. Guidance from the National Weather Service Heat Safety Guide, emphasizes planning activities during cooler times and reducing strain in peak heat. 

Reinforcing Habits Through Practice 

Your role is to teach these safety habits so that they stick; begin with practicing and modeling. Focus on reinforcing simple behaviors youth can mirror and then lead themselves: 

• Drink water regularly and carry a bottle. Do not wait until you feel thirsty.  

• Take breaks in the shade and plan activities earlier or later in the day.  

• Wear sunscreen and lightweight clothing! 

• Recognize early signs of heat illness and respond quickly. 

“What does your body need right now?” 

Instead of reminding youth what their needs are; try asking to reinforce proactive measures listed above.  

Extending Safety to Water Activities 

Water adds another layer of risk during summer. Clear, shared expectations help youth stay aware.  

The Texas Water Safety Toolkit offers simple measures that both adults and youth can take to stay safe while participating in activities in and around water. 

Break the toolkit into sections for YAP members to review. Then, have each member present their section to the group by highlighting the important safety measures. 

Encourage youth to keep each other accountable, and to speak up when their peers need to be reminded to: 

• Swim with a partner. 

• Follow posted safety rules. 

• Use life jackets when needed. 

Community Partner Spotlight: Boykins Youth Foundation 

Putting these strategies into practice means partnering with organizations that engage youth in safe, active outdoor experiences. The Boykins Youth Foundation does this through its summer conditioning program, where young people build fitness, confidence and awareness while training outdoors. 

Through mentorship and hands on learning, youth develop decision making skills and learn to stay aware of their surroundings, key components of summer safety. This aligns with TYAN’s approach to Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Youth Adult Partnership (YAP), where safety is practiced through real world experiences. 

Learn more: https://boykinsyouth.org/summer-conditioning 

Summer safety is about more than avoiding risks. It is about equipping youth to stay active, making informed choices, and supporting one another.