This article describes what school social workers observed to be the quality components, or the "key ingredients," of the youth development activities they implement within their practice. The article reports on findings from twenty-eight interviews of school social workers. Eight quality components emerged from the data including: (1) giving students ownership, duties, roles, and jobs; (2) arranging for youth to teach and model for other youth; (3) building on students' strengths and interests; (4) helping students learn formally and experientially; (5) infusing activities with fun and developing rapport; (6) holding special events; (7) challenging students and holding them accountable; and (8) adapting activities, supporting students, and protecting students from failure. The author discusses how research on school social workers can inform the larger youth development field by illustrating the importance of including all students, making adaptations for students with special needs in order for them to be successful, and protecting students from failure in these activities. The way that a youth development activity is implemented may be just as important as the activity itself.