After Memorial Day, Cape Cod has no trouble attracting visitors of all ages. But Lynn Mason-Small of Yarmouth hopes to make the Cape a more attractive place year-round, especially for people in their 20s and 30s. As vice-president of the Cape Cod Young Professionals, she faces a challenge that may resonate with others outside Greater Boston: how to convince people in the unsettled stage of life to settle near you. Now in its fourth year, CCYP has approximately 700 members. I spoke with Mason-Small, 36, as the summer season geared up.

Given the Cape’s reputation as a resort and retiree area, why did you move there at age 31?
I grew up here, and left for college, and didn’t move back until about five years ago. At the time, my boyfriend and I bought our first house here, and I kind of moved back kicking and screaming. It wasn’t really my plan. I was in living in Waltham then. But he said “This is where I want to be, and where I want to live.” We then got married. Now that I’m here, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

What was the impetus for the group?
It was founded by two of the guys who now sit on our board. They were sitting around one night talking about how there’s no organization for young professionals on the Cape. If you go to a Chamber of Commerce meeting, you’re the youngest person in the room.

What are people looking for when they show up?
It’s really kind of combination of a few different things. A lot of people are there for the business networking – looking for new customers and clients. But there’s a social piece. I think because we’re so spread out, you lose a little of the camaraderie you get in the city. And we’re trying to get people to be part of the process of government. Last year we started a movement called “Bring a Buddy to Town Meeting.” We had a buddy to help acclimate people to what town meeting was, so it’s not like walking into a cocktail party where you don’t know anyone.

The term “young” is a kind of an elastic one. How do you define it?
We say 21 to 45. But I would say the majority of our members are between 25 and 35. And we have a couple of people who show up and are in their 70s and just want to be part of the energy of the group. It’s kind of cute.

Are you actively trying to recruit younger people to the Cape?
Ideally, yes. We recently entered into an informal partnership with the Cape Cod Human Resources Association, and we’re going to try to be involved in some of their recruitment. So when they recruit, they try to do it around a CCYP event, to combat the myth that there are no young people on Cape Cod.

Alison Lobron