With the long days of summer quickly passing, parents might look to the Youth Center in Los Alamitos for day camp programs that are still available while also beginning to plan for activities after school in the coming year.
With the long days of summer quickly passing, parents might look to the Youth Center in Los Alamitos for day camp programs that are still available while also beginning to plan for activities after school in the coming year.
Since 1952, the non-profit has been serving the communities of Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach and surrounding areas with activities that enrich the lives of youths with collaborative social, educational, and recreational programs. Currently, there are still spaces available in their kid’s day and teen camps, which run until late August, where parents can choose from daily or weekly activities.
Children from ages 5 to 12 can participate in the Youth Center Rossmoor Park Day Camp with such activities as going to Seal Beach, Puppy Parties where campers get to hold and pet puppies, Wet ’n Wild Fridays, Wheels Day where campers get to ride their scooters, skateboards and bikes, arts and crafts, and other optional field trips to places like the Aquarium of the Pacific, O.C. Fair and Disneyland.
The Teen Camp for ages 12 to 16 offers children the chance to choose weekly activities including field trips to such places as Knott’s Soak City, Crystal Cove, going to an Angel’s game, and to Catalina Island to name just a few places. Both camps offer children and parents financial scholarships as well as extended care from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As always, the center’s year-round after school care program is free, including during summer school.
“We base scholarships on a one-to-one basis,” said Lina Lumme, Executive Director. “Parents can get a full scholarship or partial scholarship for their child based upon their individual needs.”
The Youth Center is funded by grants and donations. Every year, they have 3 major fundraisers including a haunted house, Christmas tree sales, and a community support campaign through door-to-door neighborhood donations collected by the Youth Center volunteers.
Every other school year and coming in 2013, they offer high school kids a chance to learn about the effects of drunk driving through the “Every 15 Minutes Program,” which is named after the statistic of deaths from drunk driving. Teens can take part in a staged drunk driving accident scene in collaboration with Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Courts, and Westminster Mortuary along with many local businesses. Adult and student volunteers also help other teens to arrive home safely by providing rides with no questions asked.
“It’s a very powerful program,” said Lumme. “If I change the thinking of just one child about drunk driving, then I’ve done my job.”
During the school year, besides their after school care, the Youth Center offers a learning center and tutoring program, available to anyone needing help with their homework. “We encourage older students to tutor younger students with their homework as a part of our volunteer Junior Staff Program,” said Lumme.
“We have 5 computer stations and 8 laptop computers with parental controlled access to the Internet,” she continued. The Youth Center additionally offers after school instructional music programs in partnership with the Los Alamitos Unified School District and the community for music education for children.
To learn more about the summer, year-round activities, volunteer opportunities or their donation and fundraising events, contact the Youth Center by calling 562-493-4043 or visit online at www.TheYouthCenter.org.
