Carmel Youth Center reports full volunteer rosters for Car Week; free Larson Fields shuttle promoted

Linda Fry, a Carmel Youth Center board member, told hosts on a Carmel-by-the-Sea community vlog that the center has filled all volunteer slots for the city’s Car Week activities and is offering a range of after-school and weekend programs.

The hosts said the city secured Larson Fields this year and will run a free shuttle, operating 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday during Car Week, and encouraged visitors to park there. They also noted a new agenda-management system, with a tutorial video posted on the city’s meetings page.

Why it matters: The youth center’s volunteer-led support during Car Week provides a local channel for residents to assist visiting events and for the center to raise funds. The center also functions as a community resource for after-school care, clinics and rentals that serve working parents and local youth.

Fry described the youth center’s volunteer program and activities in detail. “We have a 100% volunteerism. We filled all of our slots,” she said, and asked residents who still want to help to drop by the center and leave contact information in case openings arise. She said volunteers are transported to Pebble Beach by shuttle from the youth center and then assigned where needed.

Fry outlined programs run at the facility, including a First Tee–supported golf clinic led by a pro from Pebble Beach, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) program, and an after-school program that serves children from River School and others. She said Carmel Unified transportation coordinates a bus stop near the police station and that a staff member meets children there to take them to the center.

She also said the center recently completed an international exchange: “We had a trip to China as an exchange program, and everybody is back now from China.” Fry said the center plans a presentation about the trip to the city council.

On licensing and facilities, Fry said the youth center is fully licensed and holds the certifications required to operate. She noted the facility includes a theater and gym available for rental, and emphasized the center’s openness to questions and tours: “Go to the youth center. And you could everything is on display.”

Hosts encouraged Fry or other board members to speak at a future city council meeting to correct misunderstandings about the center’s programs and licensing and to share updates with the wider community.

No formal city action or vote was recorded during this exchange; the session was an informal community update on programming, volunteer recruitment and city event logistics.