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Stockton recreation reports expanded youth programs, scholarships and lifeguard certification opportunities
Summary
Recreation staff reported increased participation in winter camps, upcoming youth events with Stockton Kings and college partners, scholarships funded in part by Coca-Cola, and free lifeguard certification opportunities tied to summer hiring.
John Wright, Recreation Manager, told the commission the department held four holiday workshop events in December across Van Buskirk, Stribley, Seaford and Arnold Roode community centers, with more than 800 attendees overall. Winter discovery camps ran Dec. 23 through Jan. 3 across four sites; the community centers are programmed for 90 campers daily and the department reported an 18 percent increase in registration over last year.
Wright said the department released its winter-spring activity guide in English and Spanish and will present program highlights to the commission in February. He gave dates for near-term youth events: a Stockton Kings career-and-sports day for students ages 12–16 on Jan. 30 (registration includes game admission and is 90 percent full) and Project Toolbox events with the University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College scheduled for late February to connect teens with college and opportunity programs.
Staff reported this year’s junior NBA youth basketball program has about 445 participants across more than 43 teams, a 49 percent increase over last winter. Registration is open for MLS Go outdoor soccer, indoor volleyball and other spring offerings. Scholarships are available at a 25 percent discount for youth registrations; Wright said the department receives an annual Coca-Cola stipend of $10,000 and that scholarship funding has historically supplied roughly $7,000–$9,000 in awards each year. Wright said no applicant has been denied the 25 percent scholarship.
Wright also described a free lifeguard certification program that includes summer hiring opportunities for successful participants; commissioners said they had distributed information about free certifications to high schools.
