Los Alamitos Youth Center Inc
PROGRAMS
After School Academy & RASCALS
The After School Academy, located at two sites to better serve our community, provides essential educational support and engaging activities to approximately 350 children annually. With a particular focus on supporting low-income families and those from military backgrounds, our academy offers scholarships to ensure accessibility for all. Our schedule of activities, carefully crafted to foster holistic development, encompasses a diverse range of subjects and interests: • Monday – Leadership & Life Skills: Empowering children to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience. • Tuesday – Art & Mindfulness: Cultivating creativity and emotional well-being through artistic expression and mindfulness practices. • Wednesday – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math): Fostering curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on exploration of STEM concepts. • Thursday – Healthy Lifestyle & Cooking Skills: Promoting physical health and nutrition literacy through fun and interactive cooking classes. • Friday – Fun Friday: Offering a variety of recreational activities, from music and video games to outdoor excursions and creative competitions.
The After School Academy at The Youth Center continues to make a profound impact on the lives of the children we serve. Through engaging and educational programming, we achieve key outcomes that contribute to the academic, social, and emotional development of our students. The following are the primary outcomes of our program:
1. Enhanced Leadership and Life Skills:
Children develop critical life skills that help them navigate challenges with confidence, resilience, and integrity. After participating in our Leadership & Life Skills workshops, students demonstrate improved decision-making, goal-setting, and conflict resolution abilities, empowering them to lead by example in their communities.
2. Increased Interest and Achievement in STEM:
Our STEM program sparks curiosity and fosters a love for learning by providing hands-on, engaging activities. Participants show increased interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, with a notable rise in academic performance in these subjects as a result of our interactive approach to learning.
3. Strengthened Emotional Well-being through Art and Mindfulness:
By integrating mindfulness practices with creative expression, students gain valuable tools for emotional regulation and self-awareness. Children exhibit enhanced emotional resilience, reduced stress, and improved social relationships, as well as a greater sense of self-esteem and well-being through our art and mindfulness workshops.
4. Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition Awareness:
Our Healthy Lifestyle & Cooking Skills program encourages children to make informed choices about nutrition and physical activity. Students demonstrate a greater understanding of healthy eating habits and an increased interest in physical fitness, with many taking these lessons home to share with their families, fostering a ripple effect of wellness in the community.
5. Safe, Supportive Environment for Growth and Learning:
The After School Academy provides a safe, nurturing environment for children from all backgrounds, including low-income and military families. By offering scholarships and a well-rounded curriculum, we ensure that all children have access to opportunities that support their academic and personal growth. Participants feel more connected to their community, as evidenced by higher levels of engagement and participation in activities.
Through your support, these outcomes can be expanded and deepened, creating lasting change for the children and families we serve. Your investment in the After School Academy will help us continue to equip youth with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in school and life. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact in the lives of our community’s children.
Music Education
Our low-cost program provides music lessons in string and band instruments for approximately 200 children as Los Alamitos elementary schools have not provided music classes for many years. Therefore, this program prepares children for participation in music lessons at the middle school level and also provides two concerts each year, giving participating children the rare opportunity to perform. Tuition scholarships are provided as needed, and our stock of instruments helps low-income families to secure an instrument.
Provide affordable music education to elementary school students.
CONTACT
Los Alamitos Youth Center Inc
10761 Los Alamitos Blvd
LOS ALAMITOS, CA 90720
Phone: 562-493-4043