Sonoma Valley youth and teens have new and expanded recreation opportunities this summer due to new funding from the City of Sonoma (City). The City Council invested $20,000 in one-time funding to create and subsidize enhanced summer recreation programs for youth, with a focus on teens. “With this extra funding, the City Council is excited to provide high quality summertime activities for our youth, and especially our teens. Much appreciation to our partners – the Sonoma Community Center, the Sonoma Valley Boys and Girls Club and the Sonoma Valley Tennis Association – for putting these programs together so quickly,” stated Mayor Amy Harrington.
The City does not operate its own Parks and Recreation Department or create recreation programming. Instead, the City partnered with local non-profits with robust youth recreation programs to create these enhanced summer programs to provide safe, supportive and equitable recreation opportunities for youth and teens throughout Sonoma Valley. Subsidized programs include:
- TEEN SPECIALTY CAMPS and DAY CAMPS at the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley | Scholarships are available for Teen Specialty Camps including Basic Electronics, App and Game Development, Spy Camp, Lego Robotics, Minecraft Coding, Photography, Animation and Medieval Days (cardboard armor building). Scholarships are also available for Day Camps such as Fiesta Time, Challenge Madness, Sweets Treats & S’mores, Party in the USA, Sports Week, DIY, Backyard Palooza, and California Adventure. To apply for scholarships and to register for Teen Specialty Camps and Day Camps, call Membership Coordinator Jess Calderon-Ponce at (707) 938-8544 ext. 102. The Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley is located in Maxwell Village Park at 100 Verano Street, Sonoma CA 95476.
- HIGH SCHOOL TEENS at The Club Maxwell Village will go on weekly College Campus Tours, have weekly cooking programming, sports nights, volunteer opportunities, as well as field trips to a Giants game and Six Flags. To register for programs and receive scholarships, call Teen Director Eric Gonzalez at (707) 775-1284 or drop in after 12:00 p.m. at the Teen Center. THE CLUB Teen Center is located in the Maxwell Village Shopping Center at 19245 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma CA 95476.
- TEEN LEADERSHIP COURSE at the Sonoma Community Center | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, July 15 – July 26, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This two week course pairs inspirational leaders with high quality art lessons for local teens ages 11-13. Workshops on iPhone photography, fiber arts, and teen writing topics will be interspersed with educational sessions on civic engagement, financial planning and speaking from the heart. Participation for the six-part course is $40 per person or $36 for SCC members and scholarships are available. The funding from the City subsidizes the majority of this program. To register call (707) 996-4626 x1 or visit sonomacommunitycenter.org/arts-leadership-clinic. Registration deadline is Monday, July 1. To request a scholarship, please call the SCC at (707) 938-4626 x1. The Sonoma Community Center is located at 276 East Napa Street, Sonoma CA 95476. sonomacommunitycenter.org
- GROUP TENNIS LESSONS by the Sonoma Valley Tennis Association | Join instructor Felipe Monroy for group tennis lessons for Junior High and High School students at Maxwell Regional Tennis Facility. Felipe is a USPTA #1 Elite Professional instructor, Master String Technician, a former U.S. Marine and is bilingual (English and Spanish). Sessions are fully subsidized and limited to 8 students each. Sessions for Junior High School Students: Session 1 – June 17, 18 & 19 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Session 2 – June 24, 25 & 26 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sessions for High School Students looking for an introduction to Tennis: Session 3 – June 17, 18 & 19 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Session 4 – June 24, 25 & 26 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sign up today! Email sonomatennis@icloud.com or text (916) 879-0212 to register.
Learn more about the City’s Recreation and Community Services Program or “Community Fund” and Recreation and Community Partners on our Recreation Page.