The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is welcoming students from Pioneer Valley High School to partake in free after-school activities at the Edwards Community Center from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
The program started on Aug. 19 and provides recreational activities, snacks, games, and more for the students.
Recreation and Parks Department Associate Teresa Rayburn said the new program is an effort to bring after-school activities closer to high schools.
“Years ago, we found that high schools were far from youth centers and transportation could be a problem,” she said. “Pioneer Valley was even more remote than most, but now that we have the Edwards Center—an extension of the Abel Maldonado [Community] Youth Center—right next door, it makes things much easier.”
The Edwards Community Center is located at 809 Panther Drive, adjacent to the school.
“We’ll have some great activities at the center,” Rayburn said. “Basketball, movies, food; everything is supervised and it gives kids some healthy things to do in the afternoons when school’s out.”
Students only need to bring their ID cards for admission. All materials and goods are donated and free for the students.
For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260.
This article appears in Aug 22-29, 2013.