A guide to volunteering and extracurriculars for kids and teens in Modesto
Whether you’re a parent looking to help your children hone their talents or beef up their eventual college applications, the research to find the right activities for them can be exhausting.
The Modesto Bee has rounded up a sampling of local extracurriculars, volunteer opportunities and classes to consolidate some of the options.
A previous Bee article rounded up local tutoring options as well.
Volunteer opportunities to help the community
There are many volunteer opportunities for teens looking to contribute to their communities. For 14- to 17-year-olds interested in healthcare, Memorial Medical Center, 1700 Coffee Road, offers a one-year volunteer opportunity that requires 100 hours of commitment. Interested applicants should call 209-569-7350.
Love Modesto posts community volunteer opportunities on its website year-round, with its next event on April 25 dedicated to bringing the community together to work on various projects.
The Stanislaus Library also accepts volunteers 14 and older to help “keep the library neat and clean; sort materials; straighten and clean bookshelves; clean and recover materials; assist with child and adult programs.” Those interested can call 209-558-8949 for more information.
The Modesto Marathon is March 22, and volunteers 16 and older are asked to sign up at runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/CA/Modesto/ModestoMarathon.
Finally, the Modesto Symphony, 911 13th St., welcomes volunteers 14 and older to assist with its programming, office administration and more. Volunteers are asked to sign up online at www.modestosymphony.org/volunteer.
Athletic programs
For parents interested in getting their children into athletic classes, here are some options for gymnastics, swimming, dancing and martial arts.
The United States Academy of Elite Gymnastics and Gymnastics Unlimited Salida are both in Salida and offer classes for preschoolers to teens. In-Shape Fitness offers swim lessons in Lodi, Manteca and Modesto for kids of all ages.
Ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop are forms of dance taught at the Juline Dance Academy, 1700 McHenry Ave., for kids as young as 2 years old. The Bella Dance Studio in Modesto, 3350 Oakdale Road, teaches tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, cheer and hip-hop, and sign-ups for new students will be July 19-26. Finally, 5678 Dance Studio, at 1316 Standiford Ave., offers lessons for children 1 year and older in tap, hip-hop, pointe, ballet, jazz, contemporary and lyrical.
As for martial arts, Moore’s Karate Modesto offers group and private lessons for kids as young as 3. It’s at 950 Oakdale Road. The Ares Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, at 1713 Prescott Road, offers lessons for toddlers to adults and a free trial class as well. Lastly, Gracie Jiu Jitsu also offers classes for kids as young as 4. At 1501 Coffee Road, Gracie also has locations in Ripon and Patterson.
Technology Classes
Modesto Robotics and Technology, at 1408 N. Carpenter Road, offers education, training and competitions for kids from first through 12th grades. The program offers classes in robotics, “3-D printing, rocketry, drones, laser cutting, and engineering documentation,” according to the website.
Modesto Junior College offers online, self-guided classes in introduction to programming and game development, which cost $147 and $144, respectively.
Art Classes
The Gallo Center Youth Academy, at 1000 I St., offers musical theater classes for kids in grades one through eight, though middle schoolers are asked to audition. Performances from this year’s cohort will be April 17-18, and signups for the next cohort are in the fall.
Opera Modesto, at 1214 11th St., has a summer institute for eighth- through 12th-graders with training, classes, and a final performance during the two-week intensive program. Applications close March 31.
The Modesto Academy of Music and Design, at 5428 Pirrone Road, offers classes in music, art, Legos (teaching scientific concepts and engineering design) and robotics and computers with group and private lessons. Interested students are asked to sign up online on the academy’s website.
For painting, drawing and clay throwing, the Modesto Art Academy, 500 Scenic Drive, has classes for kids to adults, from the basics to the advanced. Those interested can sign up online.
Finally, for kids interested in the culinary arts, the Teel School Culinary Arts Institute offers a CTE cooking class. It also offers the Agricultural Greenhouse Technology program, where students “learn how to plant, grow, process and cook the fruits and vegetables.” The program covers “animal science, grafting, pruning, soil nutrients, cultivation, floriculture and the latest in drip irrigation systems and hydroponics, according to the website. Those interested in either are asked to contact 209-238-8700.
