Find resources for local programs, classes and workshops that provide skills-based training, youth activities, and online tools to develop skills by location OR age level:
Locations
Age Level
Alliance Career Training Solutions
With locations in Salinas and Santa Cruz, Alliance Career Training Solutions provides classes in software, business, and technical training.
Barrios Unidos Audio Engineering
Barrios Unidos’ Audio Engineering program is an exciting FREE 6 week course for youth who are interested in learning all aspects of the recording process including recording, mixing, editing, and mastering. Learn more about this skills training program by visiting their site and contacting the program coordinator!
Bay Area Cyber Camps
These camps are built to educate students to the fundamentals of Cybersecurity and prepare them for the 2019-2020 competition year. The goal is to provide students the tools, knowledge and experience they’ll need to not only participate in the various contests throughout the year, but also begin their workforce training in a fun environment! Participating colleges include: Cabrillo College, Hartnell College, and Monterey Peninsula College.
Cabrillo Youth Summer Programs
Every summer Cabrillo Extension offers an inclusive, safe, and positive learning environment where kids (age 5-18) can dive deep into their hobbies or passions, explore career paths, learn new skills—and have tons of fun in the process. Diverse programming includes everything from creative culinary camps to hands-on STEM experiences to adventures in art to building skills to help student succeed in college and beyond.
Community Partnership for Youth
Community Partnership for Youth (CPY) is a prevention program providing alternatives to gangs, drugs, and violence. The program consists of an After School Mentor-Tutor Program, an 5 week Summer Intercession Program, a Middle School Leadership Program, a High School Leadership & Job Preparation Program, a 7 week Strengthening Families Program (SFP), and a Visual and Performing Arts Academy. Learn more about CPY programs.
Digital NEST
Through training, peer collaboration and professional mentorship, Digital NEST (Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology) youth are supported in mastering the technological skills they need to pursue higher education and careers in our globally connected world.
El Teatro Campesino
El Teatro Campesino provides after school programs in educational theater, a 12-week artist residency program with professional teaching artists in the classroom, and a Migrant Education Summer Academy (MESA).
Food, What?!
Food, What?! is a youth empowerment and food justice organization using food, through sustainable agriculture and health, as the vehicle for youth to grow into strong, healthy, and resilient teens. Youth from Santa Cruz County can join the FoodWhat Crew through Spring Internships, Summer Jobs, Fall Project Management Positions. Learn more about Food What?! programs.
Friday Night Live
Santa Cruz County Friday Night Live Partnership is comprised of the Friday Night Live (FNL) and Club Live (CL) programs. These programs are multi-cultural, youth-driven and lead. The program promotes, healthy lifestyle choices in our community, develops and strengthens leadership skills for positive social change , organizes student conferences addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues and sponsors parent workshops on issues affecting youth.
Girls, Inc.
Girls Inc. of the Central Coast delivers innovative, research-based programs designed specifically to address the strengths and needs of girls ages 8 to 18. They inspire girls to pursue post-secondary education, develop leadership and decision-making skills, serve their communities, and acquire the ability and wisdom to lead healthy lifestyles.
GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives seeks to provide an effective, efficient, and equitable pathway into the solar industry. More than 3 million US workers are employed in well-paying clean energy jobs. GRID’s installation training programs help individuals launch careers in this booming industry. GRID offers two progressive certificate programs – Installation Basics Training (IBT) and Team Leader Training. Trainees may specialize in electrical or array work, or both.
Growing Up Wild
The mission of Growing Up Wild is to help youth connect with nature, build character, and learn about the environment by providing outdoor youth development and environmental education programs. Outdoor environmental education program benefits include personal growth, academic achievement, environmental knowledge, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
LINK
Founded by Your Future Is Our Business, a Santa Cruz County nonprofit, LINK connects students with local businesses and professionals to provide work-based learning opportunities.
Loaves, Fishes, & Computers
Through volunteering at Loaves, Fishes & Computers (LFC), volunteers gain valuable technical, business and administrative skills appropriate for career exploration, career development, and higher education advancement. They also learn problem solving skills and how to work collaboratively as well as independently.
Pathways 2 Careers
Get paid to gain employability skills with the Monterey County Workforce Development Board’s paid work experience program in forklift, agriculture or culinary! Youth must be 16-24 years of age and not currently enrolled in school to qualify. These programs provide cash incentives for the completion of program goals, and support services such as transportation, interview clothes, work clothes, books for school, child care assistance, and more. Please visit their sitefor more information or visit their Facebook page.
Rancho Cielo Youth Corps
Rancho Cielo Youth Corps is an on-the-job training program serving young people, 18–24, to be prepared for regular full time employment. Our crews learn through their involvement in a variety of construction projects that teach everything from work ethics to complex construction skills.
Salud y Cariño
Salud y Cariño partners with other community-based organizations to promote health and wellness for girls through physical activity, prevention, and education. Girls Group is a FREE after school program that combines physical activity and a social-emotional curriculum to promote overall wellness for girls at a critical time in their development.
Santa Cruz County Career Technical Education Partnership
The Santa Cruz County Career Technical Education Partnership provides high school students with the opportunity to acquire academic, career and technical skills and to prepare for life-long learning and success in the changing workplace. Click here for course catalog.
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Youth Leadership Program
The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Youth Leadership Program aims to educate and inspire youth to preserve and enrich agriculture and community heritage. Students with vital skills to build future leaders in our area that will help us preserve our agriculture economy.
Sueños Program
Sueños is a program of Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board that helps teenagers and young adults (ages 16 to 24) develop workplace skills that will prepare them to enter and thrive in an increasingly competitive labor market.
Volunteer Initiative Program
The Volunteer Initiative Program matches interested community members with volunteer opportunities throughout Santa Cruz County Government.
Volunteers have the opportunity to work with County departments including the District Attorney’s Office, the Health Services Agency, the Human Resources Agency, Law Library, Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Probation, and the Sheriff’s Department. These volunteer opportunities are great for professional development and skills-building.
YMCA Lifeguard Training
The YMCA of Silicon Valley offers Lifeguard Training at Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek. Learn more about Camp Campbell here.
Your Future Is Our Business
Your Future Is Our Business (YFIOB) programs provide work-based learning opportunities to middle and high school students. YFIOB coordinates career panels, career expos, job shadowing, internships, and mentorships within Santa Cruz County. Learn more about YFIOB programs.
Youth Ambassadors for Peace Program
Youth Ambassadors for Peace Program (YAP) is a program of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board for participants between the ages of 16 and 24. Program services include: job shadowing, work readiness training, personal money management, life skills education, mentoring, and referrals to vocation training.
Youth and Government Institute 2019
YAGI is a four-week program for youth ages 14-18 who have an interest in government and leadership. During the four-week program, they will learn the functions of local government, explore careers within local government, and discover ways in which they can advocate for positive change. They will have opportunities to meet their elected officials, department directors and other city staff. Click here to apply!
Youth N.O.W.
Youth N.O.W. provides two after school student centers that provides no-cost tutoring and academic support, computer labs, and printing services, as well as, a safe social environment for middle and high school youth in the downtown Watsonville area. During the summer, Youth N.O.W. also offers a five-week full day program for middle school youth and half day programming for high school youth.
YouthSERVE
YouthSERVE is dedicated to connecting youth, ages 11-17, with rewarding volunteer projects across Santa Cruz County. Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County will connect local youth who have a passion to help those in need with meaningful opportunities to do so. Youth can make a difference in their community while developing skills to find a job, get into college, complete school service requirements.