With the 2021 school year kicking into gear, Noozhawk has put together our annual ParentNooz After School Activities Guide. After a tummultuous year of remote learning, we made sure to make things easy when planning your child’s after school activities! Our 2021 After School Activities guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information when deciding on which after school program is the best fit.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about after school programs for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local programs for this year’s After School Activities Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Keani Albanez, Program Director at Page Youth Center, to learn more about their after school program here in Santa Barbara.
Page Youth Center
Question: What is the name of your After School Activity/Program? What is its mission?
Answer: The *Page Youth Center Blenders Winter Basketball League* is the name of the Winter recreational basketball league. Our mission is to build character through youth and community sports programs..
Q: Describe the activities involved in your After School Activity/Program.
A: The Blenders Winter Basketball League provides an opportunity for kids to develop sportsmanship, teamwork skills, and have fun competing to play in division championships. The season starts in December and ends in early March. Every registered player will get a jersey. Prizes are awarded to the team that wins each division championship and the team with the best record for their division during the season.
The league is sponsored by Blenders in the Grass, a local company known for its healthy and delicious smoothies for kids of all ages and a long-time supporter of youth sports in the Santa Barbara community. Together, PYC and Blenders have partnered again to deliver the largest Winter recreational basketball league in SB for kids in 1st – 8th grades. Fun guaranteed!
Q: What are the hours of your after school activity or program?
A: 1-2 Practices a week for 1.5 hours depending on each individual coach and one basketball game 45 min per week starting December-March.
Q: What is the age range for children to take part in your after school activity or program?
A: The program welcomes all kids in 1st – 8th grades. The boys division includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
The girls division includes 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th grades.
Q: When was your program started and what was the inspiration for creating it?
A: The program began over a decade ago and has become one of the most promising programs in town. The reason the league was created was to build a love of basketball within Santa Barbara for local kids in the community while upholding PYC’s mission to help build character through youth sports.
Q: Describe what makes your after school program unique and worthwhile.
A: Blenders Winter League is the biggest recreational basketball league for youth in Santa Barbara county. We provide coaches with clinics, tutorials and skill development to make players’ experiences well-rounded in fundamentals, team work and character building skills. It’s a great way for kids to be introduced to basketball as well as develop their game to higher competitive level. Parents: games are indoors, fast paced and action-packed, and take less than an hour.
Q: Following COVID-19 restrictions, what parts of your program have changed to comply with Santa Barbara County guidelines?
A: PYC follows guidelines and mandates from Santa Barbara and California Public Health Departments and the CDC. In line with the most recent mandates, guests, players, parents, coaches and spectators are asked to wear masks indoors. Masks are only optional for players when they are playing on the court. In addition, the following benefits and safety measures have been put in place to minimize risk for players and their families:
+ PYC offers video livestreaming of games for family and friends who want to watch remotely
+ The gym has two commercial HEPA air filtration units that clean 2,000 cubic feet per minute and run continuously every day, and has four access points that optimize fresh air flow in the gym
+ Touchless sanitizer stations in the lobby and restrooms
+ Extra cleaning cycles for equipment, lobby, restrooms and common touchpoints throughout the facility
+ Single-use 3-ply masks are available to any visitor/player who needs one
+ Gym monitors on duty who enforce safety measures (distancing, masks)
Q: What is the average program size or class size for your activity? Teacher to student ratio?
A: The last program ran had over 800 players. Each team typically has 7-10 players. With one head coach and possibly a assistant coach depending on volunteers provided.
Q: In what ways is your program educational?
A: Kids learn valuable life skills including sportsmanship, teamwork, and accountability. It’s a great way to learn the fundamentals of basketball and to have fun doing it.
Q: What is the cost/tuition? Are scholarships available?
A: The cost to join the League is $250 per player for 10 weeks of league play if people register before October 13th.We offer scholarships on a sliding scale based on need. You can find the scholarship application on the PYC Blenders registration page.
Click here to learn more information about Page Youth Center and their after school programs!