Fm Youth Ctr. history

7. In the late 1950’s, Don Mitchell, a member of the Youth Center’s Board of Directors, became involved as a volunteer in the Los Alamitos Charity Race Horse Foundation.

1954 – Building activities in northwest Orange County picked up, and a principal building item was a $50,400 (over $400,000 in current dollars) for the Youth Center in Los Alamitos, according to the Enterprise newspaper.

1956 – The pad for the developing Youth Center is open for roller skating and basketball.

1970’s – It became apparent that due to a growing population, that the Youth Center had outgrown their existing facility, and the Youth Center Board of Directors began looking for another site.

1972 – The Youth Center signed a land lease agreement with the City of Los Alamitos was signed, initiating dreams of a new larger Youth Center.

1976 – Plans were made for opening the new Youth Center at the present Los Alamitos Community Center on Oak Street.

1979 – The Los Alamitos Community Center and Oak gym were completed.

1984 – The first director for the Youth Center is hired.

1990’s –Oak Middle School is closed due to shrinking enrollment.

1996 – Establishment of full-day Summer Day Camp at Rossmoor Park.

1998 – The Youth Center expands its Afterschool Music Program to every elementary school campus within Los Alamitos School District.

2005 – The Youth Center’s After School Elementary Music Program was expanded to include all elementary school grades K-5th.

2007 – Youth Center Teen Camp was launched with RSCD partnership.

2014 – The Youth Center holds their first Leadership Academy.

2018 – The Youth Center reaches 1 million hours of service to youth in local community.

2019 – The Youth Center celebrates 30th year collaboration with the LAUSD in offering instrumental music instruction to elementary students.

2020 – The Youth Center wins top place in UCLA Social Enterprise Academy and announces new program SHARK After School Adventures.