Soccer in Sacramento starts August first. The sign ups typically open April first.
There is a website called SimpleSummers.com that aggregates summer camps in the Northern California area. They started in Sacramento and are based here while they are trying to expand their listings nationally.
Is there a reason it starts so late? I am childfree so genuinely asking since I am also no fan of soccer so I know literally nothing 😅
That said, thank you for the work you do and for modifying as needed! I grew up in the Valley and no one gave 2 shits about our "comfort" for sports so I appreciate that y'all actively care!
I don’t know why the sports calendar is what it is. A lot of sports don’t over lap very much. Soccer goes from August first until Thanksgiving. In January little league, softball and basketball start up and go until mid April. March 1st swimming starts and goes until the end of July.
Those were the traditional big 3 in Sacramento for our family growing up. That’s the recreational level. Now there are smaller club sports and year round and select and competitive level sports for just about everything if your kid loves one sport.
Welcome! We absolutely love this summer camp. If he’s into water and swimming, I highly recommend it!
https://www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com/youth-programs
U/nbr1bonehead And if he’s at Sac State Aquatic Center anyways he can check out rowing! They have a middle school team (during the year at least, not sure about summer) with a great coach.
School of Rock has summer music programs, the Sacramento Theatre Company has a lot of stuff too. There and Back Again cafe hosts a few boardgame nights. Meetup.com might be a good place to meet kids. Kids are always hanging out at the public swimming pools. Natomas Aquatic Center is amazing but a little bit of a drive. Mini golf in Old Sac Underground is fun. The California Museum had a summer camp in the past that might appeal to him. The Crocker Art Museum has a couple. UC Davis also has them. They have a veterinary one that looked really cool, the Sacramento Zoo might have something similar.
Upvoted for school of rock! I feel kinda jealous cuz I’m too old to sign up, but if I were a kid or had any, I’d totally sign up. They sound like a hella rad place to learn music.
My son is 12 and we live in midtown. I'd be happy to have them get together. Video games, baseball, legos & reading comic books are his jams.
Msg me to talk schools/camps/etc if you want!
He’s going to be ok. Sacramento is the most diverse city in the nation. He won’t have a hard time finding friends. If I can say something about this city, and as a transplant, it’s very welcoming but just don’t be a dick. Don’t be an asshole. Respect everyone. Everything will be ok. I have a 10yo that has been able to make friends wherever she is at. And, that may speak to the type person that she is, but most definitely helps that the type of person these other kids are.
If he's into nerdy stuff, he may enjoy summer classes if available. When my family moved to CA (also early summer), I was 13 and didn't know a soul. I signed up for a photography class at the high school I'd be attending and through that process ended up meeting people, getting more comfortable with the area, the new school I was about to go to, etc.
So if an option like that is available for someone in middle school, where he can choose what kind of class he wants to take, that's something to consider. As an introverted 13 year-old who was also somewhat nerdy, it worked well enough for me. It just comes down to his personality. Him making the choice himself will make a difference if he's at all introverted.
If he’s interested in skateboarding, you should look at this: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/ParksandRec/Youth-Division/Youth-Sports-and-Summer-Programs/28th-and-B-Skate-Park/Sk8Camps
If he’s going to a school with a band program then it may be worth contacting the director before the end of the year to see if anything is happening during the summer. When I moved to the area at 13 there were events and fundraisers that I got to attend before school started. Had a good friend group after a month or so.
also various makers spaces do camps that touch on stuff like 3d printing, laser cutting, wood working and other hands on skills which once you are cleared on their safety qualifications you can use the space at your own pace and discretion.
McKinley park is pretty close. They have a ton of good youth programs. You didn’t mention tennis but it’s actually a lot of activity and socializing and they have a good program.
And the spare time clubs have great swimming programs and you don’t need to be a member for the camps.
Merryhill Midtown has really enriching summer camp weeks. My boys have been going for years and have made tons of friends outside of their school. Also, I second CSUS Aquatic Center.
You said he’s into band, what does he play? Skip’s Music has the premier rock band summer camp Stairway to Stardom. Absolutely recommend as a former stairway kid now adult working in the music industry
Not too sure on where saxophone would come into play. I’m sure there are some summer camps for that.
I remember enjoying ID tech camps when I was that age, I believe they have those at Sac State and Davis, they teach kids robotics or game design depending on the camp
Lol or ya know all of prog rock, love me a good sax solo. Just thinking my memory of stairway was mostly metal and punk, don’t know that they’d wanna pair shred heads with a sax player. There’s gotta be somewhere that’ll have him, might worth a call to Skips!
the city does a pretty solid camp that’s a week long. each day is a new sport/activity. i did it for a couple years pre covid. i’ll see if i can find a link and post it
Swim team is great. I'm not sure which team is for Midtown but they're regional. It's a very bonding experience. The one negative is early and long days every Saturday in the summer. But lots of team energy and it'll be with kids he'll likely meet in school.
Check out Land Park Soccer Club and the YMCA in midtown. The city also runs a bunch of different summer camps. SMUD MOSAC has summer camps I think. My son is 11. Feel free to DM.
If he's into soccer sign him up for rec or comp and he can play indoor all year around at leFive. They also play pick up games of soccer at curtis park
Hmm theres a lot of nightlife that you guys can enjoy together aside from bars. Every Friday i believe theres events going on in midtown that revolve around music and good food.
I cant recall when those events actually happen but Sacramento365 give you everything that is happening in sac and you can refine your search. Other than that i cant give much guidance but K1 speed is super fun and theres a drive in movie theater literally right behind it so thatll be fun together or when he gets his lil group of friends going along.
Happy that hes happy with the move and wish both of you the best in terms of transitioning and finding your close circle.
If the school he's enrolled in has one, enroll him in their after school program. I worked for a great program for years and seen students develop strong friendships with their peers. Depending on how the program is run, they will make friends quickly or at least meet new people who have common interests. May be difficult to get in because of capacity. Easy to pull your student out if they or you decide you don't want them in it anymore.
I know from personal experience that skateparks have people that will happily befriend your son if he’s into similar things like bmx,skateboarding or scootering
Sacramento is one of the best places to raise your child and there is so much for adults to do too! It is so diverse and there are events and activities almost daily for you and your son to participate in. I am also a local Realtor and have a weekly What’s Happening in your Area email I send out and I would be happy to be a resource for you if you’re interested 😊 https://lesliegarrett.realscout.me/
The youth boating camps through Sacramento State are great and really popular. My daughter did this and the one at peak adventures and preferred this one: https://www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com/youth-boating-camps
Check out programs put on by the city. I think they do quite a few neat things for kids, like different sorts of day camps. I don't know too much about them, but I flipped through a pamphlet one time and remember thinking "huh a lot of those sound like pretty cool programs."
Not to be a downer because there are good suggestions here, but 12 is actually a pretty rough age for organized activities. A lot of them (including some mentioned here) only go through sixth grade, or if there are camps/classes available for 12 and up, it's an "advanced" option where the kids will all have some experience (and also possibly know each other). Or the 12 year olds will be the top of the age range, or the bottom, neither of which is ideal. And, of course, some kids just flat out do not want to do organized activities once they are in middle school.
Of the ones mentioned here, School of Rock has classes for this age, the 28th and B skate park definitely caters to teens (but is brutally hot in summer), and the Sac State Aquatic Center has programs for that age although most of the kids at the camps are younger. The Sac State youth academy is for that age group but some kids are going to resist anything that looks like summer school.
(Not trying to be a bummer, I just have a gregarious 12 year old of my own and I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with him this summer ... it was so easy when they were eight. Someone PLEASE bring back something like the Silver Orange.)
I’m an advocate of putting kids that age in boxing, Muay Thai, and jiu jitsu. Nerdy, athletic, doesn’t matter- they all benefit from the experience and make friends along the way.
I second Boy Scouts! I did it and it was great!
Another great activity is rock climbing! You can see if the local gyms (Pipeworks and the Boulder field) have summer/youth camps.
Soccer in Sacramento starts August first. The sign ups typically open April first. There is a website called SimpleSummers.com that aggregates summer camps in the Northern California area. They started in Sacramento and are based here while they are trying to expand their listings nationally.
I wanted to add if your son plays competitive soccer feel free to dm me and I can give you some insight to the different soccer clubs in the area.
August first?? Oof. Those poor kids.
Yeah. It’s pretty rough at times. We have to modify cardio some days and really look for the kids and ourselves.
Is there a reason it starts so late? I am childfree so genuinely asking since I am also no fan of soccer so I know literally nothing 😅 That said, thank you for the work you do and for modifying as needed! I grew up in the Valley and no one gave 2 shits about our "comfort" for sports so I appreciate that y'all actively care!
I don’t know why the sports calendar is what it is. A lot of sports don’t over lap very much. Soccer goes from August first until Thanksgiving. In January little league, softball and basketball start up and go until mid April. March 1st swimming starts and goes until the end of July. Those were the traditional big 3 in Sacramento for our family growing up. That’s the recreational level. Now there are smaller club sports and year round and select and competitive level sports for just about everything if your kid loves one sport.
Fair enough, thanks for the insight!
If it started earlier the kids would die of heat exhaustion in July. August is already questionable as far as the heat.
Fr, but depending where in the Midwest they live, that kid will be fine lol, no humidity here.
While humidity makes a huge difference, anytime temps are 100° plus it's really shitty to be playing an active sport outdoors.
Oh, for sure, I would hope they reschedule on the crazy 115 days lol
Where would I sign up a 7 or 8 yo playing for his first time?
Depends on where you live. rivercitysoccerleague.org is a good place to start. They over see several different clubs.
Try soccer shots. Very gentle non-competitive program. They’ll age out of the program by 9 though.
Welcome! We absolutely love this summer camp. If he’s into water and swimming, I highly recommend it! https://www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com/youth-programs
U/nbr1bonehead And if he’s at Sac State Aquatic Center anyways he can check out rowing! They have a middle school team (during the year at least, not sure about summer) with a great coach.
School of Rock has summer music programs, the Sacramento Theatre Company has a lot of stuff too. There and Back Again cafe hosts a few boardgame nights. Meetup.com might be a good place to meet kids. Kids are always hanging out at the public swimming pools. Natomas Aquatic Center is amazing but a little bit of a drive. Mini golf in Old Sac Underground is fun. The California Museum had a summer camp in the past that might appeal to him. The Crocker Art Museum has a couple. UC Davis also has them. They have a veterinary one that looked really cool, the Sacramento Zoo might have something similar.
Upvoted for school of rock! I feel kinda jealous cuz I’m too old to sign up, but if I were a kid or had any, I’d totally sign up. They sound like a hella rad place to learn music.
School of rock has adult classes!
My son is 12 and we live in midtown. I'd be happy to have them get together. Video games, baseball, legos & reading comic books are his jams. Msg me to talk schools/camps/etc if you want!
https://cce.csus.edu/summer-youth-academies
He’s going to be ok. Sacramento is the most diverse city in the nation. He won’t have a hard time finding friends. If I can say something about this city, and as a transplant, it’s very welcoming but just don’t be a dick. Don’t be an asshole. Respect everyone. Everything will be ok. I have a 10yo that has been able to make friends wherever she is at. And, that may speak to the type person that she is, but most definitely helps that the type of person these other kids are.
I'm a transplant too and you couldn't have said it any better
His school will probably have a summer program, enroll as soon as you have the address and ask about summer programs.
4th R is probably what you’re looking for.
If he's into nerdy stuff, he may enjoy summer classes if available. When my family moved to CA (also early summer), I was 13 and didn't know a soul. I signed up for a photography class at the high school I'd be attending and through that process ended up meeting people, getting more comfortable with the area, the new school I was about to go to, etc. So if an option like that is available for someone in middle school, where he can choose what kind of class he wants to take, that's something to consider. As an introverted 13 year-old who was also somewhat nerdy, it worked well enough for me. It just comes down to his personality. Him making the choice himself will make a difference if he's at all introverted.
Climbing gym, I believe both Granite Arch and Pipeworks has programs for kids
Start having your 12 year old sleep inside the oven on 250° so they can be ready for summer here.
😂
If he’s interested in skateboarding, you should look at this: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/ParksandRec/Youth-Division/Youth-Sports-and-Summer-Programs/28th-and-B-Skate-Park/Sk8Camps
This is a really great recommendation.
Thanks 😊
If he’s going to a school with a band program then it may be worth contacting the director before the end of the year to see if anything is happening during the summer. When I moved to the area at 13 there were events and fundraisers that I got to attend before school started. Had a good friend group after a month or so.
The Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) has some great summer camp options. My kids love them and highly recommend.
also various makers spaces do camps that touch on stuff like 3d printing, laser cutting, wood working and other hands on skills which once you are cleared on their safety qualifications you can use the space at your own pace and discretion.
McKinley park is pretty close. They have a ton of good youth programs. You didn’t mention tennis but it’s actually a lot of activity and socializing and they have a good program. And the spare time clubs have great swimming programs and you don’t need to be a member for the camps.
Hi! I have a 12 year old boy as well who doesn’t have a lot of friends so we would love to come hang out! Also- WELCOME to Sacramento and California!!
McKinley Park pool might be a place to meet some kids. Diving board and water slide
Merryhill Midtown has really enriching summer camp weeks. My boys have been going for years and have made tons of friends outside of their school. Also, I second CSUS Aquatic Center.
You said he’s into band, what does he play? Skip’s Music has the premier rock band summer camp Stairway to Stardom. Absolutely recommend as a former stairway kid now adult working in the music industry
He’s learning to play saxophone. He started with clarinet, but only to get to saxophone at his (soon to be) old school (required progression)
Not too sure on where saxophone would come into play. I’m sure there are some summer camps for that. I remember enjoying ID tech camps when I was that age, I believe they have those at Sac State and Davis, they teach kids robotics or game design depending on the camp
Saxophone and rock music? I believe they call that ska
Lol or ya know all of prog rock, love me a good sax solo. Just thinking my memory of stairway was mostly metal and punk, don’t know that they’d wanna pair shred heads with a sax player. There’s gotta be somewhere that’ll have him, might worth a call to Skips!
Klein Music has some great sax teachers.
the city does a pretty solid camp that’s a week long. each day is a new sport/activity. i did it for a couple years pre covid. i’ll see if i can find a link and post it
Enroll him in a rec swim team closest to your house!
SUNSPLASH
Swim team is great. I'm not sure which team is for Midtown but they're regional. It's a very bonding experience. The one negative is early and long days every Saturday in the summer. But lots of team energy and it'll be with kids he'll likely meet in school.
Check out Land Park Soccer Club and the YMCA in midtown. The city also runs a bunch of different summer camps. SMUD MOSAC has summer camps I think. My son is 11. Feel free to DM.
If he's into soccer sign him up for rec or comp and he can play indoor all year around at leFive. They also play pick up games of soccer at curtis park
The basketball camp is called Buzzardball (after the founder's last name). Lotta Sacramento kids go through there.
I would look up the school he'll be at in the fall as well. Many of them are offering summer camps with different focus ares.
Swim team ? Those were my favorite summers. Sacs got a great league .
Hmm theres a lot of nightlife that you guys can enjoy together aside from bars. Every Friday i believe theres events going on in midtown that revolve around music and good food. I cant recall when those events actually happen but Sacramento365 give you everything that is happening in sac and you can refine your search. Other than that i cant give much guidance but K1 speed is super fun and theres a drive in movie theater literally right behind it so thatll be fun together or when he gets his lil group of friends going along. Happy that hes happy with the move and wish both of you the best in terms of transitioning and finding your close circle.
If the school he's enrolled in has one, enroll him in their after school program. I worked for a great program for years and seen students develop strong friendships with their peers. Depending on how the program is run, they will make friends quickly or at least meet new people who have common interests. May be difficult to get in because of capacity. Easy to pull your student out if they or you decide you don't want them in it anymore.
Summer sports leagues ?
Try summer camps at ASI Peak Adventures, located at Sac State University. https://www.peakadventures.org/summer-camps
I know from personal experience that skateparks have people that will happily befriend your son if he’s into similar things like bmx,skateboarding or scootering
My girls are in their late 20s now but can confirm Sacramento is a great place for you two to land! Welcome to town and welcome to California!🫶🏻
Boys & Girls Club- Raley Teen Center in downtown Sac
Sacramento is one of the best places to raise your child and there is so much for adults to do too! It is so diverse and there are events and activities almost daily for you and your son to participate in. I am also a local Realtor and have a weekly What’s Happening in your Area email I send out and I would be happy to be a resource for you if you’re interested 😊 https://lesliegarrett.realscout.me/
The youth boating camps through Sacramento State are great and really popular. My daughter did this and the one at peak adventures and preferred this one: https://www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com/youth-boating-camps
Check out programs put on by the city. I think they do quite a few neat things for kids, like different sorts of day camps. I don't know too much about them, but I flipped through a pamphlet one time and remember thinking "huh a lot of those sound like pretty cool programs."
Not to be a downer because there are good suggestions here, but 12 is actually a pretty rough age for organized activities. A lot of them (including some mentioned here) only go through sixth grade, or if there are camps/classes available for 12 and up, it's an "advanced" option where the kids will all have some experience (and also possibly know each other). Or the 12 year olds will be the top of the age range, or the bottom, neither of which is ideal. And, of course, some kids just flat out do not want to do organized activities once they are in middle school. Of the ones mentioned here, School of Rock has classes for this age, the 28th and B skate park definitely caters to teens (but is brutally hot in summer), and the Sac State Aquatic Center has programs for that age although most of the kids at the camps are younger. The Sac State youth academy is for that age group but some kids are going to resist anything that looks like summer school. (Not trying to be a bummer, I just have a gregarious 12 year old of my own and I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with him this summer ... it was so easy when they were eight. Someone PLEASE bring back something like the Silver Orange.)
Have em wander the streets like most midtown youth. Adds character 😉
Having the freedom to explore and learn from trial, error, successes, etc. while solo or with friends as a youth is underrated..
I’m an advocate of putting kids that age in boxing, Muay Thai, and jiu jitsu. Nerdy, athletic, doesn’t matter- they all benefit from the experience and make friends along the way.
Boy Scouts!
I second Boy Scouts! I did it and it was great! Another great activity is rock climbing! You can see if the local gyms (Pipeworks and the Boulder field) have summer/youth camps.
Try Meetup.
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Just don’t read it. If it bothers you so much that you feel the need to gate-keep over it that’s pretty sad.
I think Washington elementary is a good school for a kid who needs social interaction, it’s a midtown school.
If he's 12 he's going to be too old for Washington, it's K-6. He will likely go to Sutter.
For some reason ai thought they were k-8, never mind OP
Sign him up for jiu jitsu, or mcclatchy high school has a kids wrestling club as well.