By Dianne Anderson

Kids and teens will have lots to do this summer – for some, it’s all about fun, and for others, it’s more money.

Fresh out of high school, teens without a plan and unsure which way to turn, whether a minimum wage delivery driver or warehousing, might want to consider a $33,000 a year paid career training program.

At the Inland Empire Center California Conservation Corps, getting in the door isn’t complicated and qualifications are straightforward.

“The criteria is that they are motivated to work hard and to develop themselves. That’s it,” said Dana Howard, spokesperson for the California Conservation Corps. “We’re not trying to exclude people, it’s not a competition. It’s about our young people having pathways that are sustainable and a meaningful career.”

No matter if they have graduated, or are still trying to finish their high school diploma, they can get on the right track, but he said now is the time to get applications in for the paid work experience and training opportunity.

That training experience can also meet the minimum qualifications to be ready to apply one and a half years later for many entry-level positions within state and local government departments, even in some industries.

He said they should apply now and not wait until they need it.

The job training pays $2,814 each month, plus the potential for an $8,000 education scholarship.

“This is something they can take action on today if they are going to stay in the Inland Empire, and want to commute to our center in San Bernardino,” he said. “They can most likely be in [the program] within 60 days.”

Youth, ages 18 to 25, can access the training two ways, either live in the Inland Empire and commute to the San Bernardino center for training. Or, they can relocate to other state CCC locations and actually live at those centers and train.

In the local full time paid training program, workers will be picked up from the center and driven to and from various worksites for 8-hour workdays five days a week, or sometimes nine-hour days for a four-day week.

Many Corpsmembers do enroll for a second year.

“It’s not forever,” Howard said. “They can get extensive training in careers that are sustainable. You can support yourself in a meaningful way, not just getting by.”

Corpmembers at the local center can train for wildland firefighting, forestry management, general trails and parks, and Caltrans internships are available.

Cal Fire, state parks for trails, fish and wildlife through the Bureau of Land Management are always hiring. He said that Big tree trimming companies want more workers to go up in buckets to cut down the dead and dying trees around power lines to prevent wildfires.

“In San Bernardino, there are just a couple dozen people on the waiting list now to go there. They’ll chew through that in a couple of months, but there is always enrollment,” he said.

IE CCC is the only conservation center certified by the state government to run its workforce program. He said they are not affiliated with a similarly named nearby private nonprofit, Urban Conservation Corps.

With most schools now out for the summer for the little kids and teens, free camps are going on around town at various parks and spaces.

Most families in San Bernardino qualify for the City’s Parks and Recreation Youth Enrichment Scholarship (YES) with $100 available per each eligible child for a full year. Or, they can go to summer day camps instead and use the $100 scholarship for one week.

Vanessa Carbajal, community recreation manager, said their YES scholarship gives access to all city parks programs, including the athletics division, the basketball program at Hernandez Park and other parks with T-Ball and Flag Football. Community centers also host a variety of arts and cooking classes.

Summer heat is on, and it’s always a good idea to bring water. Due to federal and state regulations since COVID, she said there are no drinking fountains outside, but the community can still access water in the community centers, open from noon to 6:00 p.m.

The Jerry Lewis Center is open with a year-round swimming pool, and the swimming pools at Delmann Heights and Hernandez Parks are officially open for the summer, a few days out of the week. She said it’s hard to acquire lifeguards to oversee the aquatics program on a daily basis.

Right now, Hernandez Park is going through remodeling outside of the facility with the pool pressure washed and added painted lawn chairs, and inside with paint and change of tiles. She said Delmann Heights Center also had renewed wall paint and flooring, and the pool has been pressure washed and ready to access.

Summer concerts are held every Thursday evening through June and July, ending August 1 at the Roosevelt Bowl. Movies in the park are held at four locations.

Little by little, she said the City’s 40 parks are improving, and offering more services. They are also getting the word out about the numerous free family fun activities, and have sent out 73,000 brochures on available programs citywide.

“When we host a movie in the park and at specific parks we do come across community members [saying] we didn’t know this park was here. We try to rotate our movies in the park so that the community can come out and explore them,” she said.

In July, their department hosts a back-to-school extravaganza with free backpacks, resources and services for families and kids. They also partner with the school district as each community center hosts its free summer meal program.

Maria Garcia, spokesperson for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said that over 5,000 students spanning all grades across the District enrolled in their summer school program and will spend the month of June engaged in many academic opportunities, including additional activities and field trips.

“This is free of cost to students who registered for the summer expanded learning program,” she said in an email. “We marketed the program to families starting in the spring and the majority of slots are taken. Families may call their child’s school to see if space is still available. Some schools may still have space.”

For more information on CCC and to enroll, see https://ccc.ca.gov/how-to-join/apply-online/

For Corpsmembers learning in the program,  see https://www.youtube.com/@caconservationcorps

For more SB City Summer Recreation programs and events, see https://bit.ly/3KwwIG2
and https://www.sbcity.org/city_hall/parks_recreation/summer_camp