Teen Center and Teen Programs

The Santa Cruz Teen Center is a recreational facility dedicated to creating a safe and diverse environment for the teen community in order to empower youth, foster creativity and promote alternate forms of education.

Discover all the excitement waiting for you at the Santa Cruz Teen Center! Drop in for basketball, pool, PS5 and PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, movies, computers with internet access, free Wi‑Fi, music, a full kitchen, snacks, and an overall awesome, safe hangout space just for teens.

While you’re here, grab our latest Monthly Calendar to see everything happening for teens in Santa Cruz. We host special events, day and overnight trips, sports, outdoor adventures, and tons of daily activities you won’t want to miss!

Come by, connect with friends, and make the Teen Center your go‑to spot!

Friends of Parks and Recreation (FOPAR) has allocated funds for partial scholarships for limited-income families residing within the City of Santa Cruz. Interested Santa Cruz City residents may pick up scholarship request forms at the Parks and Recreation Office, 323 Church Street. Call 831-420-5270.

The Teen Center is in charge of administering the City's Bicycle Distribution Program. The purpose of this program is to distribute surplus bicycles recovered by the City of Santa Cruz to local youth through partnerships with charitable or nonprofit organizations. If you know of someone under 18 who lives in Santa Cruz and who needs a bicycle, or if you are a non-profit that works with youth, please fill out the sign-up form(PDF, 32KB) (sign-up form - Spanish(PDF, 32KB)) and the waiver(PDF, 65KB) (waiver - Spanish(PDF, 61KB)) and return them to the Teen Center. See the Bicycle Distribution Program's Guidelines(PDF, 49KB). For more information about the Bicycle Distribution Program you can also email the Teen Center.

Support the Teen Center: The Teen Center is always seeking additional funding to help continue operation of this very important program. Donate to FOPAR in support of the Santa Cruz Teen Center.

The Teen Center is always looking for motivated, creative, and energetic individuals to help mentor and inspire our teens. If you’re passionate about working with youth, we’d love to connect with you about our program. Individuals 19 and older are encouraged to inquire.

We’re seeking positive role models with experience supporting youth, especially those skilled in—though not limited to—arts, community service projects, skill building, cultural enrichment, dance, music, sports, and computers.

If you’re excited to make a meaningful impact, come join us and be part of a team that helps teens thrive

• All information on how to become a volunteer

• Summer Camps Positions
• City of Santa Cruz's Teen Intern Program

Please note that visiting links on this page will take you away from the City website. Some sites may require you to create an account in order to apply. The Santa Cruz Teen Center staff is happy to help you apply for jobs, just stop by during our open hours, or make an appointment with us by email at bbarbera@santacruzca.gov.

Entertainment

• Whiting's Foods - Concessions and more at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Kaiser Permanente Arena
• Seaside Company - Concessions, ride operators, game attendants and more at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Boardwalk Bowl
• Santa Cruz Cinema - Local Movie Theater located in Downtown Santa Cruz
• Cinelux Theaters - Locations in Capitola and Scotts Valley

Food Service

• Kianti's Pizza and Pasta Bar - Restaurant located in downtown Santa Cruz
• Starbucks - Search this site for local opportunities
• Five Guys - Search this site for local opportunities
• Pizza My Heart - Search this site for local opportunities
• Marini's Candies - Local business with locations on the Santa Cruz Wharf and West Side of Santa Cruz
• Marini's at the Beach- Local business located on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
• Togo's - Search this site for local opportunities
• Jamba Juice - Search this site for local opportunities
• Cold Stone Creamery - Search this site for local opportunities

Retail

• Safeway - Search this site for local opportunities
• Whole Foods - Search this site for local opportunities
• Ross - Search this site for local opportunities
• Forever 21 - Search this site for local opportunities
• Target - Search this site for local opportunities
• Urban Outfitters - Search this site for local opportunities
• SunShops - Local retailer with locations on the Santa Cruz Wharf and Beach Boardwalk

Teen Job Fair

10th Annual Teen Job Fair

Attend our 10th Annual Teen Job Fair on Wednesday, April 14, 2-5pm at the Londen Nelson Auditorium!

We offer paid Summer Teen Internships running from June through August! These internships are available across a variety of City departments, giving teens the chance to gain hands‑on experience and build valuable skills.

Keep an eye out for upcoming details on the application process—more information will be shared soon! 

Summer Camps

Each Summer, the City of Santa Cruz operates five exciting youth camps at Harvey West Park and Main Beach. Our participants are ages 5–12, and we begin hiring in February.

We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals 15½ and older with open availability throughout the summer who enjoy working with children and bringing positive energy to the community.

If you meet the criteria and want to help provide a fantastic experience for local families, we encourage you to apply!

Too young for a paying job? Check out our Junior Leader Program to earn volunteer hours and valuable job experience! More info will be released soon.

Career Development Resources

• Career Center for Employment Training
• Monterey Bay Career Connect
  
• Job Corps
• GetMyFuture
• Youth.gov
• Employment Development Department Services for Youth

Questions?

Get help by email at racosta@santacruzca.gov.