Story by Jonathan, Peanutt and the Summer Rec Aides

The King County Parks’ Summer Sack Lunch Recreation Aide Program is a youth employment program that provides first-time employment opportunities to youth in underserved communities. The program also provides training & hands-on experience in recreational programming. In 2023 the KCP Summer Recreation Aide Program expanded to three sites in Skyway and White Center:

Twenty Recreation Aides were hired to support the 2023 Summer Programs.  The Recreation Aides help design weekly themed activities for children of all ages, even the little-little ones! The Rec Aides organized and led large group field and gym games, arts and crafts activities, reading activities, STEM activities, and sports and athletics to give every child an opportunity to thrive and showcase their talents.

In addition to serving Summer Sack Lunch, the Recreation Aides also learn video production skills, such as camera work, lighting, sound, voiceover, animation, and editing. They film videos to show easy to follow steps for different crafts & activities for families to do at home. The White Center Teen Program’s YouTube Channel is now up to 300 videos – there you can find DIY arts and crafting instruction videos, STEM projects, storybook read-alongs, play at home games, and so much more! https://www.youtube.com/WhiteCenterTeenProgram 

This year with the addition of the Skyway Rec Aides, the team helped with events such as the 30th Year Celebration Kickball Tournament, Night Out Against Crime, multiple distribution events in both WC and Skyway,  and the Skyway Park Takeover.

The three sites combined served over 4500 snacks and lunches, handed out even more arts and crafts projects to youth, and played a million rounds of different tag games in their respective communities.  The Recreation Aides were able to provide hands-on support for families in their communities, whether it was providing lunch or giving the younger youth the opportunities to hang out with the big kids – they made sure everyone was included and had a fun-filled summer.

Enormous thanks to all the internal and external teams & agencies that helped support the 2023 Recreation Aide and Summer Sack Lunch Program:

• Highline School District
• Renton School District
• KCLS – Burien Branch
• KCLS – Skyway Branch
• KCLS – WC Branch
• KCSO – Skyway Storefront
• KCSO – WC Storefront
• N Highline Fire Dept
• Skyway Fire Dept
• White Center CDA
• YES Foundation of WC
• Run to Win Sports Camps
• Friends of the WCTP
• YWCA at Greenbridge
• WC/N Highline Coalition for Drug Free Youth
• White Center Foodbank
• Renton Innovation Zone Partnership
• Seattle Kraken & One Roof Foundation
• Left Coast Screen Printing
• Skyway Coalition
• Skyway Resource Center
• West Hill Community Association
• KCP Sunset Crew
• KCP Parks Patrol
• KCP Regional Scheduling
• KCP Safety Program
• KCP Crafts Crew
• KCP South Utility Crew
• KCP Greenhouse Program
• KCP Playground Program
• KCP Central Operations Team
• KCP Cultural Resources Program
• KCP Volunteer Program
• KCP Mobile Engagement Team
• KCP Human Resources Team
• KCP Community Engagement Team
• KCP Director’s Office / Skyway CC Team
• KCP Capital Improvement Program Team
• KCP Equity and Social Justice Team
• KCP Finance, Budget, and Planning Team
• KCP Special Events Team
• Public Health – Seattle and King County
• King County Department of Local Services
• King County Worksource & Youthsource