Youth and Teen Programs
Through fun and interactive activities using literature, visual and performance arts, and multimedia, kids and teens have the unique opportunity to participate in an array of cultural art classes, workshops, and camps. Important themes include Asian and Asian American history, contemporary issues, diaspora studies, and multiculturalism.
Register now at austintexas.gov/parksonline or in person at the AARC. Online Registration is available for most programs/events except for Youth Spring and Summer Camps. Account creation is required for new enrollees. If you have previously enrolled in a Parks and Recreation program before, please call us at (512) 974-1700 to get your account information.
The AARC offers school tours on a case by case basis that highlight Asian America by connecting the facility and its history to broader cultural themes. To inquire, please email us at aarc@austintexas.gov.
Upcoming/Current Programs
- Youth Voices Rising • Fall 2023
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An 8-week leadership academy for Asian American youth, grades 6th - 8th grade, to learn about selected aspects of Asian American history through award-winning graphic texts. Learn about Chinese, South Asian, Korean,and Vietnamese American histories and create a digital multimodal video using animation, sound, text and photos! Hosted by the Asian American Resource Center with support from the Center for Asian American Studies and Asian Texans for Justice. Participants who complete 7 out of 8 sessions will receive a set of four graphic novels and a certificate of competition from the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Asian American Studies. Snacks provided. Fee required upon acceptance into the program. Registration now closed
Class Dates: October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, and December 2 and 9.
- Teen Mentorship Program • January-May 2024
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Are you a High School junior or senior looking to gain leadership skills, engage in networking opportunities with local AAPI community leaders, or simply want to give back to our community? Are you an AAPI working professional in Austin wanting to pass on your perspective and expertise to the younger generation?
Apply for the AARC’s first ever mentorship program for teens! As part of this inaugural cohort, mentee participants will engage with likeminded peers and connect with local AAPI professionals, with opportunities for growing in cultural identity, career path, community engagement, and intergenerational perspective. The cohort will then implement their skills and connections to plan an event for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May!
Mentee applicants must be a current Junior or Senior in High School. Limited spaces available. Selected participants must be able to attend twice weekly meetings and actively participate in the May Heritage month event planning, implementation, and day of event. This is an unpaid, volunteer-based opportunity. Transportation is not provided.
Mentor roles are volunteer-based and unpaid. Limited spaces available. If accepted, a background check will be required. Selected mentors must be able to dedicate 20-30 hours over the course of the program to attending meetings and the final capstone event in May.
Applications for mentees and mentors are open now! This is a five-month program that will begin in January 2024, and applicants can expect to receive a response by November 27, 2023. Application can be found at bit.ly/aarc-tmp-2024.
For more information, please see the Teen Mentorship Program FAQ.
Forms
Parent Manual (English) | Parent Manual (Spanish)
Permission to Give Medication Form