The goal of MSCR high school programs is to provide coordinated after school activities that focus on recreation, social development and enrichment. After just three years, more than 1,000 students are participating annually.

REC - Recreation & Enrichment Centers - is designed for students and is specific to each MMSD high school.

Through REC students can get homework help, explore specific interests, and develop lifelong recreation skills. REC includes a variety of after school clubs including Latin dance (see photo), video production, arts, self-defense and others.

For students interested in sports, MSCR offers team sports year-round. Extramural leagues practice once per week with games on Saturdays. The program focuses on participation and sportsmanship, and is designed for students who are not playing on a high school athletic league. Leagues include volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter and kickball in the summer.

Feedback on REC programs has been positive. A parent of a basketball participant indicated that he was glad to see the East High gym used on Saturdays. Another participant's family car broke down on the way to the Saturday game, and he ran the rest of the way to Warner Park Community Recreation Center so he wouldn't miss his game. Players are excited to receive a team jersey and enjoy seeing the electronic scoreboard used for their games.

The Martial Arts Club at Memorial concluded recently, and girls liked the club because they felt they were growing stronger.

The Homework Club at La Follette has made an impact on the school. According to Principal Joe Gothard, "After-school hours have become a focus for improved student achievement at La Follette High School. Through the support of MSCR and many caring staff and volunteers, our after-school homework club is assisting students reach their academic goals."

Dance teams are a popular activity, and participants of the La Follette VIBE2 Dance Club performed recently at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Monona Terrace.

In the spring, MSCR REC will hold May Days - one day tournaments featuring dodgeball, ultimate frisbee and flag football.

Junior Leaders is a job training program for high school students coordinated by MSCR in collaboration with UW-Extension, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin.

Participants receive extensive training on topics such as team building, leadership skills, working with youth, working in a diverse work place, youth program activity planning and other job skills. Students are then placed in a paid summer position within an MSCR summer elementary program.

After completing this program, several Junior Leaders have been offered jobs with MSCR during the school year. The Junior Leader program received a Wisconsin Parks & Recreation Association Award in 2006.

In addition to school year programs, MSCR offers a variety of appealing summer options for high school age students. Registration for these programs begins Monday, March 17:

• Camp Summit - an all day camp with biking, climbing, kayaking, orienteering and tent camping. Teens can build technical and leadership skills through team and individual challenges.
• Teen Community Corp - an intense hands-on service learning experience focusing on issues such as affordable housing, animal compassion, community gardening, building projects, neighborhood beautification, conservation and the environment.
• Teen Studio - a summer camp that explores the world of visual arts. Students learn the craft of screen printing, cartooning, photography, sculpture, painting, video production, clay making and more.
• For students who have the acting bug, MSCR offers an acting program called New Stages Drama. Students learn about acting and get stage experience.

To find out more about registering for MSCR high school programs, or to find out how to get involved as a volunteer, check out the MSCR website at www.mscr.org or call 204-3000.