City Offers After-Hours Youth Program, Winter Day Camp During Holiday Season

SARASOTA, FL — The city of Sarasota is offering several youth programs during the holiday season, including a weekly youth after-hours program and a winter break camp.

KOPS — which stands for Kids & Officers Promoting Solidarity — will take place Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. A final event will take place Jan. 8 at 11:30 a.m., according to a news release from the city.

The free program is open to children ages 12 to 16. Registration is required but limited to the first 50 kids. Families can sign up for the program online at LetsPlaySarasota.com

Activities include basketball, volleyball, wiffleball, video games, billiards and more. Food and drinks will also be provided.

Participants who attend every session will receive a t-shirt and complimentary individual 30-day pass to the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.

This program is a partnership with the Gulf Coast Lions and the Sarasota Police Department.

Registration is open for a winter break camp for children ages 6 to 12 will take place at Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex Dec. 27-31 and Jan. 3-7, the city said in a news release. The camp will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

Sarasota Parks and Recreation staff will lead a variety of fun activities for the kids, including winter arts and crafts projects, recreation in the gym, games, sports, and more. Campers are asked to bring a snack and lunch each day.

Space is limited to 20 children for each session, so families are encouraged to sign up early at LetsPlaySarasota.com. Registration is $100 per camper per session and the deadline to register is Dec. 20.