CLEARLAKE — Children are finding guidance and structure at the Lake County Youth Center. Youth are learning valuable skills to help them reach their potential in a respectful, controlled environment.
Gigi Mattos, a longtime Clearlake resident who has been directly involved in local youth-oriented activities and organizations for more than 13 years, has taken the helm at the center. Mattos came on board in April and has since developed a program that provides for youth in a positive, reaffirming and constructive manner.
“There is more structure at the youth center now,” Mattos said. “The atmosphere is positive and the kids are learning to be more respectful and better behaved.”
Mattos has the support of a knowledgeable team, which helps to achieve the goals and standards set for the children. Activity Assistant Chris Emberson is a PE teacher at Oak Hill Middle School and coaches varsity baseball for Lower Lake High School. Emberson said he really enjoys working with children and working at the youth center has provided him with an opportunity to gain a different perspective in regard to the age group he is accustomed to serving. He especially enjoys being a mentor for the youth.
“Mentoring helps teach the life skills they need to succeed,” Emberson said. “The children learn respect for themselves, respect for the community and respect for their peers. When you deal with kids, there”s really not enough you can do for them. Mentoring and giving them a positive role model helps build the foundation for success.”
Activity Assistant Calina Bustillos, who worked for the youth center prior to Mattos coming aboard, said she”s witnessed several positive changes in the programs as well as the children in the past months. “There”s been a big change,” Bustillos said. “There have been a lot of improvements. There is more consistency and more accountability and there are consequences for misbehavior. We”re letting them enjoy themselves but they are not running all over us. I”m seeing the children take more responsibility and act more respectful than they did before.”
Mattos also has the assistance of Michaela Staats. Staats is still a youth herself, only 19-years-old. She said she fell in love with the children at the youth center through her volunteer work with Americorps. When her time with Americorps was up, she said she liked it so much she sought permanent employment and got hired on through the One-Stop, which is a Work Investment Act (WIA) program. Staats also serves as a youth leader at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearlake. She is working toward obtaining her certificate in Early Childhood Education in hopes of opening her own day care center.
“Aside from absolutely loving the children, I”m gaining experience in working with different kinds of youth. There is a large variety of children who come to the youth center. This experience has really shown me that kids are very unique. Every kid is different,” Staats said. “What works for one kid isn”t necessarily going to work for every kid.”
According to Mattos, there are currently 159 children registered with the youth center. Approximately 15 come through on a daily basis. Mattos said daily numbers were higher when school was in session. She attributes the higher numbers to transportation constraints. “We need bus passes for the kids,” Mattos said. “The school bus used to drop them all off here, but now that school”s out many don”t have a way to get to the youth center.”
Youth center summer hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Registration fee is $25 with a $10 per month membership fee. The youth center is located on Golf Avenue in Clearlake. Call 994-7281 for more information.
The center is equipped with computer stations, arcade games, pool table and soon to come, an air hockey table. There is also an area designated for the teenage children, 13 to 17. “Some of these children have their younger brothers and sisters with them all the time,” Mattos said. “Here they kind of have their own area and their own space.”
Also on the summer agenda are several field trips to places like Yogi Bear Park on Cobb and Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa in Kelseyville.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
