The City of Augusta Recreation and Parks Department announced on May 8 that registration is now open for the ninth annual Sand Hills Community Center Summer Youth Program, scheduled to run from June 1 to June 12. The free program is designed for youth ages 10 to 14 and will take place at the Sand Hills Community Center at 2540 Wheeler Road in Augusta.
The program aims to provide a multidisciplinary enrichment experience, offering activities such as dance, visual arts, music appreciation, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, public speaking, personal development, and more. Organizers say the curriculum is structured around leadership and community-building principles inspired by the movie Black Panther.
Founded in 2017 by the Sand Hills Task Force with support from Creative and Program Director Karen Brown—an Augusta native and renowned ballet artist—the program has grown into an important resource for local children. “The mission of the Sand Hills Community Center Summer Youth Program is to help develop the next generation of Augusta citizens through a compelling curriculum designed to build self-esteem, educate, inspire, and empower,” organizers said.
Participants will have opportunities to engage with local artists and educators such as Russell Joel Brown—a Broadway performer—and Baruti Tucker—a visual artist known for his unique technique—as well as financial literacy instructor A. Nicholas Brown. Past field trips have included visits to local sites like Laney Museum and Wallace Farms.
All supplies, meals, instruction materials are provided at no cost. The center enforces a cell phone-free policy during instructional hours except during lunch breaks; parents receive an emergency contact number while their children attend. Families must register online ahead of time due to limited space; interviews begin the week of May 22.
Augusta ranks as Georgia’s second oldest and second largest city; it includes nine neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with notable historic structures such as President Woodrow Wilson’s boyhood home according to the official website. The city operates under a consolidated government led by a mayor and ten commissioners according to the official website.
