Solana Beach, La Colonia Branch

La Colonia Branch & Casita de Gloria Teen Center
in the Hispanic Community of Eden Gardens 

• ABOUT
• LOCATION
• FEES
• HOURS
• CONTACT INFO

• The La Colonia Branch serves 63 elementary school kids and 43 teens each week. This branch provides a safe and supervised haven after school and during the summer months. Great staff help build positive futures through mentoring and academic support, fitness and recreational activities, and creating healthy lifestyles. La Colonia is truly a big family putting smiles on the faces of all our children who need us most!
• 715 Valley Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075
• All La Colonia Club Members are 100% sponsored by donations.
• 
Little La Colonia (K- 6)
  Monday – Friday: 3:00pm – 6:00pm

  Teens
  Monday – Friday: 2:00pm – 6:00pm

  Summer Hours
  Monday-Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

• Gloria Castellanos, Branch Manager
  (760) 207-4645 | gcastellanos@bgcSanDieguito.org

After School Programs Offered

• Teen Mentoring/Tutoring

  This mentoring program focuses on teens every day after school, and provides them with peer based social, educational, and athletic activities. The daily interaction in a positive setting validates program participants’ self worth, accomplishments, and value to the community. Via carefully selected mentors as positive role models and engaging extra-curricular activities, teens develop the self-esteem and character essential to changing the community dynamic.

• College Nights

  La Colonia teens are able to engage in “college nights” where guest speakers inform teens about attending college and the importance of their college decisions. Mentors also help with financial aid applications, prepping for SAT’s, and scholarship applications. In addition, teens make several trips to local Southern California colleges throughout the year to get familiarized with college campuses.  Many of these high school students will be first generation high school graduates and college students.

• Gardening Classes

  Teens and kids at the La Colonia Branch worked extremely hard to build a garden at the branch called the “El Jardin de los Ninos”.  Andi Macleod, chief volunteer for the garden, teaches youth about growing organic fruits and vegetables while using ingredients from the garden to create healthy recipes.  Andi has been instrumental in teaching healthy lifestyles to the teens and youth of the La Colonia community.  Check out the latest article featuring Andi and her talents related to the Garden.
  Solana Beach Gardener Shares Tips with All Ages

• Crush Italian Restaurant Teen Mentoring Program

  The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito and the team at Crush Italian Restaurant have partnered together to create  a mentoring program for teens which uses shadowing and one-on-one mentoring techniques to learn skills in the restaurant industry.  Five teens from the La Colonia Branch have been selected to participate in this program. Every Wednesday, starting April 2nd and running through June 4th, (a total of 10 weeks) the teens will shadow every position in the restaurant in order to gain real world experience.

  All five of the teens had to go through an application and interview process to obtain this mentorship.  It is with great enthusiasm we can say that they have all been hired! By the end of the program the teens will be able to run every aspect of the restaurant including: cooking, taking orders, and serving customers. We invite all members of the community to join us for dinner at Crush any Wednesday during the 10 week period from 6pm-8pm. A portion of the proceeds made during the program will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito – La Colonia Branch.

• DPR Foundation Sponsorship & Volunteer Program

  This charitable organization exists to help disadvantaged children. Headed by Peter Nosler (the “P” in DPR), the DPR Foundation works closely with DPR employees to identify organizations to support, which are local to each office, that benefit grade school and high school-aged children. Each year, the Foundation provides grants as well as volunteer support to chosen organizations.

  As of 2013, the DPR Foundation has awarded more than $3.2 million to 22 different organizations across the country.  DPR Construction employees have given time, talent, and treasure to the La Colonia Branch to include: tutoring of teens and youth in the after school program, volunteering their time at College Nights as speakers, laid foundation and built the ADA compliant ramp for the branch, and recently built a shed for garden tools and supplies.  We are so thankful for the volunteers and support of DPR!

——— Get Involved with the La Colonia Branch! ———