Registration for the 2021 WAVEprogram Is Now Open

Dear parents of Pacific Grove 5th, 6th, and 7th graders,

Last summer, Pacific Grove’s youth lost an important outlet for peer interaction and physical fitness when COVID-19 caused the cancellation of theWAVEprogram. We are excited to announce (tentatively) that theWAVEprogram will be back for summer 2021!

Our fundamental mission has always been ensuring that every student has the chance to participate in theWAVEprogram. All WAVE participants have enrolled in previous sessions of the program entirely for free. However, most of theWAVEprogram’s grant money in 2020 was redirected to COVID relief (and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future). Although we completely understand that there are causes with greater need for funds than theWAVEprogram, we still believe that now more than ever, our kids deserve the opportunity theWAVEprogram provides: enjoyment of outdoor activities with their peers.

In order to make theWAVEprogram possible this summer, we will charge a $125 registration fee for those who can afford to pay. Families for whom this fee poses a barrier to participation are encouraged to apply for a scholarship (the application takes no longer than a minute, and families who complete the form will receive a scholarship). We understand that even this summer, theWAVEprogram may not be able to run due to COVID-19.

Registration and scholarship applications for theWAVEprogram will open January 1, 2021.Click the registration link above this article. For those who are able to pay, we will collect the $125 registration fee between June 1 and June 15 (by then we will know whether or not we can run theWAVEprogram in 2021).

WAVE Writers and WAVE Leadership will remain free of charge. Registration for these programs will open in March.

If you have any questions, please contact theWAVEprogram’s executive director, Mr. Darryl Smith, at (403) 960-5194. We hope to see your child in person this summer!

Sincerely,
TheWAVEprogram's Executive Board of Directors 

What is the Wave Program?

The Wave Program is a two-week summer day camp for girls and boys going into 5th, 6th and 7th grade. We aim to provide an active, healthy, positive camp environment that sparks interest in team and individual sports and the arts electives offered at Pacific Grove High School. Our major components include:

The Wave Program is coming back in July 2018

● Instruction in athletic skills and fundamentals.
● Introduction to the arts in dance, art, and culinary classes.
● Discussions about general fitness, health, and nutrition.
● Swim Lessons.

We are committed to developing respect for self and others, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship, following the rules, and loyalty. We believe a strong work ethic is the foundation for success in life, and our staff model that idea. We emphasize character building and goal setting right along with sports fundamentals and fitness. And we just want them to have a blast with their friends for a couple of weeks before the pressures of the school year begin!

Who is the Wave Program for?

The Wave Program is for 5th, 6th and 7th graders who reside in Pacific Grove and/or who attend Pacific Grove public schools: Forest Grove Elementary, Robert H. Down Elementary, or Pacific Grove Middle School. We target this grade school group for the following reasons.

Art class, taught by Matt Kelly, was a favorite of the first Wave Program in 2017.

“ . . . The age range of this program (5th-7th grade) is critical. By the time 7th grade is over and 8th grade begins, most kids disappear for another 7 or 8 years. They have to express their own individuality, they have to do their own searching and they break away from their families. So this is a pivotal point for parents to realize that this is their last crack. After that it’s just teachers, coaches, and peer pressure.”
–Peter Burwash, leadership expert and founder of Peter Burwash International

The middle school years can be tough for kids, and we want to provide a safe, fun place for them to make new friends, strengthen their existing bonds, and collaborate and compete in an accepting environment so that they can begin high school feeling connected and excited about the future. We offer a wide variety of sports and artistic pursuits in the hope that every child will discover something they love. We provide guidance for kids on the brink of the uncertainty of adolescence, in order to point them in the right direction.

We employ the teachers, coaches, and students of Pacific Grove High School and use the PGHS campus, so that our middle schoolers gain familiarity and maybe start that first day of high school more confidently, primed to learn and get involved. We provide an opportunity for kind, responsible, and motivated high school students to support and mentor their younger compatriots, thereby strengthening their own skills and connection to the community.

The Wave Program Teachers and Coaches

The Wave Program is a unique experience for the youth of Pacific Grove because it gives them the opportunity to meet, interact, and learn from the Coaches and Teachers that are Head Coaches and Teachers at Pacific Grove High School. These Teachers and Coaches are invested in this community and its student/athletes.

Our coaches and teachers are instrumental leaders in motivating young people and helping them become self starters. They teach self discipline, good habits, and the value of setting goals. They are experts at creating expectations in a positive climate that our campers value.

Our staff teaches with praise and encouragement. They are great leaders and they embrace their roles as motivators. These coaches and teachers are the backbone of the Wave Program. Click HERE to view The Wave Program Staff