Milwaukee Recreation Youth & Teen Enrichment Programs

Milwaukee Recreation Youth & Teen Enrichment Programs are part of Milwaukee Recreation, which offers a wide range of programs for children and teens. Over 100 schools and community locations are programmed on an annual basis to serve the Milwaukee community through these offerings.

• Ages: 3–18 years old

Milwaukee Recreation was founded in 1911 by legislation that was reportedly the first of its kind to assign a local public school system the responsibility for conducting recreation programs. Milwaukee Recreation includes over 90 full-time program and clerical staff, plus approximately 2,500 part-time employees hired annually as instructors, leaders, field attendants, umpires, and referees. Its mission states that it serves to strengthen and extend the bond between public education and the community and that it enriches the lives of Milwaukee’s youth, adults, and families through many innovative programs. According to its mission, these programs are designed to improve the academic achievement of all students during non-school hours, strengthen families, reduce crime in the neighborhoods, and enhance the well-being of all residents, while promoting healthy lifestyles, personal development, and fun through recreational and educational experiences for people of all ages and abilities. Milwaukee Recreation has maintained a leadership position throughout its history, and the multiple use of public school facilities for community services, especially in the evenings, has led to Milwaukee Recreation being recognized nationally as the “City of the Lighted Schoolhouse.”

Last updated February 27, 2026.