There’s a lot for teens to do in Canyon Lake

BY Spencer Massicot

[pullquote]Need high school community service hours?

High schoolers needing volunteer hours are encouraged to help out with the Family Matters Glow-In-The-Dark Easter Egg Hunt to be held on March 19. Canyon Lake Family Matters is a President’s Award Provider, so volunteer hours can count towards this award. Call Jenny Teperson at 951-552-0055 or email clfmclub@aol.com.

To volunteer for the Jr. Women’s Club Annual Easter Carnival at Holiday Harbor on March 27, contact Alissa Rackstraw at 951-265-4325 or Heather Rose at 951-591-8168.  [/pullquote]
In Canyon Lake, there are so many things for a teenager to do. When I first moved to Canyon Lake four years ago, I was amazed by how Canyon Lake seemed to be its own little town. With shops and restaurants right across the street from the Main Gate, a community center for events and activities, a home for the elderly, lakes, parks, and even its own newspaper.

One thing I love in Canyon Lake, is the pool. At the Lodge there is a Junior Olympic-sized pool that is soon to open on March 12th. I love going to the pool. During the summer, there are events called Flick and Float. You can watch a movie and swim around with friends or family. I brought a few of my friends from outside of Canyon Lake and we had so much fun.

In the summer, there is also a Junior Lifeguard program at the pool and in the lake of Sunset Beach. It is a three-hour class and, while there, I got the opportunity to meet a lot of new people.

For teens in Canyon Lake who own dogs, there are so many dog parks scattered all around Canyon Lake (for leashed dogs). I love taking my dog because she has so much fun and she gets to meet other dogs. A lot of the parks for dogs on leashes also have things for people. The East Port Park, for example, has basketball courts and a boat launch.

Teenagers looking for community service opportunities can also be served in Canyon Lake. The Lodge has events and activities all of the time like Fiesta Day and Taco Tuesday. The Renaissance Faire is at Holiday Harbor. Teens can pick up a few hours here and there for setting up and taking down, while still being able to enjoy the fun of the event in between.

Also, as the name states, there is a lake, and theref are several beaches to go to. One of my favorite beaches is Indian Beach, on Continental near the Main Gate. It is within walking distance of my house, so I can easily walk there. It has a new playground where you can take younger siblings. It has a stage for plays and performances, and the lake has a swimming and boating area. I once had a birthday party there, and we all had so much fun spending time in the lake all day.

Spring cleaning is coming soon and now is a great time to have a garage sale. For $20 in Canyon Lake, you receive a permit for three days and signs to put up. Garage sales are great ways to get rid of stuff you do not need anymore, and it is a great way for teenagers to make extra money. We recently had a garage sale and we made over a $200 profit.

In Canyon Lake, there are a lot of people who go around to garage sales to buy things and then fix them up to resell or sell for a higher amount to make a profit. There are also a lot of people who look for ads in The Friday Flyer and go searching for the garage sales they found.

My family loves garage sales; a lot of the stuff I have gotten for my room I have found for really cheap in piles of old stuff that people do not need anymore.

Along with spring cleaning comes the start of the spring season for sports in high school. Spring sports are the best because it wraps up the entire year for your school, and going to CIF would end the year in a great way.

Also, for seniors, their final spring sport season is the best because they get to spend time with their friends doing what they love for the last time, and all of them try to make the best out of it.

My first track race is coming closer and closer, and I am very excited. So far, distance track has not been very different from what I experienced in cross country. We still run around the neighborhood and do all of the same workouts, but the races will be at a much faster pace because it will be on the track.

I think the races are going to be a lot more fun because there is more stuff going on at the same time. Since we will only be running laps around the track, there will be people constantly cheering, instead of miles out by yourself in cross country. There will also be several events going on other than running to watch.

I hope to exceed all of the goals I have set for myself this season. I am nervous for the season to begin, but I think by the end, I will not want it to be over.