Recreation

Fall 2024.jpg City of Dana Point Recreation creates community through people and programs by providing recreational and cultural arts programs for all ages. Some of the ongoing programs and services offered include contract recreation classes, camps, youth and adult sports leagues, and major city-wide events, such as concerts in the park, movies in the park, holiday events and also collaborative non-profit community events.

City of Dana Point Recreation oversees the permitting process to reserve any one of 28 parks in the City, as well as facility rentals in the Community Center. The parks are widely used for a variety of special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, public meetings, and memorial ceremonies.

City of Dana Point Recreation works closely with local groups and City departments in a collaborative effort to offer a wide variety of community events such as: 4th of July fireworks, Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade, Car Shows, VFW Memorial Day Service, VFW Veteran's Day Service and Festival of Whales celebration events. 

Volunteer Opporunities

If you are looking for any volunteer opportunities please reach out to any of the groups below for further information:


Organization: Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA)

Partnered with the Pet Project Foundation

Opportunities: Volunteers assist the public in the front office, walk shelter dogs, interact with cats/kittens and rabbits and provide the public with information on all aspects of animal care & maintenance.

Address: 2211 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, CA 92672

Phone number: 949-492-1617


Organization: Age Well Senior Services

Opportunities: Meals on Wheels drivers, kitchen volunteers, Lunch servers, senior center support and Special Events.

Address: 34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point, CA 92629

Phone Number: Sandra Andrews at 949-496-4252 or via email at sandrews@myagewell.org


Organization: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW Post 9934)

Opportunities: Volunteer at Dana Point Summer Concert Series BBQ, Festival of Whales Parade, Halloween BBQ to recognize first responders, Winter Festival BBQ, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day Poppy Donation Drives.

Phone number: Wayne Yost at 949-357-3303 or via email at WayneYost@aol.com


Organization: Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group

Opportunities: Support and Outreach, care packages to deployed Marines and Sailors, Host Thanksgiving Dinners for Marines and their families, distribution of toys and gift cards, host baby showers, bake sales, fundraisers, and Special Events.

Contact: Sheri Schneringer via email at dp5thmarinevolunteers@gmail.com

Website: www.danapoint5thmarines.com/be-a-volunteer/


Organization: The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding

Opportunities: Youth and Adult volunteers for summer programs for children with special needs for summer camps to learn about horsemanship. This is a great way to build a resume and help satisfy the community service requirement for the high school students

Contact: 949-240-8441

Website: www.sheacenter.org


Organization: Ocean Institute, Dana Point

Opportunities: Help inspire children to learn every day with a variety of specialized volunteer roles such as Education Docent, information booth, Chambers Gallery Book & Gift Store, Maritime Education Docent, Public Programs Docent, Tall Ship Crew, Tidepool Interpretive Program Docent.

Contact: 949-496-2274

Website: www.ocean-institute.org/volunteer-opportunities


Organization:  Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association

Opportunities: Visitor Center, Beach and Park Clean Ups, Special Events, Native Plants Planting Day, Paint and Repaint whales on the Whale Walk.

Contact: Kathy Wade via email at volunteer@dohenystatebeach.org


Organization: Just Like Me Foundation

Opportunities: Created to serve teens and young adults with special needs to provide organized after school, weekend, and summer activities throughout the year.

Contact: info@justlikemefoundation.org

Website: www.justlikemefoundation.org


Organization: Dana Point Women’s Club

Opportunities: Part of the Dana Point Community since 1951. The club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a world-web of women’s organization focusing on support and philanthropy in Dana Point and the surrounding community

Contact: contact@dpwc.club

Website: www.danapointwomansclub.org


Organization: Boys and Girls Club San Juan Capistrano/Via Positiva Branch

Opportunities: Donate your time in tutoring, athletic events, arts, or program specific help like a Lego program or yoga class, beautification Projects, STEM learning activities, financial Literacy workshops.

Contact: Janice Gordillo at 949-542-4105


Organization: Soroptimist – Dana Point

Opportunities: A global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment

Website: www.soroptimist.org


Organization: Friends of the Dana Point Library

Opportunities: The Bookstore is the main project of the Friends of the Dana Point Library.  It is run by volunteers under the management of the Bookstore Manager and Bookstore Committee.

Contact: Lisa Buchner at 949-489-3956 or via email at LisaBuchner@cox.net

Website: www.friendsdanapoint.org/the-Bookstore


Organization: StandUp for Kids

Opportunities: StandUp for Kids is searching for caring and empathetic volunteers who share the commitment to impact Orange County, offering essential services to young adults aged 12 to 24, including counseling, transitional housing, and employment readiness..

Contact: Carlia Oldfather, Director of Volunteer Management - volunteermgmt@standupforkids.org

https://www.standupforkids.org/orange-county/volunteer/

Website: https://www.standupforkids.org/orange-county/