Portsmouth: Mentoring & Leadership Development

4-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension. 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. 4-H, the largest comprehensive youth development program in the nation, educates young people, ages 5 to 18, through a variety of experiential techniques that encourage hands-on, active learning.

​Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, professionally supported matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through young adulthood. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of youth in our communities.

Activities for youth ages 6-18. Education and Career Programs, Health & Life Skills, Character and Leadership Programs, Art Programs, Sports, Fitness and Recreation Programs

Community Outreach Coalition Inc. is a non-profit organizations that ministers to the youth of our community through athletics, academics, and fine arts. Providing STEM learning opportunities as well as a Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Boxing (UGMMA) - Universal General MMA acknowledge the tough issues children and young adults face, both in and out of school. Our Stand Tall initiative is a program that focuses on building self-esteem. Universal General MMA builds self-esteem through exercise and mentor-ship. children with higher self-esteem are less bullied. Furthermore, mentored students with high self-esteem are less likely to get into a fight.

Law Enforcement Explorer - Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women who have completed the 6th grade through 20 years old, interested in a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system. The program offers young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition and other activities. Additionally, the program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship and patriotism.

After School - The Portsmouth Parks & Recreation in partnership with Portsmouth Police Athletic League (PPAL) After School Program is designed to provide Portsmouth’s youth with a safe environment while participating in a wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities.

PAL Summer camp is hosted by the Portsmouth Police Department. Includes Fun Daily Activities, Weekly Field Trips, Lessons on Crime Prevention, Bullying, and more. This camp is only open to Portsmouth residents ages 5-13.

Youth ages 6-17 are paired with positive adult role models who commit to spending several hours per week for at least one year with their mentees with the goal of forming a trusting friendship that helps set the youth on a successful path to adulthood.

Multiple programs for Hampton Roads families including fitness and athletic programs for kids and families, toddler programs, swim lessons, arts and theater programs, preschool programs, before/after school child care, summer and out of school camps, teen leadership programs and more.

The Youth Leadership Development Program is a youth mentoring project sponsored by Parks & Recreation in partnership with the Saturday Academy for Positive Self-Development. Youth Leadership Development is a mentoring, empowerment, and interactive program for families intended to increase graduation rates and increase parental involvement. This program includes school visits by the facilitator. It additionally seeks to decrease criminal behavior by re-directing families to more constructive community programs. Parents must register their children for this program to attend with them.