Great Opportunities (GO) was founded in 2002 and works with High Risk Children, ages 7 to 18 years old, from San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, El Toro. Capo Beach, and San Clemente.  GO’s swim lessons and Beach Awareness Program are both offered at no cost to the participants.  GO has given swim lessons to over 2,652 kids of San Juan Capistrano and in addition, GO has had over 662 children in the Beach Awareness Program.  Swim classes range from beginning to intermediate to advanced levels.  The Beach Awareness Program, which promotes ocean safety and environmental awareness.

Works in progress:

Great Opportunities is leading the charge in the coalition to have a Skate Plaza constructed in San Juan Capistrano.

GO is focused on a event of Financial Literacy for the youth of Orange County.

Since its inception in 2002, the mission of Great Opportunities has been to provide under advantaged kids the opportunity to see their potential and understand that they can achieve anything if they believe in themselves.

Great Opportunities is about opening the doors for children and exposing them to the possibilities; the decision is theirs our job is to give them the tools they will need to achieve.

The vision statement of Great Opportunities is to create a safe and supportive environment in which youth can achieve a foundation of knowledge, skills, and experience by way of observation, education, and hands on involvement as it relates to the aquatic environment.

Budget cuts have devastated after school and summer programs in low income neighborhoods.  Beneficial programs then become difficult to locate in these deprived areas. These young children then spend their afternoon and summer vacation with minimal supervision, make these youth susceptible to the influences of gangs. Not to mention lack of mind stimulating activities. For over the last decade  Great Opportunities have provided learning programs for children  We believes if it opens the doors of opportunity through education, first hand experiences and positive mentoring. The child will be better prepared to handle leadership roles in our program, school and their community. This is and will continue to benefit all concerned.

Our mission focuses on high density low income neighborhoods in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano which are under the Orange County, California Gang Injunction zone.  Many of the children don’t have the discretionary income to participate in other organized leagues or athletic events. We ask the participants parents for a donation. However, we will not turn a kid away for nonpayment. Great Opportunities provides under advantaged kids the opportunity to see their potential and understand that they can achieve anything if they believe in themselves. We are about opening the doors for children and exposing them to the possibilities; the decision is theirs our job is to give them the tools they will need to achieve.