Wednesday, October 8, 2025
During the fall months, the fields outside Beulah Brinton Community Center are packed with a variety of youth sports programming. For many young athletes throughout the city, Milwaukee Recreation’s youth sports programs build the foundation of their sports knowledge and abilities, teaching them essential technical skills and broadening their understanding of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Milwaukee Recreation has served countless young athletes and their families across various sports by providing engaging and accessible leagues, camps, and clinics. The department offers eight major sports (basketball, cheer, cross country, flag football, indoor and outdoor soccer, t-ball, track & field, and volleyball) and serves over 900 school-based teams annually.
Three fourth-graders from Whittier Elementary’s coed youth soccer team, Quinn McKenna (pictured left), Jaselea Shepard (center), and Emma Torres (right), can attest to the fun and inclusive environment their team provides its players. With all three taking part in Whittier’s soccer programming since they were in first grade, each player exemplifies the growth, enthusiasm, and camaraderie seen across all of Milwaukee Recreation’s youth sports activities.
McKenna, Shepard, and Torres all emphasized the inclusive and welcoming environment created by coaches, players, and families who come to cheer on their practices every week. “I like [being on the team] because I like having fun and hanging out with my friends,” Shepard said. In addition to this consistent outlet for socialization and team-building, players also noted that their weekly practices are a great way for them to stay active and engaged outside of the classroom. “I like [being on the team] because everyone’s nice and we get to have fun, and it’s something to do after school,” Torres said.
While Milwaukee Recreation works to emphasize skill development and sportsmanship in an athlete's early years through its youth sports programming, the department also provides young people with significant mentorship opportunities. Qualified coaches and instructors not only work to teach young athletes the fundamental techniques but also encourage them to try their best, stay consistent, and have fun. “I like [our coach] because he pushes us, and sometimes when we’re not feeling it, he’s here to say we can do it,” Quinn McKenna said.
For Jade McKenna, Whittier’s sports coordinator and Quinn’s mother, Milwaukee Recreation is deeply embedded in her family's routines. As a coordinator, coach, and parent of two young athletes at Whittier Elementary, she understands just how valuable it is for young people to get involved with any kind of sports or outdoor activities from an early age.
“I think that once you start in athletics, especially at this age, it just is something that’s ongoing, and it doesn’t have to be something you’re good at. It’s just something that you do to have fun,” Jade McKenna said. “And if you can let them know that… you don't have to score every goal, but if it makes you feel good when you’re doing it and being active, that is something that I hope will stick with them.”
As both a parent and an active contributor to the program, Jade McKenna can attest to the athletic development and personal growth she witnesses in all of her athletes as a direct result of being involved in Milwaukee Recreation’s programming. “I love that [the leagues] are safe and affordable. I know a lot of times, like at this age group, kids get really into a club [sport], where it just takes up their whole weekend. But here, it's really focused on friends, and it lets them get together outside of the school setting where they're not just sitting at desks and listening. Here they can just kind of let it all out in a safe and good community.”
The after-school sports opportunities organized by Milwaukee Recreation provide Milwaukee’s next generation of athletes with more than just a chance to get out on the field; they serve as a way for young people to build community outside of the classroom. As Milwaukee Recreation plans and looks ahead to the upcoming winter season, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality athletic opportunities for all community members. For more information on how your child can get involved in our winter youth sports leagues, please contact your child’s school today.