Boy Scouts of America teaches leadership, values, personal fitness, and ethical character. Offers young people responsible fun and adventure.

Scouts BSA for Youth 11-17 years old
For the first time in its 100+ year history, the iconic program of the Boy Scouts of America is open to both young men and young women.

Scouts BSA is a year-round program for boys and girls in fifth grade through high school that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge, and responsibility to help them become the best version of themselves.

Web pages

• Home - https://beascout.scouting.org/

Western Gateway Recreation and Park District operates public recreation spaces and facilities in Penn Valley through Western Gateway Park. 

Services include:

• Maintaining sports facilities, including ball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a disc golf course
• Operating an off-leash dog park
• Providing bocce ball courts and general open space
• Managing picnic areas and event rentals, including:
  • Covered Picnic Areas #1, #2, and #4
  • Picnic Area #3
  • Creek Picnic Areas #5, #6A, #6B, #7A, and #7B
  • Amphitheater
  • Buttermaker’s Cottage
  • Stage Pavilion

Park amenities are available for both informal use and formal reservation. Rental options accommodate small to large gatherings and events.

Web pages

• Home - http://westerngatewaypark.com/

California State Parks manages more than 280 park units across California, offering access to natural landscapes, historical landmarks, and recreational opportunities. 

Park units in Nevada and Placer Counties include Auburn State Recreation Area, Donner Memorial State Park, Empire Mine State Historic Park, Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, and South Yuba River State Park.

Resources offered include:

• A searchable directory to locate state parks
• Information about park features, accessibility, and events
• Details on day-use and annual park passes, including free library passes

Web pages

• Home - https://www.parks.ca.gov/
• Find a Park - https://www.parks.ca.gov/Find-a-Park
• Contact Us & FAQs - https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23110
• Information About Park Passes - https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049 and https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=937#passes
• California State Parks Library Pass (Free) - www.parks.ca.gov/30806

Bear Yuba Land Trust protects land, builds trails, and offers environmental education programs in Nevada and Yuba counties.

Services include:

• Maintaining public preserves and open space
• Managing conservation easements to protect natural lands
• Building and maintaining trails for public recreation
• Offering youth education programs focused on nature and stewardship
• Providing volunteer opportunities for trail work, events, and habitat restoration

Web pages

• Home - https://www.bylt.org/
• Conservation Easements - https://www.bylt.org/
• Trails - https://www.bylt.org/build-trails/
• Youth Programs - https://www.bylt.org/youth-programs/
• Volunteer Opportunities - https://www.bylt.org/support/volunteer/

Nevada County Fairgrounds hosts community events and provides RV camping facilities in Nevada County.

Services include:

• Hosting the annual Nevada County Fair and seasonal events like dog shows, quilt shows, car shows, and concerts
• Offering year-round individual and group RV camping
• Providing 44 full hookup sites, 100 water and electric sites, dry camping, and an RV dump station

Web pages

• Home Page:  https://nevadacountyfair.com/

The Nevada County Historical Society North Star Mining Museum provides museum that houses a collection of hard rock mining equipment, including a 30-foot Pelton wheel. The site has a picnic area in the adjacent Glenn Jones Park. Outside displays include a rare operational Cornish Pump that was used to remove water from deep within mine shafts.


Web pages

• Home - https://nevadacountyhistory.org/

The City of Grass Valley Parks & Recreation department operates seven public parks and offers a variety of activities that include: recreational swimming, indoor and outdoor volleyball, tennis lessons, skate camp, open gym basketball, over-the-line softball, pitch-hit-run, punt-pass-kick, and a drop-in summer recreation program.

GVPR has over 120 acres of park space that includes trails, picnic areas, ball fields, bocce courts, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a skate park, and a disc golf course. The City also has three public assembly halls that are available for rent and collaborates with the Nevada County Historical Society to manage the Pelton Wheel Mining Museum at the former Northstar Powerhouse.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.cityofgrassvalley.com/parks-recreation
  
  

The Nevada City Parks & Recreation department oversees public parks, trails, open spaces, and recreational programs within Nevada City.

Services include:

• Maintaining public parks, trails, and open spaces throughout Nevada City
• Coordinating seasonal programs such as youth camps, sports leagues, and community events
• Overseeing the Nevada City Swimming Pool during the summer season
• Updates on park rules, use guidelines, and seasonal closures

Additional notes:

Program offerings vary seasonally. For current schedules, pool hours, or information about volunteering, visit the Parks & Recreation webpage.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacityca.gov/188/Parks-Recreation

Tahoe National Forest offers hiking trails (including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail), OHV, equestrian and mountain biking trails provide access to many lakes, rivers, and mountain tops. Developed recreation sites including campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas, nature trails, and fire lookouts that can be rented for overnight occupancy.

Web pages

• Home, including ranger district office locations - https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/

The San Juan Ridge PARTNERS Family Resource Center (FRC) provides families in the San Juan Ridge area with information and referrals to local resources, services, and facilities on a drop-in basis for visitors of all ages.

It also assists families with child development, parenting support, counseling, education, and employment tools. It also offers playgroups for families with children ages 0-5, and weekly activities for older children.

Note:

• The FRC does not have any housing resources and does NOT have any gift cards, gas cards, etc.
• The FRC does offer a computer, phone, fax, printer, children's play space, clothes closet, food pantry (12pm-3pm Tue & Thurs + by emergencies), diapers, lending and reference libraries, information, referrals, parenting support, weekly children's playgroup, summer camps, adult yoga (Mon 6pm-7:15pm & Wed 9am-10:30am), ASQ's, children's dance classes, and periodic events.

The San Juan Ridge Family Resource Center has laundry vouchers and bus passes fre…