TEENS:

After-school teen club aims to keep kids out of trouble

Nicky Fuchs / Special to the Home News

Makela Roche and Maria Estavez use the Jenga pieces to create their own game while having some girl talk in the Teen Lounge at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center.

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 | midnight

Nicky Fuchs / Special to the Home News

Maria Estavez gets hits the ball while playing walleyball, one of the many activities scheduled as a part of Teen Club at the Whitney Ranch Recreational Center.

Nicky Fuchs / Special to the Home News

Nina Mares, left, and Alicia Danilaff play cards in the teen lounge at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center while waiting for walleyball to start.

Whitney Ranch Recreation Center

It's a Tuesday afternoon outside the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center. School has just let out across the street at Thurman White Middle School, and a large group of teenagers is making its way through the recreation center's parking lot.

Last year, that may have been a concern for center staff, who said that fights, vandalism and even the occasional fire used to follow the students.

But since Whitney Ranch this year started an after-school group for middle school students, called Teen Club, the center's staff said such problems are a thing of the past.

"I can see the kids can just get a little out of hand when they don't have anything to do," said Recreation Program Coordinator Danielle Truitt, who runs Teen Club. "But when we give them something to do — and I can't emphasize this enough — when we give them something to do, they're all over it."

Prior to the club's launch, center staff said, they had three or four incidents a week involving teens outside and inside Whitney Ranch. In the 2 1/2 months since it launched, there have been only two incidents, staff members said, both of them minor.

"A lot of them weren't bad kids," Recreation Assistant Tim Sentigar said. "They were just bored. There was not a lot for them to do."

Sentigar, 17, is one of two older teenagers who assist Truitt in running the program. Their presence, Truitt said, helps the club run more smoothly, because the younger teens have someone to whom they better relate.

Sentigar said he can see how the club is already making a difference in the participants' lives.

"I definitely think it's an advantage for kids to avoid tough situations outside of school," he said. "It's a chance for them to come here and be comfortable as opposed to just walking home from school and not knowing what's going to happen."

In addition to structured activities and games, Teen Club has its own room in Whitney Ranch that is dedicated to unstructured activities. There are tables and board games, two TVs with DVD players, a Nintendo GameCube and areas for quiet study for club members to do homework.

But staff members are most proud of the workshops held once or twice a week. One program focuses on character development, another on understanding finances, another on nutrition and exercise. Henderson Police officers have also visited to discuss issues like bullying and drug awareness.

"(Teen Club) helps build good character, such as being honest, respectful, and caring for others," said Sike Azu-Irondi Jr., an eighth grader at Thurman White and vice president of the Teen Council that helps plan club activities. "They're helping us be better people."

To reward the teenagers for participating in the workshops, Teen Club holds a special blowout each Friday for the members who have attended a majority of that week's events.

Teen Council President Courtney Burns said Teen Club works, because it allows the teens to spend time with kids their own age and direct their own activities.

"For teenagers, some of us don't want to hang out in other places (at Whitney Ranch), because a lot of the smaller kids are there," she said. "It's nice to be able to hang out with people our own age and do our own thing."

Staff members say attendance at Teen Club is usually between 20 and 35. There is no charge to participate, but a membership card is required, which can be obtained at any recreation center for a one-time fee of $2.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By prvtschool

12/11/08 at 12:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

Best teens schools give well rounded education to the students. Students of these schools participate in so many extra curricular activities. In these schools students also learn discipline, integrity, and social responsibility.

http://www.teensprivateschools.com/schoo...
By teenprogram

2/17/09 at 4:10 a.m.

Suggest removal

Many young girls and boys are willingly participating in troubled teens summer programs in order to overcome their psychological problems. These summer programs are operated by the trained and experienced counselors.

http://www.teenageproblems.net/
By troubledteens

2/18/09 at 10:35 p.m.

Suggest removal

Definitely these teen clubs play a very important role in helping teens to relax a bit after from the school. There are many professional undertaking clubs with years of experience in helping teens. These clubs are one of the best options for troubled parents.

http://www.troubledteensguide.com/
By teenagers22

3/3/09 at 1:04 a.m.

Suggest removal

The troubled teens are very different from other normal teens they need extra attention and care. Troubled teens help centers provide all the essential and beneficial help programs to them in which they can rebuild themselves and able to compete with others.

http://www.strugglingteen.net/
By teenhelp

10/13/09 at 12:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

It is great to see these teens club are going to help troubled teens from their side. Hope these teens club continue their valuable services to troubled teenagers to make them come out of disorders.

http://www.restoreteens.com/