The Teen Center is open six-days a week for youth to congregate in an adult-supervised, drug-free environment.

       
“A place where you can go to be yourself is more important than ever.”
-Jordan, Teen

Hours: Monday – Thursday 3:30-7pm, Friday 3:30-10pm, Saturday 6-10pm


 Employment Programs: All of our employment programs are geared toward teaching youth marketable skills, filling a community need, and personal growth. All youth employees are required to be in school or actively working toward their GED.

Mountain Youth Corps:
Youth work within the community building teamwork skills, environmental awareness, and a sense of accomplishment as they complete projects. This summer program employs youth to conduct trail, parks and open space maintenance, and local beautification projects.

   

      

V.I.E.W (Voices In an Expressive World):
This group of teen mentors uses the creative arts to explore issues relevant to their experience. They create workshops for their peers and the community based on real teen issues, from the adolescent and educational perspectives. Topics may include but are not limited to sexuality, parents, violence, HIV, and discrimination.

The GUIDE Program: Guiding Holistic Health Development of Youth, by Youth: This program coincides with the school year.  A small group of teen leaders are employed to learn about holistic health concepts and practices, and then develop outreach materials and interactive workshops that they present to young people all around the area.  The main focuses include stress-management, preventing illness, promoting mental and emotional wellness, and cultivating self-awareness/mindfulness.  

Peer Supervisors:
These teen leaders help govern and supervise the activities of the Teen Center. Peer Supervisors also lead the planning for events and activities as well as the coordination and advertising. In addition, they play a key role in creating policies and decisions regarding the organization as a whole.

Summer Camps:
Youth are hired to work as camp counselors in a general summer camp and various sports camps. Youth counselors are responsible for planning and implementing activities with the guidance of an adult.  Summer Adventure Camp Click here for info. Please contact Julia for more info. and registration! 

Leadership Training: The leadership-training program is based on voluntary participation and offers youth the opportunity to engage in building life skills.

Roundtable: This group of youth is the governing entity of the teen center. During their weekly meetings they engage in policy decision-making, activity and fundraising planning, and have created a forum to discuss any pertinent issues.
  Character Building Workshops: The leadership-training program consists of monthly workshops offered to teens during Roundtable. Workshop focuses include: cooperative decision-making, conflict resolution, time and stress management, and creative expression.
Annual Retreat: A four-day retreat to Southern Colorado rewards and enhances participation in previous leadership training conducted through “Roundtable.” The retreat itself includes high and low ropes courses, horseback riding, rock climbing and a full day rafting trip.

Education:
Our educational services consist of three options for youth to engage in educational alternatives or enhance their current efforts.

Tutoring: tutoring with adult staff or youth employees is available by appointment and during Teen Center hours

GED Preparatory course: this is a computer based course that offers interactive lessons which prepare the students to take the GED test, enabling them to attain an equivalency diploma. Additionally, the course itself has provided Nederland High School Students and Home School students with the opportunity to earn credits in certain subject areas.

Chinook West: TEENS, Inc. and Boulder Valley School District jointly offer an alternative high school program, which allows students to earn their District diploma through alternative learning strategies.

    

“Chinook West offers students the option of taking an internship class.  Now that I work at a radio station for school credit, it allows me to learn about things outside of the classroom, which is much more fun then sitting at a desk burying my face in a textbook.”

-Colin Bosma, Student

Therapeutic Based Services: group counseling programs, including “girl talk” and a GLBT support group, as well as family mediation and individual counseling are offered.
 

These services are free to all Teen Center participants.