Teen Center

There are many ways that teens can spend their time each day, but it is the time between school and home that may be most important to parents, teachers and other members in the community.

A recent nationwide study done by JCPenny's and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation found that 85 percent of those surveyed believed that it is difficult for parents in their area to find after-school programs.

The Boys and Girls Club Teen Center of Eureka and the new Arcata Community Center are two examples of how local organizations are taking care of the needs of teens in the area.

"We're looking forward to finding ways for teens to use the facility," said Laura Trygar, recreation supervisor at the Arcata Community Center. "We want our teens to have some ownership. Right now, it's finding out what they want."

Currently, the new community center has had some use from the senior citizen groups in the area, but there is yet to be a consensus of what kind of use the center can be to teens. The services provided so far include drop-in sessions for basketball, volleyball and badminton. There is a program planned through the Humboldt Light Opera Company to set up classes. Also there is a craft room and a recreation room that could be used for fine arts programs.

While there seems to be some input of proposals and programs, there is no forum yet for teens to voice their interests.

"It would be helpful to hear from a teen council," said Vince Zinselmeir, who was hired through the recreation division to be the primary supervisor of the community center. "I would like to work with them to help guide them and let them know what resources we have available."

Zinselmeir is a 1997 graduate of Humboldt State and has had experience with managing fitness-related activities.

"We'll be recruiting teens for the inter-school teen council who represent a cross section of youth in America," Trygar said.

"We want to have a teen room for diverse uses, so it appeals to many groups of teens, not just one specific group."

For now, the Arcata Community Center has the resources to provide for teens, but has not been able to reach teens in the community.

"Ideally, schools could help us in the area of communications and promotion," Zinselmeir said. "If they know what programs we offer and how it is structured maybe they would be willing to help. Schools are important because they have access to all of those kids. It would be difficult for them to do any more than they're doing already."

While Zinselmeir has only been in his position for a few weeks, he has many ideas to put into action once the inter-school teen council is formed. These ideas include fundraising, a news-letter for the community and the local schools, workshops in developing job skills and possibly a community service program that could be done in conjunction with the local schools.

While the Arcata Community Center is attempting to connect teens with their needs, the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center of Eureka has had four years of involvement with teens in the community.

The teen center also has numerous volunteers including a social work in-tern from Humboldt State University, two volunteer tutors from the Americorps program and two volunteer police from the College of the Redwoods Police Academy.

"The people were really nice and treated me with a lot of respect," Vance Young, 15, said. He has been a member of the teen center for eight months. Young came to the teen center after moving from Texas.

"Everyone's really nice," Tanya Mon, 15, said. She has been a member of the teen center for six months.

"Before I came to the teen center I was really bored," Nicole Manlapig, 15, said. She has been a member of the teen center for three months. "I used to just sit around, watch TV and talk on the phone."

"I had just moved here from Redding so I didn't know anybody at all," said Lorien Hall, 15, who has been a member of the teen center for four months. "I would call my friends in Redding or sit around and watch TV I didn't find a whole lot to do in Eureka."

The Boys and Girls Club Teen Center has created many indoor and outdoor activities for teens, as well as clubs that focus on support and skills.

"Every now and then we have 'family meetings,"' Young said.

"Everyone will come and sit down and think of new things to do. We'll sit around and they will ask for new classes and we'll tell them the things we want to do. Then we'll come back later and see a sign for a new club or class to sign up for."

"The teen center is a place for us to hang out and to meet people," Manlapig said. "There are lots of activities for us to do. I really like 'Smart Girls,' a club where we get to talk about relationships and how to stay drug-free. It's really good for us and we learn a lot there.

"Breakdancing is cool," Young said.

"A lot of kids like to do that. Pool is one of the big activities. Sometimes we play football - that is what I like the most."

"Keystone is a leadership group they help plan the dances and karaoke night," Manlapig said. "There is Teens Against Graffiti (TAG), where we go and paint over graffiti, and that's really fun.

One time a fireman came in taught us a lesson in CPR, which normally would have cost $50. We were given a certificate and I use it for babysitting jobs."

In Mon's opinion, teens would in with the wrong crowds without teen center.

"There would be a lot of gangs if we didn't have the teen center," Mori said. "Kids would get into a lot more  trouble. They would be really bored stuck at home."

"The community should ask for more places like this," Young said. "They should really listen for what the teens want to do."