03/05/99

A Teen's Night Out -- But Where?

Q: I am a Connecticut teen who has a major problem. During my four years in high school I have searched endlessly for a place to hang out and be welcomed, yet there are none. The only places for my friends and I to go are the movies or over to someone's house. The mall doesn't want us anymore; diners and other food places don't like to serve us; and we are too young to get into local clubs. The closest club to me that accepts people age 18 and up is in Newington, which is a long drive for me. I know you are a Connecticut columnist with an outstanding biography, so I came to you thinking that you would understand. I think an article from you about this problem would have a much greater impact than one from me. Maybe if we can make this problem more apparent, more places will start accepting teens.

A: Teens are not just imagining this tone of community hostility. Add convenience stores to the list of places unfriendly to teens. Yesterday I saw a sign on a 24-hour store that said, "No groups of kids allowed. One can come in. The rest must stay outside."

Some of the communities in Connecticut that recognize the need for more safe, fun and wholesome weekend activities for teens have responded by introducing one or more of the following:

• Church groups of parents and teens organized a Friday night teen center at their church, open to local teens and their friends. They provide a large room with tables and chairs, a few board games, music, drinks and snacks and adult supervision. They limit the numbers, naturally expect acceptable behavior, and require teens to clean up before closing time at midnight. Local newspaper stories heralded the opening and success of the teen centers I've heard about.

• The local YMCA and YWCA sponsored evening activities. The YMCA in one community I know about, reserved Friday nights for middle school students and Saturday nights high school students to use exercise, racquet ball, gym and swimming facilities. This initiative was also well supervised and a raging success. The YWCA didn't have athletic facilities to offer, but worked with youth and staff to open a coffeehouse two afternoons and evenings a week. (They called it a coffeehouse, but it served soft drinks, juices and water.) A local business donated space in a downtown, unoccupied building; students cleaned, painted and decorated; and other merchants donated furniture. The students ran a contest to choose a name for their gathering spot. Newspapers also heralded the opening; thus contributing to its acceptance and success.

• In another town the owner of a bowling alley installed a ceiling strobe and twinkling lights between the alleys and plays pop music to provide atmosphere for "teen night" on Fridays from 9 to midnight. Participants pay a flat fee for shoes, balls and unlimited play. They fill the place every Friday and have a great time. Resourceful but bored teens just need a few receptive adults to join them in brainstorming solutions to this problem; then set to work finding ways to make favorite ideas a reality. The whole process of pulling a plan together and executing it will keep teens and their supportive adult friends plenty busy -- afternoons, nights and weekends, too!

LINKS:

Things to do in Connecticut: Calendar of events
Johnson Memorial Hospital Teen Volunteers

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.