Silver Bay YMCA Teen Center kicks off school year

TICONDEROGA | Silver Bay YMCA's Teen Center program returns Sept. 22, offering area adolescents a place in which they may thrive, excel, and flourish. Held at the Armory at 123 Champlain Avenue, the program runs Monday through Friday during the school year from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to young people aged 12 through 18 years old. Kids who come through the Teen Center's doors are given the proper tools and emotional equipment to navigate life, and are offered constructive ways in which to use their time. "It is a space for them to come and be safe and have an outlet; we also are trying to teach teens about caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility," noted Jackie Palandrani, Education Director. "Silver Bay is really trying to help our youth in the community." Silver Bay is also the operator of the Ticonderoga Early Learning Center in the former St. Mary's School. The Teen Center has been in existence for over 10 years, and in that time frame, hundreds of local young adults have been left better off because of it. "What I have noticed in Ticonderoga is it seems like a lot of the kids struggle to find things to do," said Jason Waddell, Youth and Teen Coordinator. "It has gotten better, but we have so much that we have to offer that we can give to teens and the community… Kids need a safe place that is away from home to collect their own thoughts." The center offers team sports, socializing, and is a place where knowledge is encouraged and a strong emphasis is placed on developing life skills and productive coping techniques for whatever they will encounter in the adult world; challenges, conflict, and emotional ups and downs. "We have helped kids make better choices," Waddell said. "Often, kids don't want my advice; they just want to hear themselves talk and work things out for themselves. They still need someone to listen, and we offer a space and sounding board." Palandrani said that better choices may come in smaller increments, not necessarily leaps and bounds, but that often there are noticeable improvements and progress for kids- perhaps it's smoking less, attending fewer parties, pursuing better grades during the next marking period. At the Teen Center, positive examples are set, and kids realize that their current circumstances don't need to dictate the trajectory of their lives. "We don't try to force kids to do anything; we want to give them a safe place that is not home or school," Waddell added. This school year will see the same tried and true programming return: cooking activities, a Dungeons and Dragons program, homework help, painting and other arts and crafts, and an open gym for volleyball and basketball. There are pool and foosball tables, as well as good old-fashioned board games for kids to partake in. There are also college tours, and even a Leaders Club. There is even an annual Dec. 31 lock-in, which helps keep kids off the streets, out of trouble, and ringing in the new year in a healthy and wholesome way. "We encourage socialization and making new friends," Palandrani noted. "One of my favorite moments was when two kids we knew didn't get along in school but would come to our program and they would be playing basketball together and have no issues," Waddell recalled. "We try to encourage that." Due to high school graduation and many of those graduates having headed off to college this fall, the staff at the Teen Center took a hit, and is looking to fill their roster back up and is hiring new staff. Hours are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. five days a week, as well as open hours, and some holidays. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and skill level. College-age and young adults over the age of 18 are encouraged to apply. "This is my first year in this position, but I have been working at the center for about three years now, and one of the things that will probably always keep me here are the relationships I have built and continue to build; I want to see what these kids are going to do. We have all invested so much time at the center and with each other, and all the kids have great potential. I am excited to see where that leads. I love seeing kids growing here." To enroll at the Teen Center, visit the Silver Bay YMCA website for registration links and more information. People are also encouraged to pop in to the Armory during Teen Center hours for enrollment assistance. The program is free. The Silver Bay YMCA Ti Teen Center is funded through donations and grants. To make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to Silver Bay YMCA and earmarked "Teen Center." Please mail to Silver Bay YMCA in care of Walt Lender at the Development Office. Please follow the Silvery Bay YMCA Teen Center on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ymcateencenterti/ and on Instagram @silverbay_ymca_titeencenter.

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Silver Bay YMCA Teen Center kicks off school year

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