Teen center receives Blue Skies Foundation grant
Sandpoint Teen Center participants take part in a recent event in the nerf tag arena.
(Photo courtesy SANDPOINT TEEN CENTER)
Area youth play basketball at the Sandpoint Teen Center, one of many activities available for area teens at the center, located at 7B Bowling Lanes on N. Division Avenue in Sandpoint.
A teen tries on firefighting gear during a recent visit to the Selkirk Fire station by Sandpoint Teen Center participants.
The Sandpoint Teen Center has received grant support from the Blues Skies Foundation for the second year.
The grant funding will directly support fun and challenging activities, daily healthy snacks, hot meals and teen mentorship for area teens after school, center officials said in a press release.
The foundation's goal is to bring "blue skies" to the youth in the community, making a partnership with the Sandpoint Teen Center a natural fit officials said in announcing the grant.
"This grant funding arrived at a very important moment as we are serving an average of 35 to 60 teens per day this school year," Phyllis Jay, STC program director. "Financial support from grants and donations provide much-needed support for the hundreds of teens visiting the Sandpoint Teen Center every week, as our teen numbers have steadily grown over the last three years."
Jay said all teens are welcome but said all need to check with the center's staff when they arrive. That allows teens new to the center to review its no-nonsense policy to keep the facility a friendly, safe and respectful place, she said.
Activities offered at the center include pool, dodgeball/nerf tag arena, and an arcade with air hockey, and small baseball hoop. With good behavior, Jay said teens can earn bowling lessons and participate in tournaments. A hot meal and healthy snacks are served daily.
STC is located at 7B Bowling Lanes on Division Avenue and is open Monday through Friday, 2:30-5 p.m. The center opens at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays to accommodate the Lake Pend Oreille School District's early release on those days.
Jay said the teen center is always looking for volunteers and staff to teach an interesting skill or class, cook, or many other ways to support its program.
"We also hire older teens after they complete our teen intern program," Jay said. "Right now we have two teens graduates from our culinary program cooking daily hot meals and healthy snacks for their fellow teens. It takes a community to run a wonderful program like the Sandpoint Teen Center."
For more information, go online to sandpointteencenter.com or follow them on Facebook at Sandpoint Teen Center.
