Published: Monday, December 15, 2008
Snohomish teens get a new hangout
-
Snohomish Boys & Girls Club photo
Kids play in the remodeled teen center of the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club.
SNOHOMISH -- Clarissa Gordon spends her afternoons after school at the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club.
Even though at age 12 she's nearly a teenager, she didn't spend much time in the club's teen center.
Few teens did.
"There were a few couches and a projector to watch movies," said the Valley View seventh-grader. "That was basically it."
That all changed when the teen center got an extreme makeover, thanks to a $400 Kiwanis donation and some savvy shopping.
The drab walls received a fresh coat of paint and the room was decked out with a theater screen television, more comfy couches, computers, vending machines and an air hockey table. Most of the items were found used on Craigslist by DJ Rabe, the program director. The club spent only $600 more on the makeover.
"It's organized and it feels like an actual room," Gordon said. "It's not just a room with lots of stuff."
The crown jewel of the place seems to be the Xbox video game system.
Wes Osborne, a 15-year-old Glacier Peak High School student, lounged on a couch recently with friends playing a game beamed onto the giant screen.
"It's fun to hang out with friends and play video games," he said.
Teens need safe places to spend their time after school, Rabe said. Unless teens are involved in sports or other after-school activities, there's little for them to do around town.
The skate park next door to the Boys & Girls Club has been labeled as a trouble spot, and Rabe wanted to create a positive place for teens to spend time.
The remodel also provided some much-needed separation between the younger children and teens at the club.
"Now we have some teens bringing friends and taking ownership," Rabe said.
Now the teen center actually is a teen center, he said.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Even though at age 12 she's nearly a teenager, she didn't spend much time in the club's teen center.
Few teens did.
"There were a few couches and a projector to watch movies," said the Valley View seventh-grader. "That was basically it."
That all changed when the teen center got an extreme makeover, thanks to a $400 Kiwanis donation and some savvy shopping.
The drab walls received a fresh coat of paint and the room was decked out with a theater screen television, more comfy couches, computers, vending machines and an air hockey table. Most of the items were found used on Craigslist by DJ Rabe, the program director. The club spent only $600 more on the makeover.
"It's organized and it feels like an actual room," Gordon said. "It's not just a room with lots of stuff."
The crown jewel of the place seems to be the Xbox video game system.
Wes Osborne, a 15-year-old Glacier Peak High School student, lounged on a couch recently with friends playing a game beamed onto the giant screen.
"It's fun to hang out with friends and play video games," he said.
Teens need safe places to spend their time after school, Rabe said. Unless teens are involved in sports or other after-school activities, there's little for them to do around town.
The skate park next door to the Boys & Girls Club has been labeled as a trouble spot, and Rabe wanted to create a positive place for teens to spend time.
The remodel also provided some much-needed separation between the younger children and teens at the club.
"Now we have some teens bringing friends and taking ownership," Rabe said.
Now the teen center actually is a teen center, he said.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Comments
(
