OVERVIEW__________________________________________________________
CLASS Parks Teen Clubs are designed to be attractive to youth with music, recreational activities, board games, sports equipment, TV and VCR, reading and writing materials, and a homework study area available each day. Particular emphasis is placed on academic achievement with computers available at selected sites for job searches, homework reference, and much more. Club members are encouraged to take part in altruistic activities such as community service projects, Park Advisory Board meetings, and health fairs. Exciting field trips to sporting events, museums, and theatrical performances draw teens to participate and reward them for attendance during the week. By providing field trips, teens are introduced to cultural diversity they might never have had the opportunity to experience, thus broadening their knowledge of the world around them. Additionally, each CLASS Parks Teen Center maintains a Teen Council complete with elected officers who, under the supervision of recreation staff, address:
• Participant recruitment
• Teen Center activities, programs and field trip rules, regulations and codes of conduct
• Special event development
• Program evaluation
• Fundraising
It is important to realize that one of the greatest reasons for Teen Center success is the involvement of teens in the operation of the center. CLASS Parks staff maintains a necessary balance of teen self governance and staff supervision. Teen Centers also provide opportunities to get involved in other CLASS Parks Programs like Eco-X, Quest, APEX, YEIP, and the Collegiate Mentorship Program. Teen Clubs serve as an introduction and gateway to exciting teen experiences and opportunities available to CLASS Parks members and participants.

ACTIVITY CATEGORIES

Community Service___________________________________________________________ Community service hours/activities are those that take place outside of the recreation facility and are organized by teen club members and/or staff. Individual or group projects that involve teens in experiences that have a focus on community and that contribute to the broader good. Examples: beach clean-up, feed the homeless, working the L.A. Marathon, AIDS Walk, American Heart Walk, graffiti removal, canned food and clothes drive, etc. Community service hours contribute to the development of the following assets: youth as resources, service to others, caring, equality and social justice, responsibility, planning and decision making, caring neighborhood, community values youth, and sense of purpose.

Drop-in_________________________________________________________________________ Drop-In hours allow teen club members an opportunity to show up, hang out, chat and chill out. These hours need to be supervised with plenty of supplies and equipment available . While not the strongest of the eight activity categories, drop in hours do have a role in youth development and should be included in teen programming. However, large numbers of participant hours logged in this category can indicate programming deficiencies. Drop-In hours contribute to the development of the following assets: interpersonal competence, personal power, youth programs, creative activities, adult role models, positive peer influence, and other adult relationships.

Educational Enrichment______________________________________________ Educational hours can be earned by teen club members for participating in homework assistance, tutoring programs, vocational instruction and college visitations. Examples: receiving tutoring, tutoring others, carpentry classes, camp counselor training, visiting colleges and/or universities, library visits, book club, creative writing, poetry, computer lab, telephone skills training, discussion groups, club newspaper, etc. Educational hours contribute to the development of the following assets: other adult relationships, caring neighborhood, community values youth, youth as resources, service to others, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations, achievement motivation, school engagement, homework, bonding to school, reading for pleasure, responsibility, planning and decision making, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.

Fundraising___________________________________________________________________ Fundraising hours includes any staff-supervised teen club fundraising efforts where the proceeds directly benefit the teen club. Examples: bake sale, carnival booth, snack bar, walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, recycling, pancake breakfast, spaghetti dinner, rummage sale, holiday craft boutique, car wash, teen dance, etc. Fundraising hours contribute to the development of the following assets: other adult relationships, caring neighborhood, community values youth, youth as resources, service to others, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations, youth programs, achievement motivation, caring, integrity, honesty, responsibility, planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.

Life Skills____________________________________________________________ Life skills hours refer to instruction that prepares teen club members to be better citizens and help them make good choices and decisions. Examples: Drug awareness, cultural diversity, health and safety issues, money management, conflict resolution, cooking, resume writing, job interview skills, job shadowing, etiquette, etc. Life skills hours contribute to the development of the following assets: other adult relationships, caring neighborhood, adult role models, high expectations, youth programs, achievement motivation, caring, integrity, honesty, responsibility, restraint, planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, cultural competence, resistance skills, peaceful conflict resolution, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.

Meetings (Empowerment)____________________________________________ Any meetings (organized by Recreation and Parks staff) attended by teen club participants. Meetings help to cultivate a youth-directed environment at a teen club. Teen club members should have an organizational and philosophical say in teen program development and implementation. Examples: Youth Council Meetings, Teen Club Meetings, PAB Meetings, Event Organization Meetings, Committee Meetings, Community Meetings, etc. Meeting hours contribute to the development of the following assets: other adult relationships, community values youth, youth as resources, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations, youth programs, achievement motivation, caring, equality and social justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility, planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, cultural competence, resistance skills, peaceful conflict resolution, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.

Recreation Programs_________________________________________________ Any recreation programs organized for teen club members by Recreation and Parks staff. Examples: sports leagues and clinics, cultural classes (i.e. dance, music, and art), field trips, social events, and adventure programs. Recreation program hours contribute to the development of the following assets: caring neighborhood, safety, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, creative activities, youth programs, achievement motivation, integrity, honesty, responsibility, restraint, interpersonal competence, cultural competence, peaceful conflict resolution, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.

Volunteerism________________________________________________________ Volunteer hours refer to volunteer work completed by teen club members that takes place at the recreation facility. Examples: sports officiating, camp counseling, health and safety fair, carnival, office work and light maintenance. Volunteer hours contribute to the development of the following assets: caring neighborhood, community values youth, youth as resources, service to others, safety, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations, youth programs, achievement motivation, caring, integrity, responsibility, planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, cultural competence, resistance skills, peaceful conflict resolution, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.