Teen Center begins summer with new facility

Published June 11, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Earlandez Young
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- This summer parents shouldn't worry about their teens rotting on the couch, going internet crazy or being attached to their game systems, as the teen center is putting their feet on the gas by keeping teens active.

The teen center will be open to teens an hour earlier during the week starting June 20, which means they will be open from 2:30 to 6 p.m. 13 - 18 year olds will be able to sign themselves in and out of the facility as usual.

"We extend our hours when summertime arrives because the kids aren't in school, so they can be with us longer than usual, which is great," said Eric Richmire, assistant youth programs chief.

In past weeks, people on Fairchild may have noticed the teen center has been closed since May 14. The teen center is moving their location from the middle of the DEEL community center to the end of the building where the arts and crafts center was previously.

"The teen center re-opened June 4," said Janna Keller, 92nd Force Support Squadron's Airman and family services Flight chief over all youth programs. "The new facility we've opened is fantastic, and we're very excited about the space, for the teens will have more room to do indoor activities."

Teens will have an opportunity to be involved in volunteer work such as traveling to Clear Lake, a local resort in Spokane County that has many attractions to recommend it. There they will clean and organize equipment for a couple hours then afterward have the chance to water ski or paddle boat and hang out at the resort.

Richmire said the teen center will definitely be offering more field trips this summer, and teens can expect at least one field trip per week, maybe two or three depending on their schedule.

Last summer, teens planted a garden and donated vegetables to Second Harvest, a local area food bank whose mission is to end hunger through community partnerships. Much like last summer, they will be planting a garden again along with the child development center and the youth center. They will also be assisted by Master Gardener, which is a two-part educational effort, in which avid gardeners are provided many hours of intense home horticulture training, and in return they "pay back" local university extension agents through volunteerism.

"We're in conjunction with other youth programs to make this project a total team effort and even more of a success," said Richmire. "The garden will be located near the Balfour Beatty housing office, and we will be planting two more gardens aside from that project - one off base and another garden at the CDC."

The youth programs garden project is part of the "Little Buds" program where older kids mentor and teach younger children how to perform certain projects.

"Our younger kids really look up to the pre-teens and teens'" said Nancy Keeton, child trainer at the CDC. "We expect them to teach them new ideas as our kindergarteners look toward them for direction and thrive to be like them."

[Editor's Note: This is part three of a three-part series highlighting how the 92nd Force Support Squadron's youth programs change as Fairchild embraces summer.]