Places for YS teens to hang out

Aside from a full menu of extracurricular activities and sports at the schools, there are a number of activities available for the village's teenagers, most of them woefully under-used.

Here are some that come to mind:

Teen Art Group (TAG)

This group recently organized as an arm of the Yellow Springs Arts Council has been described by YSAC program coordinator Deb Housh as a "group of teenagers who like to make stuff, organize art-related activities and hang out together." The TAG mission is to give teenage artists the opportunity to express themselves through the visual arts in the community and to bring local teenage and adult artists together.

The group has been involved in both annual Yellow Springs Skate-Music Fests to raise funds to refurbish the skate park. They also recently joined with the Teen Advisory Group at the library to create a teen mural for the children's area at the library.

For a calendar of events and information on how to participate, Housh can be contacted at art@ysartscouncil.org or at 767-1107.

Yellow Springs Library Library's Teen Advisory Group

Also known as TAG, this group regularly plans and runs youth programs at the library, such as the very popular movie nights (with popcorn) in the library conference room. They recently teamed with the other TAG to create the teen mural.

For more information contact the group's advisor Rick Nickells at the library at 352-4003 or ask for him at the circulation desk.

Bryan Center Youth Center

Where can a kid go in Yellow Springs to play indoor basketball or volley ball, or shoot pool, or play air hockey, or learn judo? Where can kids go on a Saturday afternoon or after school to play cards or make crafts? The answer is the little-known and under-used Youth Center at the Bryan Center.

Run by Tina Fox under the auspices of the Yellow Springs Department of Parks and Recreation, the youth center, consisting of a game room and the Bryan Center gym, is open to the youth of the village, ages 11–18, on weekdays from 5–9 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon until 4 p.m.

According to Fox and part-time supervisor Kinglsey Perry, the Youth Center would welcome greater participation by older teenagers.

Contact Fox at 767-7209 or call the Village offices at 767-3401.

Skate Park

Although its appeal may seem limited to those who enjoy the sport of skateboarding, the Skate Park has provided a creative outlet for others of the Village's teens. Recently refurbushed by the Teen Art Group, a variety of teens have long been involved in raising funds for its upkeep.

For more information, contact Matt Housh at 767-1107.

The Village Swimming Pool

Always undersubscribed and in danger of going out of business, if more families thought of the pool as a healthy and safe place for their teenagers to hang out, the pool would thrive.

Information on how to join the pool can be had at 767-3401.

Bike Path & Gaunt Park

Not often thought of as teen-oriented, the Bike Path and Gaunt Park provide open space for healthy activity by teens who shy away from adult supervised activities.

No appointment necessary!