Program volunteer and Hilti representative, Aimee Head, shows Bridge student, Martha Sikora, how to use a circular saw during a power tool program at The Bridge Teen Center. Supplied photos

Program volunteer and Hilti representative, Aimee Head, shows Bridge student, Martha Sikora, how to use a circular saw during a power tool program at The Bridge Teen Center. Supplied photos

Teen Center announces 120-plus new free programs

Spread the love
regional teen center Friday Night

A group of teens work on a Thanksgiving craft in The Bridge Teen Center Art Studio during a Friday Night event.

The Bridge Teen Center is starting 2023 off right with a new semester of free holistically-designed programs for teens. All afterschool programs are free to teens in seventh- to 12th-grade and can be found in their Winter/Spring Program Magazine at www.thebridgeteencenter.org.

Some exciting programs include Woodworking: Plant Stands, Yoga & Smoothies, Behind the scenes at Old Navy, Abstract Painting, Rockets & Gliders, Fire Science and more. Many local community businesses and organizations are partnering with The Bridge to lead student programs including:  Robison Engineering, Sentient Soul Yoga Therapy, Taproot Farms, Civil Air Patrol, and Moraine Valley Community College.

Students can also sign-up to join the “Thriftastic” job readiness program, which is offered in partnership with The Bridge Teen Center’s sister organization, The Bridge Thrift Store. This unique program gives students the opportunity to interview for committed volunteer roles that give them hands-on experience in a creative and thriving retail setting. Shorter-term group and individual community service opportunities also are available to students by visiting www.thebridgeteencenter.org/volunteer.

regional teen center Job Readiness

Thriftastic Job Readiness student, Jack Parsons, shelves donated books at The Bridge Teen Center’s sister organization, The Bridge Thrift Store.

Student programs take place after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Court in Orland Park.

Programs are holistically designed around the interests and needs of suburban teens. Advance sign up is required. Students can sign up at www.thebridgeteencenter.org.

In addition to afterschool programs, The Bridge Teen Center hosts events every other Friday from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Some themes will include: Disney Extravaganza & Trivia, Super Mario Madness, Sham-Rockin’ Shindig, Battle of the Bands and more. Friday Nights also typically include karaoke, open art studio, games, live music, and free food samples donated by local restaurants. Advance sign up is not required for Friday nights, but students and their friends must have a Bridge student membership.

“Even though we have been open over 12 years, we continue to work hard at offering new and relevant free programs students can both benefit from AND enjoy,” said Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge. “Our intentional approach to designing our program calendar each semester provides students with a balance of what they need at this age – but also what they desire to experience.”

All programs and events at The Bridge Teen Center are offered free of charge and are open to teens with an approved student membership. Parents or guardians of students that are not members can apply for a free student membership at www.thebridgeteencenter.org.

Local News

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Neighbors

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

By BETH HUNDSDORFER  Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…