Sports and Co-Curricular Activities
This is common knowledge for a lot of people I’m sure, but sports and co-curriculars are a great way for teens to build relationships, gain self-esteem, learn skills, and get great exercise. I’ve seen a teen with few friends challenge herself to join a sport’s team and grow as a person. She gained friends, a sense of importance and value to a team, learned responsibility and having people rely on you, and her grades improved too. So check out your local school’s webpage for more information. Maybe you’ll find an activity you didn’t know was offered. Even better, teens can try an activity with a friend.
Local Parks and Recreation
Your local parks and recreation department can offer classes, sports, camps, and activities for teens. Now the best part is that you can take part in activities not in your town too for an extra fee.
You can enjoy Middle School Fun Nights at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center throughout the year.
The CCBA in Lebanon offers an after school program and Karate for Kids. Hartland also offers karate for free and is open to all ages.
If you’re a resident of Hartland you can do bowling, swimming, or rock climbing for a fee with transportation from the school. An after school program is also available.
Local Businesses and Non Profits
The AVA Gallery has after school programs and programs during the holiday for students to explore art, or even legos and robotics!
Scratch offers a miniature painting night for free and is open to anyone to join in the fun. They also offer book and writer’s groups for teens (both middle and high school). The fun doesn’t stop there. If you have a crafty teen, Scratch offers reasonably priced arts and crafts classes. Teens can also the sewing machines, weaving looms, carving machine, and a workspace if they become a member to Scratch’s cool Makerspace.
Of course there’s also art classes and craft classes too which can be fun to do on a weeknight or weekend.
I think I’m just scratching the surface of the fun to be had for teens, but this is a good start.
What do you think is a teen friendly activity to do after school?
