YMCA Los Alamos Teen Center/Courtesy photo
TEEN CENTER NEWS RELEASE
Beginning August 1st, the YMCA Los Alamos Teen Center will officially expand membership eligibility to include rising 8th grade students who attend the Los Alamos Public Schools. Homeschooled 8th graders and private school students living in Los Alamos County are also welcome to join.
The change comes after extended discussion and planning between the Teen Center and Los Alamos County, with the goal of helping students build connections earlier, become comfortable in the space before high school, and engage in positive activities, relationships, and community opportunities at a younger age.
“We’ve been talking about this possibility for quite a while,” said Teen Center Director Eli Argo. “Our hope is that giving students access a little earlier helps ease that transition into high school while also giving them more time to build friendships, explore interests, and develop a sense of belonging within the community.”
The Teen Center currently serves local teens through a variety of programs and activities including recreation, arts programming, leadership opportunities, movie nights, gaming events, community collaborations, workshops, volunteer projects, and a supervised after school space.
“When I walked into the Teen Center, I knew I couldn’t wait to be part of this community,” said rising 8th grade Student Council President Emma Magnelind. “It felt like I belonged here with friends and amazing staff.”
To help introduce incoming 8th graders and their families to the Teen Center, two preview nights are planned for June 19 and July 17. These events will give students and parents an opportunity to visit the space, meet staff, ask questions, and learn more about membership and programming before the start of the school year.
Additional information about preview events, membership, and future programming will be shared publicly in the coming weeks through the Teen Center’s social media and community outreach channels.
The YMCA Los Alamos Teen Center is a program of The Family YMCA and receives its operational funding through a contract with Los Alamos County. It works in collaboration with the schools, local organizations, and community partners to provide safe, supportive, and engaging opportunities for teens in Los Alamos County. Membership is free for Los Alamos County students in grades 8–12.For more information about the Teen Center, or to register your teen please visit https://laymca.org/los-alamos-teen-center
Phone: (505)695-7415
Email: latc@laymca.org
Address: 475 20th Street, Los Alamos NM