If you know any teens or preteens in Cortez, chances are you’ve heard them say, “There is nothing to do.”
The Piñon Project now offers them a few options.
The Piñon Project recently opened the Youth Center, providing a place for middle and high school students to play board games, video games and watch movies.
Kelli Unrein, youth program director with Piñon Project, says the center is open on Wednesdays from 2 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with plans to be open more often as the popularity increases.
The Youth Center is located downstairs on the corner of North Chestnut Street and West Arbecam Ave. Youths that attend have access to the internet, a foosball table and air hockey, in addition to games. There is also a place for youth to do their homework and read.
“Historically, we have heard concerns in the community that there wasn’t enough to do for youth,” Unrein said.
Unrein said the Youth Center is a safe place for teens to hang out.
“Larger communities have Boys and Girls Clubs and other places to hang out,” Unrein said. “That was a huge gap in our community.”
Eventually, Unrein is hoping to get youths involved with planning activities.
The Youth Center will be staffed with trained supervisors.
“They are trained to be mentors,” Unrein said.
So far, attendance at the Youth Center has been a bit low, as people are still learning about it.
“The biggest thing is getting the word out,” Unrein said.
The Youth Center has a Facebook page titled “Youth Center at the Pinion Project.”
Snacks and drinks are also available.
The program is paid for by the Piñon Project.
“As the need increases, we hope to secure future funding so we can provide activities,” Unrein said.
The goal, she said, is to be open five days a week.
“We have a larger vision of getting kids involved in the community. We want kids to tell us what they want from us. So we want to create a teen advisory council, entirely made up of youth, that will meet monthly with subcommittees that help plan events.”
The Piñon Project is working with School Community Youth Collaborative and Heart and Soul of Cortez to work on creating the teen advisory council
Unrein said they have polled local youths, with varied results.
“Some (teens) want a board game night, some kids want a book club, others just want a place to come, hang out and chill,” Unrein sad.
Some are interested in music, while others are interested in art.
“We want to give kids a safe place to hang out and expose them to things that might really interest them, such as art and music. We want to help them find their spark,” Unrein said.
The Youth Center is free to attend. For more information, call 564-1195.