Outback Teen Center Catalog

Mission:

The Outback, New Canaan Teen Center, Inc., is

dedicated to providing a positive and enriching

environment in New Canaan where teens are able to

relax, socialize, participate in self-directed activities,

and have the opportunity to contribute to the

community.

OUTBACK TEEN CENTER

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS 2010

Helping teens to find their niche!

WINTER/SPRING 2010 PROGRAMS PAGE 2

Organization Commitment: Provide a safe, comfortable, well-supervised facility where a

diverse group of teens may socialize in a positive, alcohol-free

and drug-free environment.

Foster and encourage teen-managed activities through which

teens can develop leadership qualities and interpersonal skills

within the Teen Center, as well as the broader community.

Deliver the highest-quality programs, activities, and events while

maintaining affordability, balance, and equity across grades,

genders, and interests.

Organization Goals: Establish outside funding sources, including partial funding and

support for sponsored activities; organize and run external

fundraising events; supplement funding through revenue

generated at the facility; and manage the annual operating and

programming expenses of the Teen Center.

Recruit, train, develop, and retain a staff of knowledgeable,

creative, and responsive people to interact with and supervise

Outback users.

Explore opportunities to maximize usage of the facility by the

community when not in use by the teens.

Ensure that the directors and staff are responsible for

managerial and operational duties, and that the Student

Governing Board is actively engaged in the development and

promotion of Outback events and activities.

Summary: The Outback is wholly committed to all New Canaan

teenagers but serves them in specific and age-appropriate ways. The

Teen Center is also a resource for the New Canaan community when

usage beyond its primary purpose allows. To maintain a positive

atmosphere, Outback activities are geared toward students in grades

9 through 12. Additional programs and activities are dedicated to

students in grades 7 and 8. On occasion, special programs are

provided for students in grade 6.


Lacey Arndt, Outback Director Lacey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from the

University of Hartford. Lacey previously worked for the Town

of Stonington as their Youth & Family Services Administrator

and most recently was the Program Director at the New

Canaan YMCA, where she worked closely with youth, teen and

family programs, such as Y-Guides & Y-Princesses, Middle

School Madness, Project Adventure and taught theater to

middle school aged youth. On January 1, 2009, Lacey was given

the opportunity to serve as the Outback Teen Center Director

as a YMCA employee. Lacey is a certified Red Cross

Instructor. She is a member of the Youth Adult Partnership

Board and the CHOICES committee.

Sarah Rivers, Outback Asst. Director A member of the Outback staff since 2007, Sarah earned her

Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from the University

of Bridgeport. Prior to working at the Outback, Sarah worked

as a special education aide in Darien.

Sarah enjoys working with the Student Governing Board (SGB)

and is excited to see what the new middle school SGB has in

store for the school year. Sarah is looking forward to the new

programs that will be held at the Outback during the year as

well as the events that are being planned.

MEET THE DIRECTORS


STILL NOT A MEMBER? TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR MID-

YEAR MEMBERSHIP FOR $60 AND HAVE COMPLETE

ACCESS TO THE OUTBACK TEEN CENTER.

OPEN RECREATION HOURS from 2:30-5:00 p.m., Tuesday

through Saturday beginning fall 2009.

VIDEO GAMES, POOL, AIR HOCKEY, FOOSBALL, AND

PING PONG in the lower-level teen lounge.

COOL FLICKS on the big screen and free popcorn on MOVIE

AFTERNOONS.

The LATEST SPORTING EVENTS & DVDs on one of our

many TVs.

OUTBACK CAFÉ run by the Apple Cart Food Company with

Teen friendly food and prices!

BACKPACK STORAGE inside the Outback after school, so you

don’t have to worry about lugging it around town.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS available to you at a discount

price.

CLUB 78 ALL ACCESS PASS every Friday during the school

year from 3:00-5:00 p.m. with themed events and activities.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY to serve on our Middle School

Student Governing Board (MSSGB) to work on fundraisers,

community service projects, and plan Outback events for your

peers.

COOL EVENING EVENTS like Girls’ or Guys’ Nights In, Band

Nights, etc.

DANCES with DJ’s spinning today’s favorite music.

MUSIC ROOM to jam out on your guitar or practice with your

band.

Registering your child not only ensures that he or she may

attend dances and select events free of charge, but gives your

child priority attendance.

BENEFITS TO BEING A MEMBER


7th/8th GRADE FALL PROGRAMS Winter/Spring classes will run for two-eight week sessions. Session one runs from February 22-April 23. Session two runs from April 26 through June 25. Please stop by the Outback Teen Center, or call to register for our classes by Friday, February 19. Please contact the Outback Teen Center at the First County Bank Sponsored hotline at 594-3074.

Yoga Have you ever wanted to try Yoga? Then this is the class for you and

your friends. Led by a Yoga-certified YMCA staff instructor. Mats

provided, or bring you own. This 8-week class will meet on Mondays

from 3pm-4pm or 4pm-5pm. Fee: Members $60; Non-members $85

Beginner’s Photography

Great class for those creative students interested in honing in on

their photography skills. Participants will learn camera use and

photography basics to create their very own portfolio of work. This 8

week class will take place on Tuesdays from 4pm-5pm. Fee:

Members $60; Non-members $85

Boot Camp Led by a certified YMCA personal trainer, this class is sure to get you

in great physical shape. Class will include a variety of strength-

building and fat-burning activities. This 8-week class will meet on

Tuesdays from 5pm-6pm. Fee: Members $60; Non-members $85.

Film Making

Lights! Camera! Action! Our young filmmakers will develop a story

and learn to use Special FX to film it. They will work as a team as

they write, shoot and edit their movies. The final day will end with

the World Premiere for family and friends. Students are encouraged

to bring their own camera digital tape and tripod \ class. More info

on www.Filmmakers-Ink.com. Enrollment will be limited. Class taught

by Filmmakers Ink staff. Please Register Early! This 8-week class

will meet on Wednesdays from 3pm-4:30pm. Fee: Members $165;

Non-members $190.


*Indicates a class is taught by a high school professional..

7th/8th GRADE FALL PROGRAMS

* Class will be taught by a High School Teen.

Film Acting

Prepare for the frenetic pace of a working film set. Our young actors

will perform professional acting exercises designed to help them learn

to live truthfully within their scenes, sharpen their listening skills,

and work improvisationally. They will learn the concentration

necessary for good work in film acting, and how to work as a team.

This course, like all Filmmakers Ink courses, is designed to be

effective for our more experienced students as well. This is a

preparatory course for the Filmmakers Ink Summer Intensive. There

is a $10 materials fee due to instructor at the first class. More info

on www.Filmmakers-Ink.com. Classes will be taught by Filmmakers Ink

instructors. Enrollment will be limited. Please Register Early! This

8-week class will meet on Wednesdays from 4:35pm-6:05pm. Fee:

Members $165; Non-members $190. This class is only available for session two.

Ju Jitsu Learn basic self-defense techniques from a certified Ju Jitsu

trainer. Students will learn this ancient martial art used by Samurai

warriors of war-torn Japan. The art itself consists of punches, kicks,

throws, and ground-grappling. This 8-week class will meet on

Wednesdays 5:15pm-6:15pm. Fee: Members $60; Non-members $85

*Billiards Instruction Become the best pool player you can be. Learn the tricks of the

trade in this beginner billiards instruction class. This 8-week class

will take place on Thursdays from 3pm-4pm. Fee: Members $60; Non

-members $85

*Hip Hop So you think you can dance? This class is for the movers and shakers

of the middle school world. Learn hip hop to your favorite dance

songs. This 8-week class will meet on Thursdays from 4pm-5pm. Fee:

Members $60, Non-members $85


7th/8th GRADE FALL PROGRAMS

Cheerleading—High Flyers

Students will quickly learn and review beginner and intermediate

cheer/gymnastics skills. Emphasis will be placed on perfecting these

skills as well as learning more advanced skills appropriate for this age

level. Beginning tumbling skills will be reviewed and strengthened

through various drills, and exercises and new skills will include running

tumbling and more advanced skills, such as back handsprings and back

tucks. Lesson plans will incorporate lots of strength training and

conditioning as well as fun team-building exercises. All of these skills

will be incorporated into an entertaining, skill packed performance

routine at the end of the session! This class will truly prepare any

High Flyer for high-school cheerleading. This 8-week class will meet

on Tuesdays from 3pm-4:15pm. Fee: Members $200; Non-members

$225.

Middle School Student Governing Board (MSSGB)

The Outback is looking for teens interested in planning teen events,

developing a community service project from beginning to end,

working with a team of peers, and who are interested in leadership

opportunities while having the support of Adult mentors. The MSSGB

will meet every other Tuesday from 6pm-7pm. Please check out our

calendar for a schedule.

Other afterschool activities

Every Friday afternoon the Outback will offer Club 78. This is a

program dedicated only to 7th/8th graders. We will have special

themed events from 3:00-5:00 pm. Club 78 will begin on Friday, Sept.

18 and run throughout the school year. Members FREE; Non-members

$3.

Can’t jam out on your instrument at home? Need a place

for your band to practice? Use the Outback Music room. Must be

signed out in advance and is for members only! Musicians need to

bring their own instruments.

WHAT KIDS NEED: THRIVING AND SPARKS

PAGE 8 WINTER/SPRING 2010 PROGRAMS

WHAT IS THRIVING?

Thriving is a new way to define and understand the dynamics of

healthy development. The term ―thriving‖ is used to complement the

litany of negative outcomes, such as ―avoiding alcohol and other drug

abuse‖ and ―avoiding teen pregnancy,‖ that have dominated federal,

state, and foundation approaches to documenting the health of U.S.

teenagers for decades. As the conversation around thriving matures,

it is expected that youth will begin to hear a new vocabulary about

why they matter and why their healthy development is crucial for

growing the health and vibrancy of the society in which they live.

What Makes the Idea of Thriving Unique?

Thriving is focused both on how an individual is ―doing‖ at any given

point in time as well as the path that he or she is taking into the

future, and effectively takes into account both the current status of

a young person and a process that unfolds over time.

Markers and Indicators of Thriving

The development of sound indicators of thriving has three purposes:

To provide U.S. communities with a more balanced view of

adolescents and their capabilities and contributions.

To provide programs and agencies with an alternative set of

metrics for evaluating program success (indeed, many youth

development programs are designed with positive outcome

intentions but forced to make their case by documenting their

impact on risk behaviors).

To posit a set of positive indicators that could begin a national

and international conversation about the kinds of constructive

behavior, postures and commitments societies value and need

in youth.

What are Sparks?

The idea of a ―spark‖ is one of the central metaphors in

understanding thriving. A spark is an interest, talent, skill, asset, or

dream that truly excites a young person and helps them discover

their true passions, whether they be academic, relational, athletic,

artistic, or intellectual—anything that inspires and motivates.

Sparks ―light a fire‖ in a person. But sparks, by themselves, go can out

if they are not nurtured with enough ongoing fuel to keep them alive

and strengthen them. This fuel comes in the form of supportive peers

and adults who help celebrate, affirm, and grow a young person’s

sparks and are essential if those sparks are to help the young person

truly thrive.

Why are Sparks Important?

Sparks help give young people joy and energy, meaning, purpose, and

direction. Pursuing one’s sparks helps young people make positive

choices about their activities and use of time, helps them develop

their potential to the fullest, and helps them contribute to their

families, schools, and communities right now, as young people. Young

people with sparks lead more caring, responsible, healthy, and

productive lives than those who do not have sparks provided for

students in grade 6. For more information on Thriving and Sparks or

on the 40 Developmental Assets, please check out http://www.search

-institute.org/.

WHAT KIDS NEED: THRIVING AND SPARKS


EVENTS AT A GLANCE PAGE 10

FEBRUARY 2010

2/5 – CLUB 78, DDR Tournament, 3-5 PM

2/6 – 8th Grade Dance, 7-10 PM

2/9 – MSSGB Meeting, 6-7 PM

2/11 – 7th/8th Grade Pre-Vacation Party, 2:30-5 PM

2/23 – MSSGB Meeting, 6-7 PM

2/26 – CLUB 78, Olympic Style, 3-5 PM

2/26 – 7th Grade Dance, 7-10 PM

2/27 – 7th/8th Grade Boys Night Out, Video Game

Tournament, 6-8 PM

MARCH 2010

3/5 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM

3/5 – 8th Grade Special Event, 7-10 PM

3/12 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM


3/13 – 7th/8th Grade Girls Night Out, Jam Out in your

jammies! Learn Hip Hop Routine, 6-8 PM

3/16 - SGB Meeting, 6-7 PM

3/19 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM

3/19 - 6th Grade Movie Night, 6pm-9pm


Event dates may change please check out our website for the most up to date information at www.ncoutbacktc.com.

EVENTS AT A GLANCE PAGE 11

APRIL 2010


4/16 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM


4/23 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM



4/30 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM

4/30 – 7th/8th Grade Boys Night Out, 6-8 PM


5/7 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM


5/13 – 7th/8th Grade Girls Night Out, 5-7 PM


5/21 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM


5/28 – CLUB 78, 3-5 PM

Event dates may change please check out our website for the most up to date information at www.ncoutbacktc.com.

MAY 2010

WINTER/SPRING

PROGRAMS 2010

71 Main Street

PO Box 1255

New Canaan, CT 06840

Phone: 203-594-3074

Fax: 203-594-3131

E-mail: [email protected]

www.ncoutbacktc.com

Questions? Please contact Lacey Arndt, Outback Director, or Sarah

Rivers, Assistant Director, or at the First County Bank- Sponsored

Hotline at 594-3074 or email us at

[email protected]. Check us out! Outback Website

www.ncoutbacktc.com or on Facebook.

Outback Teen Center Catalog

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