Teen Connection - Summer 2022
Founded as an extension of our Weed and Seed Out-of-School-Time Program, the Teen Connection Program offers FREE afterschool and summer programming for middle school and high school-aged youth grades 6-12.
Our educational and recreational programming is centered around five program areas:
- Fitness and Outdoor Fun—Providing opportunities to move and exercise through team sports, cooperative games, and outdoor adventure activities.
- Education and Technology—Supporting students in their educational goals through homework support, nutrition education, and introduction to computers, gaming, and technology.
- Service and Civic Engagement—Involving teens in service opportunities that benefit their community; helping youth to find and use their voice through community involvement and fostering leadership.
- Prevention and Life Skills—Facilitating teen discussions and educational presentations with guest speakers to promote prevention, teach life skills, and develop communication skills and healthy social behaviors.
- Arts & Culture—Incorporating arts, music, and cultural programming to encourage new experiences through multiple media forms and understanding through exposure to different cultural perspectives.
Summer 2022 Details
Teen Connection Summer will begin on June 1, 2022 and will end on July 15, 2022. There will be no programming on June 20, 2022 (Juneteenth Independence day) and July 4, 2022 (Independence day).
- Drop off from 9:30am to 10:30am
- Activities, field trips, events and lunch between the hours of 10:30am to 3:30pm
- Pick up from 4:00pm to 4:30pm (pick may vary depending on event or field trip)
Meals will be provided in partnership with Families & Youth Innovations Plus and the Summer Food Services Program.
Registration
Each week will feature a different theme which can include field trips and activities with expertise from our partners such as New Mexico Army National Guard, Friends of Organ Mountains, and a visit to Spaceport America.
Participants can participate in every week or come for only the weeks they would like to attend.
Week of:
- June 1 - June 3 Summer Kick Off: Featuring a hike to Leasburg Dam
- June 6 - June 10 Ready Set Gold: Wacky Olympics
- June 13 - June 17 Lights, Camera, Action!
- June 21 - June 24 Adventure Week
- June 27 - July 1 Splash: Week: Water-Focused Activities and Swimming Pools!
- July 11 - July 15 Out of this World: Explore Science and Space with a visit to Spaceport America!
Register in Person:
- A. Fielder Memorial Safe Haven, 906 N Tornillo Street
- Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center, 304 W. Bell Street
- Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, 1501 E Hadley Avenue
There are limited spots available so register early. Telephone registrations are not be accepted.
Questions? Please contact staff at Office: (575) 528-4235 Cell: (575) 339-5286 or email us at teenconnection@las-cruces.org
Program Features
The Teen Connection offers multiple opportunities for teens to participate in a variety of community service projects throughout the year. Volunteering for these projects helps teens gain new skills necessary for the job market such as leadership, communication skills, dependability, time management, and decision making. Teens who volunteer perform better at school and build stronger resumes for college and scholarship applications.
During the academic calendar year we provide programming Monday through Friday from 3:00pm to 7:30pm after school. We currently have three routes that we pick up students after school and drop off at Frank O'Brien Papen and Safe Haven Weed and Seed.
Teen Hikes and Outdoor Adventure
Southern New Mexico has access to some amazing hiking and outdoor adventure spaces. From the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument to the White Sands National Park, our region is rich with fun and unique areas to explore. Through partnerships with community organizations such as Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and our own Recreation Coordinators, the Teen Connection Program can offer special events that get participants outdoors and connect with their natural world.
Schools we pick up from during Academic School Year
Sierra Middle School, Centennial High School, Zia Middle School, Arrowhead, Las Cruces High School, Picacho Middle School, Mayfield High School, and Vista Middle School.
Potential Opportunities:
Local hikes in the Organ Mountains or near Picacho Peak
Field trips to City of Rocks or hiking opportunities in Cloudcroft
Bike rides on area bike trails
River rafting on the Rio Grande
Field trips and special events such as these may require registration and/or a small fee with limited spaces available.