In response to community concerns for youth, volunteers and staff of the Kingston Family YMCA created an organized, structured and properly supervised program for youth ages 12 to 17. The objective of "Teen Jam" is to provide area youth with an alternative to hanging out on streets or in malls, playing video games.
"Teen Jam" runs every Friday evening for a three-hour period and provides an opportunity to participate in a multitude of both educational and recreational activities. Funded primarily through private donations, United Way dollars and YM revenues, youth can register in "Teen Jam" for $10.00 per school year. For children unable to pay even this small amount, the fee is waived. Each "Teen Jam" session starts with a 20-minute mandatory educational component. Topics associated with this range from drug addiction and under-age drinking to bicycle safety. After this, youth then choose from a menu of supervised recreational activities offered in 45 to 60 minute intervals.
Community organizations such as restaurants, dance studios, music studios, police departments and retail outlets have donated chefs, dance instructors, professional counsellors, equipment and merchandise to ensure that "Teen Jam" provides quality
activities and is properly supplied.
