Teen Center Expectations

These rules apply for all Teen Center events, trips, and activities:

• Keep the Teen Center safe and fun. Be courteous and respectful; be helpful; be nice to others; use only kind words.
• Keep the Teen Center clean. If you make a mess, clean it up. Put away the things (games, balls, crafts, etc.) that you play with.
• Keep the Teen Center green. Be healthy; pick up your trash and the trash you see on the ground. Recycle.
• Respect and obey all adults; including and especially recreation Leaders, parents and volunteers.
• Remain in assigned areas. Never be in an area where no leader is present.
• Take care of Teen Center property and equipment. Treat it as if it were your own.
• Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
• Use common sense. If you think there is a chance that you or someone else might get hurt, DON’T DO IT!
• NO rough housing, horse play, or fighting. Includes: pulling, shoving, pushing, wrestling, pining or hanging on to others.
• NO throwing rocks, sand or other unsafe items.
• NO profanity.
• Toys or items that do not contribute to a safe Teen Center environment.
• Seek help from a Leader if you’re having a problem with another teen.

Discipline Procedures

The following consequences will be implemented at staff’s discretion for behavioral problems:

1. Written notice to teen and parent (Teen Center Incident Report (PDF) or Teen Center Behavior Promise (PDF))
2. Suspension from the Teen Center Program
3. Exclusion from Teen Center Program

Late Pick-Up Policy and Procedure

These are the procedures and arrangements are to be followed when a parent or guardian is late picking up their teen from the Teen Center.  A late fee will be charged beginning at one (1) minute past closing time. The late fee is $10 per teen for every ten-minute interval or portion thereof that the teens remains with staff after closing. The clock at the Teen Center site is used to determine the time.

If a teen is picked up late on three (3) occasions, it will be grounds for suspension from Teen Center until arrangements can be made to ensure that the Teen is picked up on-time thereafter.

Payment of late fees may be in the form of cash or a check payable to the City of Manhattan Beach, with “Teen Center” specified in the memo. A receipt will be issued for all late fee payments. If payment is not submitted at the time of the late pick up, it must be submitted the next morning at arrival. The teen may not return to camp until the payment is made in full.

If a teen has not been picked up by thirty (30) minutes past closing time and there is no answer on any of the phone numbers listed for that teen, the Manhattan Beach Police Department will be contacted, as required and instructed by the Department of Social Services. The number for the Police Department front desk is (310) 802-5140 and Manhattan Beach Dispatch can be reached at (310) 545-4566.

If the staff/supervisors are notified in advance of emergency situations, those circumstances will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Donations

The many exciting, enriching and unusual activities that the Teen Center conducts are provided, for the most part, by the citizens of Manhattan Beach through their tax dollars. In order to obtain additional equipment and continually develop new activities, the Teen Center does accept donations to help defray some of the cost. Please contact the Teen Center Senior Recreation Leader at (310) 802-5426 if you would like more information or are interested in making a donation. Examples but not limited to gently used couches, video game/arcade equipment, board games, money to purchase supplies, prepackaged snacks, gardening supplies.

Teen Center Program Goals

• To offer a safe, wholesome, recreational program for Manhattan Beach teens.
• To increase community awareness of the Teen Center
• To provide a positive atmosphere
• To promote Health and Wellness
• To promote fun and celebration

Teen Center Program Benefits

• Promote health and wellness
• Strengthen safety and security
• Increase cultural unity
• Provide recreational experiences
• Foster human development

Parks and Recreation makes lives and communities better now and in the future by providing access to:

• The serenity and inspiration of nature
• Outdoor space to play and exercise
• Facilities for self-directed and organized recreation
• Positive alternatives for youth which help lower crime and mischief
• Activities that facilitate social connections, human development, the Arts, and lifelong learning

Statistics

Juveniles are at the highest risk of being a victim of violence between 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM and the peak hour for juvenile crime is from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the first hour after most students are dismissed from school. (statistics from the Center for Safe Youth website)

Teens who do not participate in after school programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes or use marijuana or other drugs; they are also more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity. (YMCA of the USA, March 2001)

Parents themselves admit to regularly leaving more than 4 million middle school kids under the age of 13 to care for themselves for a few hours each week. (Source: Child Trends)

Lack of adult supervision and participation in self-care for both children and adolescents have been linked to: increased likelihood of accidents, injuries, lower social competence, lower GPAs, lower achievement test scores and greater likelihood of participation in delinquent or other high risk activities such as experimentation with alcohol, tobacco, drugs and sex.

Forms

Teen Center Band Aid Report (PDF)

Teen Center Behavior Promise (PDF)

Teen Center Incident Report (PDF)