Center offers teenagers ‘safe’ environment
According to the Center for Disease and Control, “alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the U.S.” and is responsible for approximately 4,700 deaths in individuals under 21. Preventing underage drinking or reducing the number of teens who participate takes a community-based effort to monitor their activities.
The Spot Teen Center at the Voorhees Town Center was designed to “provide a safe, drug- and alcohol-free environment,” president of the board for the Voorhees Teen Spot Center Cindy Weiner said.
The teen center is a place where teens can spend time doing homework, socializing and relaxing after spending a full day in school, she said.
The Spot Teen Center is a non-profit organization managed by a board of local residents, Weiner said. The board members are responsible for raising money and assisting with the daily operation of the center.
All items in The Spot are donated, Weiner said.
In 2008, between the collaborating efforts of the Berlin-Gibbsboro-Voorhees (BGV) Municipal Alliance, Deputy Mayor Mario DiNatale, Eastern Regional High School students, and Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), The Spot opened at the Voorhees Town Center, Weiner said.
Weiner also sits on the BGV Municipal Alliance as the chairperson and was involved with spearheading the creation of The Spot.
Teen center board members, BGV Municipal Alliance members, and teen center employees make sure the environment is designed to be a judgement-free zone where teens are able to have fun and learn about issues with drug and alcohol abuse and bullying to keep them aware of the dangers.
The teen center is also partnered with the Camden County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CCCADA), Weiner said.
“Our main focuses are drug and alcohol and tobacco prevention, and also we have a large focus on bullying prevention,” The Spot director Sarah McCart said.
McCart said the teens participate in bullying awareness week, workshops and the center also has a swear jar.
“We have a very strict bullying policy,” she said, adding she is impressed with how the teens behave and work with one another.
“It’s really interesting because you wouldn’t think that 25 to 30 teens could be close knit. But we get a lot of the same teens, we get new ones too,” she said.
Teens are not the only ones who are allowed to hang out at The Spot after school. The Spot is also open to middle school students.
Students in grades 6 to 12 hang out at the center to participate in workshops about drug and alcohol abuse and bully prevention, and also play various games, receive homework help and more.
Students from Bishop Eustace Preparatory School are also there volunteering for credit hours. Eastern Regional High School students also volunteer at the center.
Teen participation rate is highly encouraged at The Spot. A teen-run board was formed when The Spot opened its doors. The members are responsible for creating activities and planning events.
“[The Spot] is focused on character-building and leadership skills,” Eastern Regional Board of Education member and liaison to the municipal alliance Elena Chow said, referring to the time students spend volunteering and working with each other at The Spot.
The relationships that form between the students are the most important thing at the center, McCart said.
“Relating to other people is one of the hardest things about being human in general, and a lot of what we have the opportunity to do here is give teens the tools to relate to one another and be mindful that differences can be just as exciting as similarities, and participating in activities and events with people that they may not have engaged with otherwise can be an awesome experience,” she said.
If students are having trouble in a subject at school, The Spot offers tutoring and homework help with their peers. If a student wants an individual tutoring session, they must sign up at The Spot.
Teens and middle school students who are interested in volunteering should email thespotteencenter@gmail.com or call 770–8585. College students who wish to intern at The Spot should contact Cindy Weiner at cweiner@flynnco.com.
The Spot is located on the second floor of the Voorhees Town Center outside of Boscovs.The center’s hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. For more information on The Spot Teen Center, visit www.thespotteencenter.com.
