The Chester Teen Center
WEDNESDAYS + FRIDAYS
3:00pm - 5:30pm
469 Main Street in Chester, VT
(on the corner of Church and Main Street)
Teens are invited to drop by anytime during regular open hours. We also have highlighted activities and events planned during (and sometimes outside of) regular teen center hours, so check the schedule below! You ARE NOT REQUIRED to partake in activities to enjoy what the space has to offer--- participation in everything is always optional. Come as you are, or show up with friends. Play some pool, use the basketball court, take a nap in the bean bag, do homework or just pop in for a slice of pizza. This place is for you!
Our vision is a safe space created for local teens, by local teens.
The teen center project serves our youth by creating a safe space in the community for teens to connect with each other, have fun and be creative, develop leadership skills, and have access to support and mentorship. With the help from our local partnerships, volunteers, students, parents, and school leaders--- we look forward to the evolution of this program as a sustainable, equitable, and essential asset for youth and families in our community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 15th
REVIEW LOGO DESIGN CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
3 - 5:30pm at the teen center
Friday, Oct. 18th
MURAL PAINTING
3 - 5:30pm at the teen center
Saturday, Oct. 26th
CHESTER TRUNK or TREAT EVENT
5 - 8pm at Cobleigh Field
Wednesday, Oct. 30th
HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
5:30 - 7:30pm at the teen center
pizza & drinks served
Friday, Nov. 1st
BONFIRE, S'MORES, & CEMETERY WALK
5 - 8pm at the teen center
s'mores & mocktails served
We're trying to raise $10,000 by this winter to renovate a building on Main Street and give our teen program a permanent home.
We currently use the old Congo church building for teen space activities and we share the use of that space with others in the community. We now have the opportunity to make the smaller building next to it OUR OWN permanent activity space... it just needs some fixing up! With your support, we hope to raise enough funds to have the building usable by this winter...
About the Project...
In 2023, BRACC began exploring ideas and solutions in response to our community assessment results around the challenges faced by our local youth today. After looking at all the data together, including the 2021 YRBS, the discussions at the VT Youth Opportunity forums, and qualitative feedback from the Chester community– we found there was a collective consensus on the need for a “third space” for teen-aged youth in this area.
From a prevention lens, we see a place like this as an opportunity to address root cause of substance use and reduce risk factors in teens who feel isolated, or like they don’t matter to the community, and who could benefit from having a safe space to socialize, be creative, start clubs, or just decompress outside of home and school.
In March of 2024, BRACC rounded up a focus group of student ambassadors from GMUHS to meet regularly, share their ideas and explore the potential, the challenges, and the feasibility of creating a third space for teens in town.
In April 2024, the Congregational (Congo) Church located in downtown Chester generously opened their doors to BRACC and the youth group for use of their community space. Since then, we've facilitated youth gatherings here every week. We are now hoping to create a permanent space out of the accessory building by 2025!
Questions? Contact Lauren Ingersoll at lauren@braccvt.org.