Teen Center showcased during ribbon-cutting ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Cass
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Force Support Squadron Teen Center staff welcomed Airmen and their families to tour their new facility and receive information about available programs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 6, in Bldg. 7712 on base.

Formerly located in Bldg. 7812, the Teen Center is now open to any young adults on base who are currently in high school and offers a wide variety of educational programs and recreational activities.

The center has approximately 30 teens who frequent the center on a daily basis, and about 60 members total.

Laurie Lund, 28th FSS Teen Center teen coordinator, said moving to the new location has given the teens who frequent the center a chance to make it their own.

"The kids helped paint the walls," Lund said. "They decorated it. A lot of the things you see on the walls were purchased by them."

Penny Whaley, a full-time nursing student at National American University, said three of her four sons are Teen Center members.

"My son, Chris, loves the music equipment," Whaley said. "Travis loves the trips, and Justin likes everything."

In addition to a vast array of activities at the center, members also have the opportunity to take part in special events around the Black Hills region. For example, Lund said that after the Battle Mountain Humane Society in Hot Springs, S.D., burned down, young adults from the center pooled their resources to contribute to the relief effort. The campaign was overseen by Anna Massey, Ellsworth's Air Force youth of the year and the center's Keystone Council president, and in a matter of 24 hours, the teens had amassed $200 of their own money to donate to the cause.

"A lot of people only notice teenagers when they're behaving badly," Lund said. "We have a whole group here doing good things."

Whaley's husband is Master Sgt. David Whaley, 28th Bomb Wing foreign object debris program manager, who has been in the Air Force for 21 years. The Whaley family has traveled to several different bases, but has never seen a facility quite like the Ellsworth Teen Center.

"The staff is awesome," Whaley said. "I'm a busy mom, so it's important for me to know that my children can go to the center and engage in activities with other teens."

Lund added that the list of resources available at the center is quite extensive. The staff offers programs ranging from homework assistance to financial and career advice. Other amenities include a pool table, pingpong table, video game station, music center and a barbecue area - all provided as tools to help teens decompress from the stress and pressure of high school. Other programs are provided in conjunction with agencies such as the 4-H Club and the Boys and Girls Club of the Black Hills in Hill City.

Lund said she and the staff have received encouraging feedback about the Teen Center and its programs from parents and teens.

"Parents tell us this place is a godsend," Lund said. "To the teens, it's a home away from home."

Whaley said the exceptional staff and engaging programs have made the center an invaluable resource for her children.

"It's given me peace of mind, to know that my children have a safe place to go," Whaley said. "The Teen Center has been a lifesaver for our family."

For more information, or to enroll your teenager in a program, call Laurie Lund at (605) 385-5214 or visit www.ellsworthfss.com.