June 19, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Teens Inc to host rafting trip, teen empowerment seminar

Teenagers, Inc. is hosting a whitewater rafting day trip on Friday, June 27. The bus will journey to Jim Thorpe, and teens will form six-person teams to paddle their rafts on the river. Guides in kayaks will lead the way down some class I and II rapids and around and over rocks.

Included with the trip, mid-ride is a hot dog barbecue on the river. The lunch includes hot dog, drink, fruit and cookie.

Pushing off from the shore you continue participants will journey down the river until the pull-off. Back at the lodge participants can shower, change, and purchase food at the snack bar.

The rafting day costs $60 for Teens Inc. members and $70 for nonmembers. The cost includes bus transportation, rafting and lunch. The bus departs at 7:30 a.m. from Our Mother of Consolation parking lot, 19 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. Chaperones needed.

Don’t forget to wear your bathing suit, shorts and old sneakers or water shoes. No flip-flops or open-toed shoes. You will get wet! Bring a change of clothes, a towel and of course sun screen. All rafters wear life jackets.

If you wish to splash and raft, contact Marianne Dwyer at mdwyer325@aol.com.

Teenagers, Inc. is sponsoring its first Y.E.S.-Youth Empowerment Saturday on June 21. The packed day promises to be insightful, interactive and powerful!  Beginning at 9:30 a.m. after a fe, fun ice breakers, the activities will swing to the first topic, youth leadership and empowerment with the male and female teens being separated.

Female teens will join Harin Feibish and Leigh Filippini for a very interactive session.

“Girls and women are constantly bombarded with unrealistic images of beauty from the media,” Feibish said. “Our workshop will expose teens to media literacy regarding body image, encouraging them to access, to analyze and to evaluate the messages they receive.

When young women are depicted in limited ways, we are all affected and the results can be detrimental to self and body esteem. Teens Inc. hopes to begin to empower girls to become leaders in their communities promoting critical thinking and body confidence.”

Young men will be dissecting truths and myths regarding the place of men. Their session will revolve around leadership for today’s young teen. It will include taking a stand with their peers and assuming the active role in service outreach.

Continuing on through the day, presentations will be made by City Year and Meghan Dwyer. City Year, a local volunteer corp, provides options for teens to get involved in service work and at the same time receive a stipend and tuition incentive for college.

Dwyer’s presentation will speak to service abroad. She spent a year volunteering in Quernavaca, Mexico for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, a 700 children orphanage and has vast experience in volunteering.

Interview tips and dressing for success will be a portion of Say Y.E.S. now. Also young male and female adults from the board of Teenagers, Inc. will talk about the college search and application process.

Our 14th Police District will share pointers on remaining safe this summer. Policeman will also address the teens on being the eyes and ears for the police force.

Say Y.E.S. Now takes place at Our Mother of Consolation Parish Hall at 19 East Chestnut Hill Ave., on June 21. Registration is $25. Registration fee includes the entire day, box lunch and snacks. Day includes a hike to the Wissahickon with box lunch.

Any questions contact Marianne Dwyer-Coordinator at 215-242-4976 or e-mail mdwyer325@aol.com, or Arianna Neromiliotis, Teen Center Supervisor at Arigirl81@gmail.com.