Please find below information on events and activities taking place at or with the Niles Teen Center in the next couple of weeks.
Teen Center CLOSED on Friday, December 9 for Village of Niles Holiday Party
Teen Speaker Series- Thursday, December 8- 4:00- 5:00 pm- U.S. Marine Corp
Sgt. Larry Lechuga will offer a presentation about the history of the Marines and possible future careers in the military.
STEAM PROJECT- Begins on Tuesday, Dec. 6- 4:00- 6:00 pm
On most Tuesdays, staff will offer projects related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). These could include science experiments, art drawings, or construction of a marble run.
CHAOS TOWER- Every Tuesday in December
Help Mark design and build a kinetic marble sculpture. The motor driven chain lifts a ball to the top of your construction and off it goes through whatever course you have set up. Create a really fun controlled "perpetual motion" Rube Goldberg-type device. The tower has a max height of 78" and a whopping 602 pieces!
Girls Group- Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 4:00- 5:00 pm
Have you had a rough week at school? Are you juggling too many responsibilities and feeling stressed? Having a conflict with a friend? Or maybe you just want to share ideas with other teens? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please join us for group! Girls group is Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00, and boys group is Thursdays from 4:00-5:00.
These groups are designed to meet the social and emotional needs of teens. They focus on improving self-esteem/self-image, communication skills, conflict resolution, reducing stressors and addressing other challenges teens face. The groups are facilitated by Nicole Espinoza and Darren Brown of Niles Family Services.
If you are interested in additional support, Niles Family Services also offers counseling and additional services. Please contact us at 847-588-8460.
Winter Programs are Now Available!!!
Check out all of our great winter programs and activities!!!
Trips; Dances; Movie Nights; STEAM projects; social work support; game tournaments and much, much more.
Winter Quarterly Mailing and Membership Renewals
Last week everyone should have received a letter from Mark in the mail with the newsletter and calendars. Some of you also received new membership forms. If you are expired or expiring soon, please sign and return the forms with proper payment so that you (or your teen) can continue to participate in our programs. Fees are $20 for Niles Residents and $35 for Non-Niles Residents. If you are renewing your membership, we can accept credit cards.
ONLINE PROGRAM REGISTRATION now available!!
Follow these simple steps to activate your account
Stop by the Teen Center or call 847-588-6900 to verify your Teen Center account email
Go to www.NilesTeenCenter.org. Click Online Registration (left side of page)
Click Login (top right of page)
Click forgot password
Type in the email you verified with the Teen Center
You will be sent an email with a link to reset your password. Type your password, verify your password and click submit.
Click Login to access your account
Click on My Account
You are now able to enter all Family Account Information
With your online account, you will be able to register and pay online for events and activities like movie night and trips. However, you will not be able to renew your membership. Memberships must be renewed in person through the Teen Center office.
Villa Olivia Ski Trip- Deadline Tues. December 13- $100
Spend your holiday break on the slopes! Head up to Villa Olivia to enjoy all winter snow sports have to offer. Cost includes slope ticket, lesson, ski rental, transportation, and supervision. Bring extra money for lunch and quarters for locker rental. Helmet rental is an additional $5; please bring money the day of the trip if you need a helmet. NOTE: If you are bringing your own skis/snowboard, proper equipment is required.
Snowboards must have metal edges and attached binding. This trip may depart from a location other than Niles Teen Center. Trip offered with Park Ridge Park District.
Date: Wednesday December 28
Time: 9:00 am- 7:00 pm
Cost: Lift Ticket Only $75
Ski/Snowboard Rental and Lift Ticket- $100
Min/Max: 4/8
Deadline: Tuesday, December 13
TC Staff on Vacation and Winter Break Hours
Mark will be on Vacation from Wednesday December 14 through January 2. The Teen Center will be open during winter break on Tuesday 12/27 and Wed. 12/28 from 2:00- 6:00 pm and on Tues. 1/3 and Wed. 1/4 from 2:00-6:00 pm.
Snow Shoveling Assistance Program- Neighborhood HEROES- Sign up TODAY!!
The Village of Niles encourages residents to build a stronger sense of community by volunteering to shovel snow for their senior and/or disabled neighbors and friends who are unable to do the work on their own. The newly adopted Village of Niles Neighborhood HEROES Program connects residents with volunteers who are willing to provide snow shoveling services. Individuals requesting assistance, as well as individuals and/or organizations willing to volunteer, are encouraged to sign up now. Volunteers will be needed for the entire 2016-17 snow season.
Your efforts will help create a safer community for everyone.
How to BECOME a HEROES Volunteer:
To Volunteer for the program, please go to www.vniles.com to fill out a Senior Center Volunteer Application, you can then select the Neighborhood HEROES Program.
Once an application is completed, we will contact you to match you up with a resident in need. If you are unavailable or out of town, we ask that you notify us so we can attempt to find a backup Volunteer for that specific clearing.
A waiver will need to be signed and submitted before the ability to give assistance.
*If you are under the age of 18, a parental release waiver will need to be signed and returned to the Niles Senior Center. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Niles Senior Center.
Teen Center supports Gemini Chromebooks!!!
Did you know that the Teen Center has 5 chargers for the Gemini chromebooks? Just ask staff to use one. We believe that by offering these chargers, an open WiFi network and knowledgeable staff will support student academic success. If you have homework, come work on it at the Teen Center. We are always here to help!!!
Boys Group continues on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 4:00- 5:00 pm
Niles Public Library- Teen Winter Reading- Dec. 1 through Jan. 31
Pick up a game-board in the Teen Underground to join the Winter Reading Program. Fill one line to earn a prize, plus entry in the grand prize drawing for $50 Amazon gift cards. Earn extra entries w/ each additional line you fill, & turn in your completed game-board for a $10 Starbucks gift card.
Niles Public Library- Ugly Christmas Sweater Party- Saturday, Dec. 10, 2:00-3:30 pm
Teens dress up in holiday style and design glitter felt Christmas sweater ornaments and feast on holiday treats. Prior Registration Required at www.nileslibrary.org or by calling 847-663-6640.
Toys for Tots Program and Food Drive Continues
The Niles Teen Center, in cooperation with the Village of Niles, will participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves “Toys for Tots” program. We will be collecting toys to be distributed to less fortunate children in the Chicagoland area. Please do not bring any stuffed animals or home-made items. All toys must be in their original packaging and no gift wrapping. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Niles Food Pantry. Dates: Tuesday, November 1 to Friday, December 16
Policy and Procedure Manual
Teen Center staff recently developed a policy and procedure manual. The information included is intended for teens and parents, as well as staff, explaining our standard procedures of operation and explaining behavior expectations and consequences for teen participants.
Parents, please review this document with your teen participant. Thanks!
ID cards REQUIRED for TC Attendance
Remember, ALL Teens are REQUIRED to have and USE their teen center ID cards to CHECK-IN to the facility. Any need for a reprinted ID will be $5 each. If you don’t have your ID, you will create more work for Mark and he will have to manually check you in. The new MaxGalaxy software does not allow members to bypass the ID scanner, therefore ALL TEENS MUST USE THEIR ID CARDS TO CHECK-IN. Thanks!
Thanks,
Mark Williams
Niles Teen Center Director
Niles Teen Center
373 Golf Mill Center
Niles, IL 60714
847-588-6900- office
MLW@VNiles.com