After-school programs help teens find niche at Outback

Sunday, 28 February 2010 00:00

Outback Teen Center supporters are hoping new after-school programming oferings will help New Canaan teenagers find their niche.

“We’d like to ignite a spark in our community’s teens,” says Lacey Arndt, Outback director. “What is it that makes them tick or inspires or motivates them?”

Research conducted by the Search Institute, which developed the “40 Developmental Assets,” shows that finding these sparks is important.

One of the Outback’s new offerings is filmmaking and film acting, taught by Filmmakers Ink, under the leadership of award-winning filmmaker Patrick McCullough.

One of McCullough’s recent projects was producing and acting in the independent film, “Beautiful Kid,” with Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Angela’s Ashes.”

Other after-school programs include fitness, yoga and boot camp taught by YMCA certified staff, and ju jitsu, hip-hop and cheerleading. The Outback is also offering a beginner’s photography class and billiards instruction.

In addition to taking part in programs, teens may eat before or after their class at the teen center cafe, run by the Apple Cart. Parents may pre-buy Apple Cart bucks for the café.

After school programs will begin the week of March 15 and run through May 14.

A full program brochure is available at ncoutbacktc.com.

For more information, call 203-594-3074.

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