Youth Afterschool Program
Calling all Oak Park middle and high school youth!
Oak Park middle and high school students can enjoy FREE access to the CRC from 3:00-6:00P Monday through Friday when school is in session. During this time, structured and unstructured activities and spaces will be available and supervised by CRC staff including access to the esports lounge, gymnasium, community rooms, and multipurpose room.
Through a partnership with the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township (CMHB), the Youth Afterschool provides regular opportunities for youth to participate in mental wellness workshops designed for adolescents and teens. Workshops are designed to help youth gain and maintain overall mental wellness, share information, and engage in skill-building activities designed to optimize their mental health and create knowledge of available resources. The program does not include any direct counseling, individual therapy, group therapy, or any other intervention provided by a licensed clinician.
Teens cannot sign up for this program without parent approval.
Teen Mental Wellness Programming
4:00-4:45P | Select Wednesdays
Presented by Way Back Inn
Gambling seems to be everywhere these days! During this workshop, play a trivia game answering questions related to gambling risks and probabilities, learning along the way about the unpredictability and consequences of gambling behavior.
Presented by NAMI Metro Suburban
Regularly reading optimistic statements that help inspire hope, motivation, and positivity helps promote positive self-talk and boost your confidence. During this workshop, you will decorate your own jar and fill it with affirmations that can help you see and appreciate your full worth and capabilities.
Presented by CAYR Connections
Feeling stressed? Your brain and body are trying to tell you something! Learn how to spot these signals and try out some sensory tools and strategies to figure out what works best for you. You’ll leave with a personalized Brain Boost Kit that’s as unique as your brain and ready to use whenever you need it.
Presented by Mosaic Counseling & Wellness
Sometimes feelings are hard to explain with words, but your body already knows how to show them. We will learn more about dance/movement by engaging in a few movement-based games. Movement helps us understand the feelings we experience even when we can’t find the words, helping us learn more about ourselves and having fun in the process.
Presented by NAMI Metro Suburban
A mantra is a short, positive phrase that you repeat to yourself. The more you repeat it, the more likely it is to become an ingrained belief. During this workshop, we will go through a mantra-card exercise that provides tools you can use to strengthen your sense of self-worth and manage your emotions.
Presented by Thrive Counseling Center
The end of the school year can be rough! We will explore how music can help increase your focus on homework, including studying for exams and completing projects. Then we’ll use music to learn about techniques like “body doubling” and “study with me,” and you’ll have an opportunity to work on your very own playlist.
Presented by Mosaic Counseling & Wellness
Want to learn what music, movement, and mood have in common? We will watch examples of how your favorite artists and Tik Tok dances use music and movement to tell a story. In this workshop, you will create your own mood-based music album and use a few of those songs to do a movement cypher.
Presented by Way Back Inn
Join this workshop to play a cooperative puzzle game where you will work together to answer questions and “break the chain” of opiate addiction, emphasizing teamwork and knowledge about the dangers of opiates.
Activity Options
The Gymnasium and Esports Lounge are available daily. Check out the list below for special activities. Schedule subject to change.
Check back soon for March and April activities!
Youth Afterschool Events
Activities
Workshops
