Youth Afterschool Program
Calling all Oak Park middle and high school youth!
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, and community rooms.
- Bring homework to get free homework assistance from tutors from Triton College.
- Enjoy group activities and events!
- The Youth Afterschool Program has partnered with the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township and local non-profit organizations to bring in engaging presentations and activities for students to support their mental wellness and help prevent substance use and related harms. Most sessions are drop-in, and attendance is capped to encourage an enjoyable environment for all students. See upcoming Youth Mental Wellness Programming below.
Teens cannot sign up for this program without parent approval.
Youth Afterschool Events
Homework
Help
Fun
Activities
Leadership Development
Teen Mental Wellness Programming
Way Back Inn
Youth Workshops | 4:00-4:45P
A team-based “escape challenge” where students solve puzzles about the dangers of vaping to “escape” within a time limit, promoting critical thinking and awareness.
A trivia game where students answer questions related to gambling risks and probabilities, learning about the unpredictability and consequences of gambling behavior.
A game where students advance by answering questions about marijuana’s effects on the brain, highlighting the impact of substance use on cognitive development.
A decision-based game where students face real-life scenarios involving alcohol, learning the consequences of their choices to understand the importance of responsible decision-making.
A cooperative puzzle game where students work together to answer questions and “break the chain” of opiate addiction, emphasizing teamwork and knowledge about the dangers of opiates.
NAMI Metro Suburban
Youth Workshops | 4:00-4:45P
Gratitude, or the practice of recognizing things you’re thankful for, is a proven strategy to give your mental health a boost. Allotting yourself time daily or weekly to focus on the positive things in your life is a great way to reduce stress and increase positive self-talk. During this activity, you’ll have the chance to create your own gratitude journal. You’ll be able to personalize it from cover to cover with a style that fits you! We’ll help you fill it with prompts and questions to keep your gratitude practice going strong.
Affirmations are positive statements that help inspire hope, motivation, and positivity. Reading them daily can remind you of the things you like about yourself and recognize your achievements, promoting positive self-talk and boosting your confidence. During this workshop, you’ll decorate your own jar and fill it with affirmations to help you to see and appreciate your true full worth and unlimited capabilities.
Vision boards are collage-style art projects intended to help reflect your vision for a specific goal. During this activity, we’ll discuss the importance of goal setting and help you write a SMART goal that you want to achieve this year. We’ll equip you with a tracker and help you take practical steps toward achieving it. Then you’ll put together a vision board using magazines, clip art, and other visuals to help you visualize your success.
Affirmations are positive statements that help inspire hope, motivation, and positivity. Reading them daily can remind you of the things you like about yourself and recognize your achievements, promoting positive self-talk and boosting your confidence. During this activity, you’ll choose your favorite affirmations and turn them into buttons to pin on your clothes, your backpack, or your lanyard. Seeing your positive message everyday will help you to see and appreciate your true full worth and unlimited capabilities.
Have you ever considered your mental health like a plant? Something that needs to be watered and cared for? Something that thrives in one season but requires more attention in others? During this workshop, we’ll investigate what we can learn about ourselves through plants! You’ll have the opportunity to paint your own flowerpot and take it home with a plant. Let’s learn how to grow through what we go through!
Sarah’s Inn
Workshops coming in 2025!
