GALION — Some Galion students are “zoned in” to a different type of after-school activity. They’re learning to make crepes, play French bingo and fly a drone high over the skies of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
They’re participating in “Teen Zone.”
The program, which officially launched in September, is for fifth through eighth grade students. Though not funded by the church, it is operating out of the old convent on North Liberty Street, a large space filled with comfortable furniture and a full-size kitchen.
“It’s a supposed to be a hangout for the kids,” said Melany Novack, co-director of the program along with Maureen Neal. “Both of us, and other people too, just realized some kids don’t have anything to do after school if they’re not in sports, and this is kind of like a second home for them.”
Teen Zone, which runs from 3-5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, usually begins with test preparation and help with homework, followed by a healthy snack. A variety of games, sports and educational activities, both inside and out, quickly fill up the time slot.
Volunteer Dave Salvati, a former Crestline teacher, introduces the teens to history and astronomy, among other topics. But on Tuesdays, he’s the drone master, the guy instructing them on the art of piloting a tiny Tello drone equipped with two antennas and a high-quality image processor.
“I wanted something to get them excited, and to bring them back each time. And flying certainly does that,” Salvati said. “For me, I just like to see these kids learn, expose them to some technology, be better in school and get them excited about learning in general.”
Teen Zone is actually the brainchild of Novack and Neal, both members of St. Joseph’s. They pitched the idea to Father Paul Fahrbach more than a year ago, then got approval from the finance committee to use the vacant building across the street from the church as its headquarters.
Galion City Schools Superintendent Jim Grubbs jumped on the bandwagon too, arranging for the kids who participate to be bused there from the main campus. Volunteers soon stepped up, including Melinda Nicholls and Laura Shuler, who serve on the steering committee with Novack, Neal and Salvati.
Dozens of volunteers – parishioners and non-parishioners alike – showed up last February to clean, paint and renovate the facility. Donations started trickling in, as did board games, TV’s, a drum set, ping-pong table and many other much-appreciated items, Novack said. A trial run was held in the spring.
Teen Zone has since received a grant from the Walter Hessenauer Foundation and financial support from the Galion Community Educational Foundation and the Community Foundation for Crawford County. Avita Health System has donated backpacks.
The program has a different theme each month. A Christmas open house and caroling is planned for Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. And down the road? Ballroom dancing, French lessons, a community service project and robotics with a kit from LEGOS.
Neal said she is pleased with the program’s success so far but admitted that it would be nice to have more students as well as volunteers.
“If we help just one student have a better life, then it’s all worth the effort being put into it,” Neal said.
For more information on Teen Zone, contact Melany Novack (419-566-5191) or Maureen Neal (419-468-6428).