A New Semester of Teen Programs Coming to The Bridge

ORLAND PARK, IL – The Bridge Teen Center is scheduled to release their Winter/Spring lineup of afterschool programs on Friday, December 6 during their weekly Friday Night event for students. Online sign-up will begin Monday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. at thebridgeteencenter.org. All 100+ afterschool programs are offered FREE OF CHARGE and are holistically-designed around the interests and needs of students in 7th through 12th grade.

The Winter/Spring semester begins in January and goes through May. Programs for this semester include Create Your Own App, Goat Yoga, Brisket Chili & Cornbread, Painting Watercolor Landscapes, and many more. Many local Orland Park businesses and organizations will be volunteering their time to lead programs. This semester will include community program volunteers from The Apple Store, Nature’s Trail Yoga, City Barbeque, Health From Within and many more. Programs will be held after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Teens do not have to be signed up for a program to come to The Bridge and take advantage of its free amenities. The Bridge offers “hang out” hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Teens are welcome during the week to create in the Art Studio, play video games and/or board games with others, enjoy quiet time in the Hideaway, and much more.

On Friday nights, The Bridge Teen Center hosts their weekly Friday Night Live events from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Every Friday night has a fun-filled theme, free food from local restaurants, and live music or karaoke.

"The Bridge provides some amazing opportunities for students and families throughout the school year," said Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder of The Bridge Teen Center. "Whether a student is looking for tutoring in a specific subject, amazing after school experiences, or a place to hang out with 150+ of their peers on a Friday night, we're ready to provide our students with many unique opportunities."

Afterschool programs and Friday Nights are free to teens in 7th through 12th grade. The Bridge Teen Center is located at 15555 S. 71st Court in Orland Park, Illinois. There are no residency restrictions to join The Bridge. To become a member, one must complete a Student Membership Application. Once completed and approved by Bridge staff, students will be able to sign up online for afterschool programs. See a complete listing of after school programs and Friday Night Live events at thebridgeteencenter.org.

The Bridge Teen Center is a nationally-recognized nonprofit community center that was designed around the needs and interests of teens in the suburbs. The Bridge provides free holistically-designed afterschool programming and a safe environment for Friday night entertainment. Monthly programs that help parents navigate through the teenage years are also offered. To date, over 8,000+ unique students from 128 different communities have been served by The Bridge. The Bridge is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is funded by individuals, businesses, and foundations in the community. For more information about The Bridge Teen Center, visit www.thebridgeteencenter.org or call 708.532.0500.