Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Since 2002, local youth have had a place to spend their after school hours. Unless the community steps up financially, the Forest Lake Area Teen Center, which serves as many as 70 youth daily, will be forced to close.

ìThis program is at riskóa pretty serious risk,î said Youth Development Coordinator Kathy Bystrom.

Bystrom started the teen center and it is something she is not ready to see close. While community support is needed, she doesnít expect anyone to write out $20,000 checks.

ìI can accomplish a lot with a couple hundred bucks,î she said.

In the beginning the community was there for the teen center. Bystrom said the community was excited about the prospect of offering something like this for our youth and a long list of funders stepped up to the plate.

The budget in 2002 was $35,000. Now, the budget is in the $20,000-$25,000 range.

Under the umbrella of Forest Lake Community Education, the program is in a perilous situation, financially.

ìOur budget is being cut more and more and our needs havenít changed,î she said. ìCommunity Education is receiving some pretty significant budget cuts this next year.î

The budget is further stressed by a lack of community volunteers to serve at the teen center. Without volunteers, the center has been forced to use paid staff.

ìHaving to rely on staff, paid personnel, hits the budget too,î Bystrom said.

Other than a few repairs, the center runs on a bare bones budget. Since opening, no new equipment has been added.

Last year, the program was cut to a four day program. Next year, it may cease entirely.

Leah Gunter and Chad Ruter serve as teen center coordinators. The work they do is a labor of love.

ìBeyond the things there are to do here, the reason these kids come back are the staff,î Bystrom said. ìThey have made a connection to these people. Here, they have people that generally care for them.î

Both have psychology degrees. If they didnít have to work for a living, both say they would still work with the kids they have cared for.

ìIf I didnít have to make money Iíd probably have come here anyway,î Ruter said.

When heís not working at the center, it is not uncommon to see Ruter attending activities the youth at the teen center participate in.

He spent a recent evening attending a play at Southwest Junior High School.

One of ìhis kidsî was part of the production.

ìI tell people kids are my life right now,î he said. ìI enjoy it not because I feel Iím making a difference but because I see the results. The kids appreciate what Iím doing. Iím protective of them and I want to make (the teen center) the best I can.î

It was working at the teen center that convinced Ruter to make a life of working with youth.

ìAs much as I have the potential to benefit them, they benefit me too,î Ruter said. ìIíve developed a passion for kids. Theyíre in that experimental stage. Itís kind of inspiring to be around that.î

Gunter, who regularly brings games and movies from home for the youth to enjoy, said they have a good connection with the youth.

They notice the positive strides the youth are making. Too, they notice the negative changes, and can step up to help before things go too far.

ìWeíre getting them early enough, when youíre dealing with them now,î said Gunter who used to work for the Washington County Sheriffís Department. She has seen the facts about destructive behavior happening in the after school hours. The teen center, she said, is an alternative to those negative decisions.

ìEven good kids, if they didnít have a place to go, they may make bad choices,î Gunter said.

About the center

The teen center, located at Central Learning Center, 200 SW 4th St. serves students at Century and Southwest Junior High School as well as youth from North Lakes Academy and the Area Learning Center.

There, youth work on homework, play video games, billiards, foosball, cards, air hockey, arts and crafts, open gym.

The teen center is open 3-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The kids who go there are making a choice to go there. Many might not have another place to go. Some donít have parents at home after school. Others donít fit into any of the extracurricular activities offered.

ìItís always important to consider the alternative for these kids. What would they be doing if they werenít here,î Bystrom said. ìThis is a way to be proactive.

To help

Individuals interested in donating to the teen center or in volunteering their time are encouraged to contact Kathy Bystrom by calling 651-982-8391 or by email at kbystrom@forestlake.k12.mn.us.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605