Suggestions for things for teens to do in NEPA (credit, camp) - Northeastern Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania -Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono area - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

greentown · 01-16-2008, 01:42 PM

Most schools in this area offer afterschool sports and clubs that are open to all students. There are also recreational soccer leagues, basketball leagues, and baseball/softball leagues. There are dance and karate studios that offer lessons, and also local businesses that offer music and drama lessons. Our school district also has community education courses in several sessions throughout the year for residents of all ages. There are boy scouts, girl scouts, and 4-H clubs. Some churches have youth groups that get together for outings and activities. There are several local stables that offer horseback trail rides and lessons. For my daughter, this led to owning, training, and showing her own horse, which occupies alot of her time, especially during the warmer months. You can always go for a hike or a bike ride, go bowling, or see a movie. Go to the local library and choose a book to read or a video to watch. Volunteer afterschool with tutoring if you are able. Take up a hobby, such as crocheting or some type of craft for those days that you can't go anywhere. If you are old enough, get a part-time job.

I'm really not sure why so many kids complain about being bored in this area. If I ever complained about being bored as a child, my parents were really quick to find me some chores to do to cure my boredom!

I LOVE PA! · 01-16-2008, 03:04 PM

Greentown...
Thanks for your suggestion...... your suggestions are the usual things that kids do in additional to going to school...that very time consuming activity!
My inquiry has nothing to do with kids complaining of being bored.
I was more looking in the lines of a social activity, to have fun. Nothing structured like sports. Sports are not an option because of the time frames.
Something for a group of friends to do together on a Saturday night, besides the movies. (No time to talk!) Beleive me...with my daughers academic schedule at Prep...she is anything but bored!

Karaoke sounds great...but at Applebess...wouldn't that be the bar crowd?

Teen bands...YES! Great idea...they used to play all the time at the Fun Center in Hamlin, but where are they now? Any under 21 clubs besides Tinks?
As much as my daughter would like to be the drummer of a rock band...drum lessons are needed first!

scrantonluna · 01-16-2008, 05:46 PM

How about hiking? Merlii Sarnoski has some fantastic trails. Don't forget Hickory Run, Seven Tubs, and others. Even this time of year you can snow shoe or snow mobile to get outdoors. There used to be an indoor climbing gym in wb, don't know if it's still open.

I LOVE PA! · 01-18-2008, 11:07 AM

Indoor climbing gym..now that would be fun too.
Hiking...great idea, and planned for the spring, but a parents definitely needs to tag along... We are planning to do Ricketts Glen. Snow mobile...don't have one, or a bunch for a group, and I wouldn't trust teens on them if they are not experienced.

Sorry...I sound like I'm bashing all suggestions....just looking for a place to 'hang out' that has the environment for social interaction.

greentown · 01-18-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

Indoor climbing gym..now that would be fun too.
Hiking...great idea, and planned for the spring, but a parents definitely needs to tag along... We are planning to do Ricketts Glen. Snow mobile...don't have one, or a bunch for a group, and I wouldn't trust teens on them if they are not experienced.

Sorry...I sound like I'm bashing all suggestions....just looking for a place to 'hang out' that has the environment for social interaction.

There just aren't places where you can drop off your kids to have fun with their friends, other than each other's homes or maybe a school dance or a movie. I go through this with my kids also (17 and 13 year old daughters).
Another suggestion might be ice skating or even snow tubing.

I LOVE PA! · 01-18-2008, 03:30 PM

There was when the Fun Center was in Hamlin. Since I am not familar with the entire Northeast Pa, I thought maybe someone knew of something similar to the Fun Center or an indoor skateboard park, or a place like someone said...an indoor rock climbing gym.
When I was a teen..there was a school dance every 2 weeks. Schools rarely have dances anymore, and don't let anyone from other school in.
I guess I'll just have to put a bowling lane in my basement and some pinball mackines and a DDR....

greentown · 01-18-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

There was when the Fun Center was in Hamlin. Since I am not familar with the entire Northeast Pa, I thought maybe someone knew of something similar to the Fun Center or an indoor skateboard park, or a place like someone said...an indoor rock climbing gym.
When I was a teen..there was a school dance every 2 weeks. Schools rarely have dances anymore, and don't let anyone from other school in.
I guess I'll just have to put a bowling lane in my basement and some pinball mackines and a DDR....

The Fun Center was nice for a while, then all the gangs of kids started congregating in the front on Fridays and Saturdays. The owner seemed like a decent guy, and he tried to make it a family place, but it's hard to have a teen hangout and a family-friendly place in one small building.

PrestigeWorldwide · 10-20-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61scout80

there was cafe metro (i think) and another i don't remember the name of, both in down town wilkes-barre. there was also a coffee bar in midtown village, but i think they started serving alcohol. i don't know if any of them are still there.

a band is a good activity for that area. there is a HUGE music scene in north east pa, lots of places to play and close proximity to new york and philly for when you get a little sharper. there are also a lot of music shops, and a lot of friends to be made. most the people i met while we did shows were pretty straight shooters, friendly and very very few were drunks or drug addicts. most the people i met took themselves and their music very seriously, some way too much though.

i miss my nepa band (MySpace.com - 14mileDrive - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - Indie / Alternative / Rock - www.myspace.com/14miledrive), oddly here in phoenix i can't find anyone to get something going. i thought there would be more of a scene here

There was U.S. Soundsystem Homebase (or simply Homebase) in the Murray Complex on South Penn which closed in about 2002. The Wyoming Valley Zoo opened up in the floor above homebase in 2004, but the building had so many problems (electrical and floors collapsing) they had to close after only a few months.

bloominscranton · 10-20-2008, 06:41 PM

This maybe lame...but what about bowling, I only know of the two in Scranton and the one in Dickson City. They can play as many games as they like. The kids use to use "alternate identites" for the score board.

When my older two were a bit younger (they are 19 & 20 now) myself and other parents use to host movie nights and plan meals around them. IE, if they were watching a movie like the sisterhood of the traveling pants we would make some mexican food, greek etc. etc. A cowboy flick, chili, corn bread, corndogs.You get the idea.

Fondue was always a crowd pleaser, not the traditional cheese founde but assorted meats with dipping sauces. The kids loved it, they got into planning the menu and some would even make decorations. You have to get other parents involved or keep it to one night a month or it could become costly. It was cool because they learned about different foods from different states and countries. A secret geography lesson.

Roaddog81 · 10-20-2008, 07:48 PM

Here in Scranton they have ice skating at the ice box ,bowling at south side bowl . wings at Kelleys on cedar ave ,I beleave thats wed.evening .We have a 16 yr old just trying to think what he does .