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SCARSDALE, N.Y. It's not all fun and games at the Scarsdale Teen Center, according to Executive Director Ellen Tiven-Moore. Sometimes there's music, food or acting, too.
"It's a kid's paradise," said Scarsdale Middle School student Steven Orlofsky, 12, who was at the center Monday for the video gaming club.
The center, at 862 Scarsdale Ave., is offering workshops for middle schoolers, led by high schoolers, and Tiven-Moore is eager for the program to take root.
"It's something we launched back in the fall," Tiven-Moore said. "It's just taking a little bit longer to take hold and grow. It's one of the ways we are reaching out to the middle school and the high school students. We have a high school junior who leads an arts and crafts workshop on Wednesdays. We have a video gaming club (Mondays). They can learn to play drums, guitar and keyboard on Friday, and we're looking for more. Any opportunity that a high schooler can present to us, we're willing to go with it."
There's even an improv workshop, already running on Thursdays, that's in search of a high school actor or actress to lead it, Tiven-Moore said. And it's all free.
"It appeals to the middle schoolers," she said, pointing out that a bus directly from the middle school to the Teen Center is convenient for the students and their parents.
Orlofsky and Chris Sfikas, 11, were the first to arrive Monday, and they snacked while waiting for the video games to start. "We come every Monday and Friday," Orlofsky said. "It's really fun."
"Friday's a free day," Sfikas said. "We can just hang out, listen to music, play games, do anything we want. And every other Friday we all get together and decide what kind of events we want to do" as part of the middle school advisory board.
Sfikas said they don't get to play video games much at home because of their focus on schoolwork.
"It's hard to find the time," he said. Orlofsky added, "It's hard to get five kids together" for group games.
Staff member Kenny Levy of Mount Vernon got the games set up, and the middle school friends began to play while awaiting the arrival of other gamers.
"We're looking for ideas," Tiven-Moore said. They can be one-time workshops, or every week any configuration. We're open to anything."
Anyone interested in running workshops should contact the center through its website.
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