Teen Takeover was created in an effort to alleviate feelings of anxiety and isolation among teens in the Treasure Valley. After realizing our community has a shortage of spaces offering free resources for teens to foster connections and cultivate new friendships we decided to do something to give teens a space outside of school to meet new friends, feel connected, and enjoy being teenagers.
Teen Takeover is a teens-only (ages 14-18) event designed to create a space of positivity where Boise youth can make memories and relationships outside of the norm. There is a space for everyone.
The high-school-centric program includes all kinds of activities for teens to pick from, including interactive games, live music, friendship bracelet making, photo-ops, nighttime slide rides, free food and drink, spaces to relax and hangout, plus so much more.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, April 19th 2024 | 7–9PM
JUMP is collaborating with local nonprofit Communities for Youth for the next Teen Takeover happening Friday April 19th, 2024, from 7-9pm.
Communities for Youth works to empower Idaho communities by connecting parents, schools, and kids with the capacity to recognize and address youth mental health so that all may thrive. Through Upstream Prevention efforts, Communities for Youth works directly with young people and their communities to identify the risks and protective factors in their communities to prevent crises before they start. Our community has seen an uptick of depression and isolation symptoms among teenagers. Communities for Youth is working to build community wide efforts to increase connections for youth—to themselves, to other peers, and to trusted, safe adults—through resources and programs like Teen Takeover.
Activities:
Live Music:
Enjoy live music performed by teen bands provided by the Idaho Fine Arts Academy.
Cozy Questions:
In this space a panel of experts will be available to answer any mental health questions you may have anonymously. Relax, check in on your own mental health, and receive advice and guidance from experts who work with youth each day. Many teens have questions about their own or others' mental health, but they don't always know who to ask or how to trust the information. Get your questions answered in a comfortable environment!
Creative Connections:
Based on an award winning and researched approach called "Project Unlonely," this space will help teens create art that builds toward increasing deeper connections with others.
Casual Connections:
In this laid-back environment we will host games, friendship bracelet making, and connection conversations.
Parent Day Care:
If parents aren’t comfortable leaving their teens, no problem! We have parent daycare where teens can check in their parents for the night. Speakers will be providing mini trainings for parents surrounding mental health knowledge and skills, plus other fun activities. Come hang with us in the lobby!
Transportation
Update: We did not get the minimum amount registered for the bus ride for The City of Boise to provide this service, so free transportation for this event has been cancelled. We hope to offer this service for our next teen takeover event.
COLLABORATORS
Our next event will be in August 2024
Any collaborators looking to participate or teens wanting to be a part of planning future Teen Takeovers, reach out to teentakeover@jumpboise.org.