White Birch Center welcomed local youth and families to a preview event for the new Youth Hub at the Cornerstone Building in Henniker on May 12, marking an exciting step in expanding opportunities for area preteens and teens.
Students who participated in Youth Hub focus groups and surveys were invited to
experience the new space they helped shape. Youth enjoyed pizza, games, painting,
table hockey and other activities while exploring the Hub and connecting with peers.
The Youth Hub is an out-of-school-time program of White Birch Center created to
address service gaps and interests for older youth in the community. Input from
students at Henniker Community School and John Stark Regional High School helped
guide both programming and the design of the space. Primarily serving students in
grades 5-8, the Hub will offer recreation, arts, homework support, mentoring, leadership
development, wellness activities and supervised social time in a safe, supportive
environment. Additional workshops, professional development initiatives, project space,
and volunteer and community engagement opportunities will also be available for high
school students.
Feedback from the preview event was overwhelmingly positive, with youth enjoying the
comfortable space and variety of food and activities, and parents expressing
appreciation for a safe, enriching local program.
Dawn Lavallee, the Youth Hub program coordinator, said she was thrilled by the turnout
and enthusiasm shown by participants. “The excitement in the Hub was contagious,”
said Lavallee. “I can’t wait to incorporate the youths’ ideas into both relaxed and
intentional program opportunities that help to build the community they want to create.”
The Youth Hub is open with regular drop-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
2:30–6 p.m. Expanded hours and programming will be offered in the fall. Program
registration and permission forms must be completed prior to attendance. For more
information, contact Dawn Lavallee at dawnl@whitebirchcc.org.