At the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Burney-Fall River on Thursday December 10, two guest speakers from the Intermountain Teen Center, Jedediah Smith and Kaylynn Harper gave an informative PowerPoint presentation of the center’s history, work and goals.
The meeting was attended by 34 Rotary Club members and guests. After a quick run through of club business and a presentation by a member of the Burney High School Cross Country team, Rotary Club President Bob Jehn introduced the guest speakers.
Rotary President Bob Jehn with Jedediah Smith and Kaylynn Harper
The Intermountain Teen Center is a youth outreach program of the Hill Country Health and Wellness Center. Jedediah Smith is the Youth Program Manager and Kaylynn Harper is the Teen Center Program Coordinator.
The afterschool drop-in program works in two locations. In Round Mountain, there is a center behind Hill Country Clinic that is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6.p.m. In Burney, the center is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6.pm at the Circle of Friends office on the corner of Main and Tamarack. Chelsea Sabin assists Ms. Harper at the center in Burney.
While Ms. Harper coordinates the programs and activities at the two centers, Mr. Smith works one-on-one with at-risk teens and their families to provide counseling and other services.
Kaylynn Harper and Jedediah Smith Speaking at the Rotary Center
The center has held a number of classes on cooking and art. They also have a lot of fun activities, including contests, video games, air hockey, a pool table, board games, art, and music. There are quiet areas to do homework and computers for the young people to use.
Air hockey table at teen center in Burney Photo courtesy of Intermountain Teen Center
The Center is also the launching pad for trips throughout the area. Ms. Harper showed several photos of past trips. The first was a day rafting trip on the Sacramento River.
Rafting trip Photo courtesy of Intermountain Teen Center
Another was a camping trip to Lassen Park with a hike to the top.
Lassen Trip photo by Jedediah Smith
Before the weather got cold, a group from the teen center also enjoyed a trip to Potem Falls
Trip to Potem Falls Photo courtesy of Intermountain Teen Center
If you would like more information, or if you would like to volunteer or donate supplies call Kaylynn Harper or Jed Smith at (530)337-5752, or Chelsea Sabin (for Burney) at 335-4222.
Pit River Country 