Los Alamos Teen Center hosts welcome BBQ for incoming freshmen
Free hotdogs, brats and burgers greeted incoming LAHS freshmen Friday as the Teen Center opened its doors to the Class of 2030.
Incoming Los Alamos High School freshmen got a free welcome Friday at the Los Alamos Teen Center, where the Class of 2030 was invited to a barbecue from 3 to 6 p.m. The menu was simple and familiar, with hotdogs, brats and burgers, but the point went beyond lunch: the event gave students a first look at the space, the staff and the routines that can ease the jump from middle school into high school.
The Teen Center said teens who have completed eighth grade and will attend LAHS in fall 2026 became eligible to start using the center on Monday, June 1. For families looking for a place where students can land after the school day, the center is open 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
The center operates in the historic Community Building next to Ashley Pond and spans more than 10,000 square feet of program space. It is operationally funded by Los Alamos County and administered by The Family YMCA, which says the Teen Center’s mission is to strengthen youth self-efficacy and resiliency through educational support and positive youth development programs.
The June barbecue also fit into a larger stretch of summer programming. PAC 8’s Summer Film Intensive ran June 1 through June 18 at the PAC 8 Community Media Center and the Teen Center, open to youth ages 13 to 18 with a limit of 12 students. The Teen Center also has Intergenerational Game Night set for June 7 and 8th Grade Preview Events planned for June 19 and July 17.
The center has been in its current Community Building location since 2015. Earlier reporting said it opened in February 2011, giving it a long track record as a county youth service in Los Alamos. With the free Friday barbecue, the Teen Center used the start of June to do more than host a meal. It offered incoming freshmen and their families a concrete, supervised option for belonging, support and structure before the school year begins.
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