It can be difficult to find meaningful activities for teens during the pandemic. Here are a few great options:
TeenBloc’s Summer Youth Organizing Academy
TeenBloc, the youth division of A+ Schools, will be hosting a virtual Summer Youth Organizing Academy for high school students from August 10-14.
If your teen wants to learn more about Pittsburgh’s education system and how to advocate to improve it, the Organizing Academy is a great way for them to do so while meeting other passionate teen advocates. Email cdrew@aplusschools.org to sign up!
Peercorps engages middle and high school students in meaningful volunteer experiences within their communities. Through leadership development, social justice learning, and community building, PeerCorps strengthens young Jewish teens’ Jewish identity and commitment to Tikkun Olam.
High school participants in PeerCorps help organize activities and serve as mentors for middle school participants. Sign up at https://werepair.org/peercorps-pittsburgh!
Teen Programming at the JCC
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh has many programs for teenagers that are still operating virtually!
The Sunburst School of Music right here in Squirrel Hill is offering classes and summer camps over Zoom for kids and teens of all ages! For more information on Sunburst’s many wonderful offerings, see https://sunburstmusic.com/programs.
Luminari Free Online Camps for Teens
Luminari Camps offers camps relating to diplomacy, public speaking, writing, and cooking. Because the pandemic has made these camps impossible to do in person, they are offering free online materials on all four topics! For more information, see https://www.luminari.org.
Unfortunately, due to the severe weather forecast of potential damaging winds, large hail, and dangerous lightning, the August 22nd Squirrel Hill Night Market scheduled was canceled. The safety of our visitors, vendors, staff, and community is our top priority. We want to extend a huge thank you to Uncover Squirrel Hill and I Made It! Market for prioritizing everyone’s well-being.
The Uncover Squirrel Hill and I Made It! Market teams are working on rescheduling (hopefully for this coming Saturday!) and we will share the confirmed date as soon as it's locked in.
Volunteers for the Night Market Litter Patrol will be needed to assist with setup, litter pickup, changing trash bags, and teardown for the event that depends entirely on dedicated community volunteers! We will share how you can sign up to support the cleanup crew.
The Squirrel Hill Farmers Market runs every Sunday through mid-December at the Beacon-Barlett Parking Lot. The SHUC booth will be there on the fourth Sunday of each month, with date adjustments for August 30th and September (moved to October 18th).
Preserving, Improving, and Celebrating the Quality of Life in Squirrel Hill
For over fifty years, the Coalition has been an active and important link in the community. It has served as a sounding board for new ideas, as well as a “watchdog” in the areas of public safety, education, residential quality, the business district, and parks and open space. With its focus on the quality of life in the 14th Ward, SHUC continues to monitor activities and future developments in the community through a range of standing committees.
