Get teens to Teen Summit

Published 10:49 pm Thursday, August 23, 2018

If you’re a teen or an adult who works with teens, your agenda this Saturday should be full with the sixth annual Teen Summit.

For ages 11 to 17, the conference is held annually by the Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation and the Suffolk Office on Youth. This year, it’s set for the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront.

The sessions will focus on activities and programs that have been developed as part of the Suffolk Initiative on Youth Crime Prevention Plan.

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The theme is “Leading, Inspiring and Thriving,” and adults and teens will participate in programs with topics like health and wellness, self-esteem and goal-setting.

It might seem like today’s teens have it all, but that’s part of the problem. It’s difficult to be a teen in today’s world. The pressures of bullying, social media, relationships, trying to fit in while trying to stand out, increased rates of health problems and more all combine to make the teenage years even more difficult than when today’s adults went through them.

Teens at the Teen Summit will be advised on relevant dilemmas in their daily lives like how to effectively navigate social media while protecting their identities online. Adults will attend sessions like “bridging the gap,” a lesson on the behavioral warning signs among teens that indicate issues that need to be addressed with care.

The conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront located at 100 E. Constance Road. It’s free and open to the public, but registration is required and is only available through today. An after party will follow the conference sessions for those that participate.

For registration, visit Suffolk Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices at 134 S. Sixth St., or download the registration form from www.suffolkva.us/parks. Call 514-7250 for more information.