Current Issue: February 25, 2010

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Level Teen Lounge provides mentoring for young students

Local teens find a  home in Plymouth; founded by Lakeland alumni

Jenni Klamm

Issue date: 2/25/10

Level, a teen organization which is held at the Plymouth Youth Center, has been running for two consecutive years now. If you read the Muskie Happenings or Volunteer Opportunities, you may already know that Level Teen Lounge has been looking for college-aged mentors for the past couple months. Mentors work with middle school and high school kids to help with homework, give advice, or even act as a friend to play or hang out with after school.

This non-profit organization's roots were planted right here at Lakeland. Kim Oreck, a graduate of Lakeland College, was inspired by Pam Engebretson, the Head of academic advising, and Doctor Don Francis, professor of non-profit organization management. "If it weren't for either of them, this organization would probably have never started. I originally was an education major, but I switched to non-profit and fell in love with it," Oreck stated. However, this was not her first non-profit organization. She also started a group honoring stay-at-home mothers, but she admitted she did not know much about grant writing, among other things, which is why she made the switch.

Oreck realized that the Plymouth community needed something for the kids to do after school to relieve them of boredom, ultimately keeping them out of trouble and away from drugs and alcohol. "I interviewed 275 teens, and this is what they came up with," claimed Oreck. The students who helped Oreck initiate Level's existence were in charge of everything from planning how it would run and the name of the organization to its marketing. "I let the kids take ownership of the whole thing so they felt trusted. If they made a mistake, I let it go; that's how you learn, by finding things out on your own," Oreck stated.

Level provides a safe and drug-free environment for the students after school every day, free of charge. Anyone can come and will feel welcome. "Kids [who] don't feel they fit in anywhere are accepted here," says Oreck, whom is called "Mom" by many of the kids. Depending on the day, 200 students or less show up, drop their coats and books off, and come right inside.

Food and beverages are available to the kids at a low cost - the food ranges from ice cream and pizza to popcorn and hotdogs. "Our prices haven't changed in ten years," said Bennie Fritz, one of the volunteers at Level. He and his wife, Joyce, have been working at the Plymouth Youth Center for many years.

Kids who attend Level can also play video games, board games, billiards, and ping pong, along with other activities. Couches and chairs are located around the room for those who want to relax. According to the Fritz's, "Ninety-nine percent of them are pretty good kids, and they warm up to you quickly." Joyce Fritz added how wonderful it has been to work at the Youth Center for so long. "When you work here from year to year, you see how they grow, and you wonder how they are after they have outgrown the youth programs. Sometimes old kids we had will stop in just to say hello, it's like we're their grandparents."

Every second Friday of the month, middle school students are invited to dances hosted by Level at the Youth Center. The cost is $4, and usually fills the building's maximum capacity of 200. Other special events run by Level include concerts, murder mysteries, movie nights, and whatever else the kids can come up with. The high school Level is on Saturday nights, and they, too, have frequent dances.

The current mentors are there to keep an eye on things, while having fun working with the kids. "The Fritz's can't do everything themselves, so we are here to help, but we all enjoy working here," stated Bob Baier, a regular volunteer mentor. "It is something free where kids can come, enjoy themselves, and relax - personally, I think that's pretty cool." Baier explained the interworking of Level by adding, "It's a process; college students would ideally help high schoolers, and high schoolers would ideally help middle schoolers. That way the mentors are more on your level, hence, the name."

"At first, I wasn't excited about the name, but it grew on me," stated Oreck. "It really sums up the whole organization." When Oreck was teaching theatre, she noticed that kids responded to those who were closer to their own age, rather than teachers who were 20-plus years older than them. "The larger the generational gap, the less kids are interested in what you have to say," stated Oreck.

For that very reason, more mentors are needed. Level is always looking for more volunteers. Normally, there are about two to five mentors, but that is not enough to efficiently and effectively influence 200 kids. Mentors are positive role models who the kids can look up to. The interaction you have with them is more powerful than you could imagine.

"One positive word to kids [is that they] can make a difference for the rest of their lives," she added. For instance, "College may be stressed by the parents of a child, but they may not care until someone closer to their age says it. That's why we have mentors stress the importance of college."

"When you work with the kids at Level, you are saying 'Hey! You're special and worth spending time with!' That can mean the world to one kid because some of their parents do not care," Oreck added.

Helping these kids will also benefit you. The pay may be minimal, but there are plenty of scholarships out there for students who volunteer for non-profit organizations. You will also learn a broad spectrum of skills and it keeps college students, especially, in check. "Instead of pubin' or playing beer pong because you're bored on a Friday night, you can be a role model and impact others' lives," stated Oreck.

Quite a few Lakeland students already volunteer at Level, and Engebretson's Core I class helped clean up the building during their community service day.

If mentoring doesn't seem to be your forte, there are other opportunities to help support the Level program. Donating books, furniture, video games, and old movies are all things you could do to help out. As long as the materials are PG-13 and under or "kid-friendly"; donations are greatly appreciated. Level can sometimes offer money for items you want to get rid of, especially the "Twilight" books.

Level has plans of expanding to communities nationwide. Among their future plans are dance lessons, grants to pay volunteers, a new location for high schoolers, and summer programming.

As a final statement, the Fritz's added, "I think [Level is] doing a very good thing.[Students] need a place to go and do things." Oreck added, "Volunteering at Level really opens your eyes up to what goes on in the community. I've had to place homeless kids with families before, so this is a great opportunity to understand [them]. I was always told at Lakeland, 'If there's a problem, do something about it.' I hope that is what I'm doing with this organization."

For anyone who would like more information, Level has a Facebook page and is also listed as a cause. The permanent location is 609 North Street in Plymouth, right next to Riverview Middle School.

Do you want more information about LEVEL Teen Lounge Inc.?