The Old Firehouse Teen Center (OFTC), 1440 Chain Bridge Road, is a division of the McLean Community Center that hosts activities such as middle school dances, study sessions and camps for local teenagers.
“The age group which goes to the center is around 90 percent middle school kids, and around 10 percent high school kids,” said Dennis Richardson, OFTC manager.
Every Friday night, the center hosts dances for middle school students. They run from 7-10 p.m. and are supervised at all times. Activities at the dances include a DJ, music videos, a game room, dance floor and a snack bar. To be allowed inside, one must have an annual membership which is $25 for McLean residents and $30 for non-residents in McLean.
“I have some great memories from going to the firehouse. In seventh grade it was the place to be; all my friends from school were there and it was just a place where we could all hang out,” says McLean High School sophomore Sadie Gillis. “It’s just a really fun place to go at that age.”
ALSO DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, there is an OFTC 'Afterschool Adventure' Program, which is every day from 2:30-6 p.m. after school. Students will be offered a daily activity, tutors, snacks and transportation to off-site events. It is $375 for residents, $400 for nonresidents per quarter.
The OFTC also hosts camps during the summer.
"We offer two different sorts of camps. One is more adventure oriented, and that’s the ‘Extreme August Experience’, and then we have ‘YES!’, which is short for ‘Youth Enjoying Summer.’” said Richardson.
YES! runs from June 21 to Aug. 6 and includes playing sports at local parks, visiting museums, swimming and catching up on summer reading. The camp runs between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost is $120 a month/$35 a week.
The Extreme August Experience camp is more trip-oriented, as opposed to YES! Every day during a session (a week long), campers will go to an activity such as Cameron Run Water Park, Vans Skate Park, and the Baltimore Aquarium. The sessions are Aug. 9-13, Aug.16-20 and Aug. 23-27. The cost is $350 for residents, $375 for nonresidents per week.
The OFTC also provides "summer drop-in hours" Aug. 30-Sept. 3, from 2-6 p.m.