[MR] Giving teens something to do

[Terri Morgan]

<snip>
> However, I have noticed that apparently the teens
> tend to congregate around the bathhouse as their
> 'hangout' spot during Pennsic and, according to a
> few parents, the teens are quite happy with the
> arrangement. 

So far as I know, that is true. The difficulty this year was a continuing
one of a trashed-out room in the morning, full of things like pizza boxes
and personal items.

> Maybe an option would be to provide a more 'suitable'
> spot for the teens to hangout.  I don't know what the
> odds are for Pennsic to put aside a spot with a pavilion
> and some tables and chairs for the teens - or maybe
> even a merchant take the coffeehouse idea that many 
> of the adults have had great fun in and open an "Under 21"
> coffeehouse.  

There had once been a teen pavilion. It was under-used (I believe because it
didn't support electrical equipment) and then was, unfortunately, badly
damaged one night with no one stepping forward to accept responsibility.

I like the coffee-shop idea. I also like the teens using the bath-house. And
again, I suggest that if they, themselves, organised a nightly sign-up at
someplace like Public Safety to assure the adults that the space would be
clean and items returned to the owners or lost and found, it would not be a
problem. A simple 
"Monday, Aug. 5: James Datle, of camp AnimeLovers and Sarah of Atlantian
Royal will be in charge of making sure the Bathhouse area is 'policed'
before it closes. 
Tuesday, Aug 6: Goose of ClanAnimal and Joann of the barony of Marinus
will..." 
and so on.

With privilege comes responsibility.

Hrothny