Tweens + Teens
The JCC is dedicated to providing a supportive environment for adolescents to explore their interests, build positive relationships, and develop new skills while building community. Please see the following programs and opportunities tailored just for Teens + Tweens!
Fall 2024 Programs: Registration will be opening on or before June 30. Here is a list of the amazing programs available to teens and tweens this fall:
Arts
Ceramics: Handbuilding + Wheel Throwing (10–13 Years)
Bold Pop (10–13 Years)
Cooking Social: Easy Fun Fad Foods (11–15 Years)
High School Portfolio Prep Class (Grades 7–8)
Fitness, Health + Wellness
Fitness Training (10-18 Years)
Pilates 4 Attention + Mindfulness (10–13 Years)
Joyful Journeys Yoga (14–18 Years)
Learning, Leadership + Skill Building
BBYO (Grades 8–12)
Off the Bimah (Grades 6–7)
Mental Wellness Fellowship (Grades 10–12)
Teen Mental Health First Aid Training (Grades 10–12)
Babysitting + CPR Safety Course (11–15 Years)
LGBTQ+ Book Club (12–15 Years)
Writing the Character-Driven College Essay (Grades 11–12)
Social Justice + Volunteerism
Mitzvah Sundays (Middle School or 10–13 Years)
Community Cooks (12–15 Years)
Teen Volunteer Corps (High School or 14–18 Years)
Jewish Youth Climate Movement (14–18 Years)
Ceramics: Handbuilding + Wheel Throwing (Ages 10–13)
The class will cover techniques such as pinching, coiling, and slab-building while introducing the pottery wheels to create personalized art pieces.
Improv for Teens (Ages 14–18)
Join in the fun of laughter and self-expression in this new Teen Improv class! This fun, no-pressure program enables creativity and teamwork. Through engaging exercises and games, participants will develop communication skills and practice thinking on their feet in a supportive environment.
Cooking Social Series: Easy Fun Fad Foods! (Ages 10–18)
Join chef instructor Jennifer Abadi for a fun 5-week cooking series for tweens/teens inspired by the coolest recipes on social media. It's a great way to make new friends and level up those kitchen skills. Register for the Tween Section (10-13) or the Teen Section (14-18) today!
Bold Pop Dance (Ages 9–12)
This high-energy dance class, taught by Bold Arts, combines elements of hip-hop, jazz, and other popular genres that promote strength and coordination through music and storytelling.
Teen Fitness 4 Life* (14–18)
It's hard to know which Fitness guru to follow on Instagram and TikTok. Join fitness trainer and neuro-anatomy buff Mike Kalajian for an 8-session experiential class preparing you to understand the human body better, train safely at the gym, and move through life. Leave with the knowledge to discern which gurus to add to your feed.
Small Group Fitness Training (Ages 10–18)
A fun and effective way for tweens to improve their fitness and health while building relationships with their peers. A qualified trainer provides personal instruction and works closely with the group. Each group will be formed by gender identity. Register today for either the Tween Section (10–13) or the Teen Section (14–18).
JoyFul Journeys: Yoga for Teens* (Ages 14–18)
Guided by core yoga principles of yoga, this eight-week workshop will teach mindful movement and breathing techniques to help alleviate stress, better understand the connection between mind and body, and foster self-discovery and emotional regulation. These sessions will be a space to cultivate joy in community with one another, while exploring who we are and nourishing our mind and body.
Pilates 4 Attention + Mindfulness* (Ages 10–13)
This small-group, six-week class brings awareness to inattentive/hyperactive behaviors and teaches tools for centering, focusing, and slowing down. Class is appropriate for participants with or without a formal diagnosis.
Did you know that the JCC Health Club is one of few in the city that offers Teen Membership (14-17 years)? Teen Members enjoy amazing benefits, including full access to our state-of-the-art fitness center, pools, basketball courts, pickleball games, group exercise classes, wellness programs on stress resilience, and more. Teens also get special member discounts on customized guidance to gain fitness comfort and conditioning goals through JCC Personal Training. For more information on Teen Memberships, email joinjccmmjccm.org or call 646.505.5700.
Tween + Teen Personal Training offers customized guidance to boost fitness knowledge comfort, and achieve age-appropriate goals with certified JCC Personal Trainers who specialize in working with youth. Your tween/teen can train independently, with a friend, or in a small group and will learn how to safely use fitness equipment, weight training techniques, gym etiquette, and strength and conditioning exercises while gaining self-confidence and healthy habits. From first-timers to young athletes, the JCC is a safe and welcoming environment for youth fitness. To inquire about Tween/Teen Training, email personalservice@mmjccm.org.
Teen Mental Wellness Fellowship* (Ages 14–18)
Learn about the spectrum of mental health and become an advocate for mental wellness for yourself, your peers, and your communities. Join us if you are curious and ready to discuss the tough stuff!
LGBTQ+ Tween Book Club* (Ages 12–15)
Turn to the next page to discover inclusive storytelling and thoughtful discussion in our new Tween Book Club! Designed for LGBTQ+ tweens within the Jewish community, the LGBTQ+ Tween Book Club offers a welcoming space to explore books that reflect their unique experiences and identities.
Off-the-Bimah B’nai Mitzvah Program (Ages 11–12)
Available for Grades 6 + 7, this two-year B’nai Mitzvah program ushers children into young Jewish adulthood and encourages ways to continue their spiritual connection.
BBYO (Ages 14–18)
The JCC chapter of BBYO Manhattan offers a place for teens to grow as individuals, build leadership skills, socialize, and be part of a larger community.
Babysitting Safety Course (Ages 11–15)
This certification course lays the groundwork for becoming a successful and confident babysitter, focusing on important safety, caregiving, and first-aid tips. The course will be offered on Jan, 21 and March 3.
JCC Teen Volunteer Corps (Ages 14–18)
Join the JCC Teen Volunteer Corps and engage in acts of kindness and community service to heal the world, starting in our UWS community. This volunteer-centered program offers teens a platform to impact the lives of others and themselves while connecting with Jewish values. Space is limited.
R + R Tween + Teen Volunteers
How are you spending your winter Saturdays? Volunteer with R + R! After completing the training prerequisites, tween and teen volunteers can complete their B- Mitzvah project or earn community service hours weekly on Saturdays from Jan-Mar as family helpers, JCC greeters, or hospitality table volunteers. Space is limited.
Become a Tutor with the Koopersmith Family Literacy + Math Program (Ages 14–18)
Join an intergenerational cohort of tutors for culturally responsive training and tutoring throughout the school year. All tutoring occurs onsite at Upper West Side partner schools and other locations during after-school hours.
Mitzvah Sundays (Ages 10–13)
Join other tweens on Mitzvah Sundays for hands-on community service and Jewish service learning, with different monthly projects.
Teen + Tween Community Cooks (Ages 12–16)
Tweens and teens come together to prepare a delicious home-cooked meal for a local organization while exploring values connected to hunger and homelessness.
Tweens After Dark (Ages 10–13)
Saturday night at the JCC is the place to be. Each themed event features engaging activities for tweens to have fun, build community, and give back. The program meets Sat, Feb 10, Sat, Apr 6, Sat, June 1.
*These programs were developed by the Teen Mental Health Initiative. For more information, contact Naomi Skop Richter at nskoprichter@mmjccm.org.