With the fall semester approaching, the Jack Bulik Teen Center is going to be a major hub for teens going on fun trips, taking specialized classes, and signing up for service-oriented activities. Between special events, regular programming, SMART KIDS, and the Fontana Activity Club for Teens (F.A.C.T.) the youth center will be a very busy place come September.

In early fall, the Teen Center will host a number of special events. Fall highlights include the Back to School Bash, the Monster Bash, the second annual Halloween Haunted House, as well as a visit to Knott's Scary Farm. As an added incentive, all of the special events include raffles and contests.

The Back to School Bash will be Friday September 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A visit to "Knott's Scary Farm" is scheduled for October 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. The Teen Center will also host the Monster Bash on Friday, October 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Wednesday, October 31 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., the second annual Halloween Haunted House will be held at the Teen Center. Of course, students and parents will continue to take classes available through the fall programming schedule.

A registration period for the regularly scheduled programs at the Teen Center will begin in August. Two dance classes are offered through the center. The Salsa and Rumba dance

classes are usually filled with dancers of all ages. According to Victoria Zendejas, community services coordinator at the Teen Center, the class draws many family members.

"It's not just for teens. We have had a mother and son sign up and a father and daughter take the class. Some of the students that have signed up have been as young as ten years old," says Zendejas.

Others sign up for the Hip Hop Dance Classes which are for beginning and intermediate level students. Two Fridays per month, the popular Movie Watcher Club offers a great film, popcorn, punch, and movie trivia questions to students.

As a Smart Kid provider, the center works with the Boys and Girls Club, Healthy Fontana, Fontana Unified School District and others to provide middle schools in the area with the SMART KIDS program. The Teen Center works with students enrolled at Jurupa Hills Middle School, Sequoia Middle School, Truman Middle School, and Almeria Middle School. Almeria program registrants are encouraged to contact the Boys and Girls Club at (909) 822-4988, all other students should contact the Teen Center directly at (909) 428-8393.

Others may choose to volunteer their time to help the Teen Center and receive special perks.

The F.A.C.T. volunteer program is for teens in grades 5 through 12 who actively participate in citywide special events. The hours volunteered are used to earn Lucky Bucks. The "bucks" can be redeemed for discounted tickets for the highly coveted Teen Excursions. Teens in F.A.C.T. also work at the Teen Center's snack bar selling items to raise money that goes back into program operations.

Membership at the Jack Bulik Teen Center is one of the best deals in Fontana. At an annual fee of only $1.00, teens can enjoy themselves Monday through Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Teen Center programming has expanded while the membership fees are kept at this highly affordable level thanks to U.S. Congressman Joe Baca, who in 2005 managed to secure $317,440 in funding for the center. The three-year grant was an earmark under the Fund for the Improvement of Education program of the United States Department of Education. In addition, $100,000 was presented to the City by County Supervisor Paul Biane in May 2005. In July, 2007, it was announced that Congressman Baca had generously earmarked another $100,000 for the Jack Bulik Teen Center.

The center is conveniently located downtown at 16581 Filbert Street between Cypress and Juniper Avenues. SMART KIDS is held daily from noon to 6:00 p.m. To find out more about the back to school programs, or to register, please contact the Jack Bulik Teen Center at (909) 428-8393 or go online to www.fontanarecreation.org.