‘A fun, creative, safe space for teens’

Washougal residents Grant and Ann Gilson began to realize last summer that east Clark County doesn’t have a lot of suitable locations for teenagers to congregate after their daughter, Abby, who had just finished her seventh-grade year at Liberty Middle School, started asking them to drive her to different places around Camas and Washougal to participate in social activities.

They noticed that the most popular destinations for teens to hang out, such as the Safeway store in Washougal and Top Burger drive-in restaurant in Camas, weren’t exactly traditional, or even entirely appropriate.

“We got to thinking that there really isn’t a spot for teens between the ages of 12 and 18 to just kind of go hang out and not get into trouble, basically,” Grant said. “Even if you’re looking at some of the summer camp stuff and whatnot, it really cuts off at (age) 12. The community desperately needs (a place for teenagers) to hang out.”

The Gilsons have launched an effort to bring a teen center, “a safe place to find confidence, determination and direction to build a responsible future,” to east Clark County.

“It’s going to be a fun, creative, safe space for teens to be able to come hang out, have some autonomy, make good decisions (and participate in) interactive activities and programs,” Grant said. “Ultimately, we want a fun, interactive space for teens to be able to be themselves and build a community.”

The TURF Teen Center will work to “empower local teens to build responsible futures through programs, skills development, and meaningful connections” by “providing opportunities for teens to develop essential life skills, explore their interests, and build meaningful relationships with peers and mentors in a welcoming environment,” according to its website.

“I think it’s absolutely imperative for something like this to come to the community,” said Grant, who has worked in the nonprofit industry for the past 10 years and currently serves as an assistant director for the Coastal Conservation Association of Washington, an advocacy group dedicated to protecting fish in the Pacific Northwest.

“We’re seeing increased numbers and mental illness (in young people). We’re seeing increased numbers of social isolation,” he continued. “The pandemic kind of exacerbated and heightened it. By no means are we mental health experts, but we do know we want to be able to decrease those numbers.”

The Gilsons applied for nonprofit status in 2022. Once they receive word that their application has been approved, they will begin to pursue grants from foundations and community organizations, hold fund-raising events, and build sponsorship partnerships with local businesses to provide the center’s activities and programs at no cost.

They also hope the center can generate revenue through food and drink sales and court rentals.

“We know it’s going to be kind of a tiered process,” Grant said. “In phase one, we’re probably going to be looking at renting a space somewhere within Camas or Washougal, probably a smaller space, just so we can start getting those teens in, getting the programs going, and start building those programs, which will lead us into a capital campaign, (which we’d) like to start probably within the first five years.

“Once we get that 501c3 (status), we can start hitting the donations and building out a development calendar,” he continued. “Right now, we’re community-building and trying to get the word out and build a solid foundation. It will be built by the community, for the community.”

The center will include a variety of amenities, including games, computers and Wi-Fi access, reading areas, a cafe or diner, and a multi-use court for athletics, dancing, roller skating, and educational programs.

The Gilsons are working to form a board of directors and teen advisory board.

“We want the teens to have first say about what they want,” Grant said. “It’s their teen center (and) it’s important to … allow them to have ownership of it.”

For more information, visit theturfcenter.org.