INUVIK - Teens in Inuvik will have a new place to hang out this weekend, thanks to a successful program originally started in Hay River.

Samuel Hearne Secondary School has started the Lights On program, first initiated by Hay River high schools. The program provides a safe place for students to hang out on Saturday nights. Playing board games, from left, are Richard Stewart, Nicole Collison, Kyla Hvatum, Jeremy Cockney and Liam Laroque. - photo courtesy of Heidi Bender

Students at Samuel Hearne Secondary School looking for something to do on Saturday nights in May and June will be able to attend the Lights On program, which hosts a supervised location for teens.

"With the youth centre closed we've heard a lot from students about nothing to do," said Heidi Bender, a Grade 8 teacher at Samuel Hearne, and co-organizer of the program in Inuvik. "Saturday night is a high-risk time for youth. They don't have anywhere to hang out, so we're trying to give them a safe, drug-free area."

The Lights On program started at Hay River schools three years ago, as part of the Not Us campaign, which promotes a drug-free lifestyle by using local faces on posters. Inuvik has recently joined the campaign and will offer the first Lights On evening on May 7 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The school will offer recreational activities, such as floor hockey, badminton, soccer, board games and video games such as Wii for the students.

"Even if we have a small group of students who enjoy the open gym activities, we hope to start building a tradition," Bender said. "And it's not school. It's just about hanging out and having fun."

After youth attend the program, they can fill out a survey and answer questions about what they like or don't like and what they would add or change. Teachers are hoping for positive responses, but are open to changes that will attract students.

The Hay River program started slowly, with only 20 students participating in the first year, but now 50 per cent of the school population attends. The Inuvik program will continue until the end of the school year and then resume in September.

Bender hopes to get the word out so not only students attend, but so that parents can discuss the program with their children.

"If a child asks to go to Lights On, parents will know it's a healthy, safe and positive environment," she said. "It's supervised and there is zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol."

Funding for the program came from the local Not Us committee, which had some leftover money from 2010. After discussion, they decided to pitch the Lights On program to the school. Bender is also looking for volunteers to donate their time by helping with supervision.

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