Hawk Hangout teens at LAMS decorating their float for Homecoming. Photo by Eric Burnside
COUNTY News:
Last November marked the sixth Hawk Hangout event – and it continues to gain popularity among students.
Named by the students, Hawk Hangout is a free monthly gathering that engages middle school kids in fun social activities that are generously hosted and sponsored by Los Alamos County Recreation, Teen Court, Library and Social Service departments, in collaboration with the Los Alamos Middle School, YMCA, Youth Activity Center and SALA Los Alamos Event Center.
Through a shared commitment to youth and community, this partnership is an effort to provide a safe space for socialization for the middle school youth in the community. And the good news, other Los Alamos community organizations are welcome to join this worthwhile effort by emailing Brendan Tuning at Brendan.tuning@lacnm.us.
Organizers had low expectations going into the first event in May of 2022. It was a week after school was out for possible evacuations due to the Cerro Pelado fire, and there were concerns that the kids wouldn’t know about the event. It was held at Ashley Pond with laser tag, button making, and water balloon fights. To everyone’s surprise, close to 200 kids showed up to take part in the activities. The next event was held in June, during Summer. Yard games and food were set up at Ashley Pond, and 77 kids attended. In August, the first activity for the school year, 79 kids showed up to roller skate and eat cotton candy. To decorate the Homecoming float, play field games and eat pizza, 157 kids attended in September. For the October event, SALA hosted a free movie day – letting the 150 kids choose what movies to watch in two different theaters. For the sixth event in November, 128 kids came to decorate cookies, drink hot chocolate and ice skate. Evan Allen, a 7th grader said his favorite activity was the movie day, “I had not been to a movie for so long, it was great to see a movie in a theater again!” However, no matter the event, food and music are a priority. “I like the free food; it is the best,” Madison King said, a 7th grader.
According to Judge Allen with Los Alamos Municipal Court, planning the activities with the event organizers has been a collaborative endeavor. Every organization provides adult supervision, food, games, or resources. “In our professional capacity, we often work with kids in our individual silos in particular circumstances, however, coming together to provide Hawk Hangout has been a great experience. We get to interact with kids we never would normally get to see, and also see how other leaders in our community work with kids,” Allen said. She continued, “This has allowed community leaders to jointly brainstorm more ways in which we can meet the unique needs of our community’s youth.”
Youth Services Supervisor Melissa Mackey said, “It’s great to talk with the kids and they are so appreciative.”
Allen explains that the framework developed for Hawk Hangout focuses on three priorities:
- Ensuring there are caring adults;
- youth participation; and
- and events are inclusive.
This framework was built around developmental research that shows that youth who experience caring, mentorship-like relationships with caring adults have less externalizing behavior problems (bullying) and internalizing problems (depression). The aspects of participation and inclusivity are to ensure these activities draw in students to participate. Charis Stahl, a 7th grader who has attended Hawk Hangout, said, “Hawk Hangouts are fun. It’s nice to hang out with friends when not worried about schoolwork.”
Event organizers survey the kids frequently about what types of activities they would like to have, with requests for a pool day, game day all in the works for future activities. With each event, volunteers often remark on how grateful and happy the kids seem.
The hope for the event organizers is that these events will continue to attract middle school students, and, that additional community support and collaboration will help them be successful in the future.
For example, in February, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) has volunteered to host an activity in connection with the library for a game day – video games in the planetarium and board games at the library. Ashleigh Lusher, program coordinator for PEEC was asked why PEEC is willing to host a Hawk Hangout, “We think it is important for everyone to have a connection to nature. This has been a hard age group to reach, and we are excited to find more ways to get involved with these kids.”
Movies! Kids voted on 5 Halloween movies, the top 2 were shown. This theater showed Nightmare Before Christmas while another theater showed Hocus Pocus. Photo by Eric Burnside
Kids have been to the ice rink twice for Hawk Hangout – in August for roller skating, and in November for ice skating. This activity the kids also had free hot chocolate and could decorate cookies. Photo by Eric Burnside
