Oakhurst, CA – On Friday, September 5, 2025, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the new teen center run by MY Club. Located directly across the street from Yosemite High, the teen center will cater to high school-aged children and is open every day after school.

The Mountain Area Youth Organization is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to provide a safe space for the youth of the mountain communities to come together for fun and enriching programs that further the growth of each individual.

I was given a tour of the brand-new facility by Jennifer Simmons, Executive Director of the program. The facility is top of the line. The main room is inviting and fully equipped for the use of local area teens. A pool table, vending machines, games, lounge areas, a stage with a full range of instruments, and that was just the beginning.

Outside, there are basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts, a garden, an outdoor seating area, cornhole, horseshoe pits, and more. Inside, there is a fully equipped kitchen for teaching cooking classes, as well as a career center, where tutoring and resume prep classes will be held.

“Our goals are to provide safe spaces and maximize opportunities for the youth in our community. Teens needed a space to call their own, a place that would focus on their personal development with the support of caring mentors. The MY Club Teen Center is a place where tutors can connect with students, where members can engage in leadership clubs, play intermural sports and recreation activities, participate in cooking classes, career development programs, and lots of other fun and exciting things for teens to do! From basketball to electric guitars, the club has something of interest for everyone! The Teen Center was a dream made possible by community support and consistent fundraising efforts. When you support a MY Club event, you support the youth in our community.” Jennifer Simmons, Executive Director, MY Club