Third Places for Youth

“Third Places” (sometimes called “Third Spaces”) have been a growing topic of interest following the closure of many public spaces in recent years. Third places are spaces outside of home or work/school where people can set aside issues from home or work/school, relax, gather with friends, have social interaction, build a sense of community and find belonging. Social scientists have associated the availability and use of third spaces with overall happiness and well-being.

Adolescent psychology research demonstrates that teens need social interaction to thrive. As third places for teens have become limited, many turn to online social networking to fill the gap. These are a poor substitute to in-person peer interactions, and excessive use of social media can harm adolescent development in many ways.

The ROCK Out-of-School Time program fills this gap, providing a third space for teens to build community and belonging with their peers. Participants build friendships with students in other grades and classes, who they only get to know because The ROCK. These opportunities to develop meaningful relationships are important for adolescent well-being.

Access to third places has been demonstrated to build adaptive response in adolescents. This means teens who may be struggling from personal factors such as bullying, trauma or social oppression are able to maintain their well-being despite these obstacles.

The ROCK provides a safe, welcoming space for teens throughout the region. Our programs are built on a foundation of wellbeing and positive psychology. We provide access to fun activities, snacks,  mentors, and opportunities for healthy peer interactions. The ROCK provides important third places for youth to create their community and foster belonging, building their wellbeing and helping them thrive.