Two years ago, the Lebanon Boys & Girls Club offered little to no opportunities for area teenagers. Only about six to eight teens a day attended activities at the club, at 305 S. Fifth St.

Today, things have changed. This is the second year a satellite teen center at Seven Oak Middle School has been in operation, with about 15 kids a day coming through the doors to do homework, play games, or use computers.

Many club members who were sixth-graders last year are returning as seventh-graders to the satellite site.

"At the end of last year we were getting about 25 kids a day, so to start out with 15 isn't bad," said Lindsay Paul, Seven Oak site supervisor.

The first hour at the club is spent in a modified classroom - or "Focus Room" - where students in sixth-grade and up can do homework, play a board game, or surf the Internet on computers, which are new to the club this year. This quiet time is known as Power Hour.

"They can get homework help here, too. We have time set aside for that. We would like to see all of the kids succeed in school," Paul said.

Sixth-grader Issac Newton agrees. "The homework time is helpful because it gives us time to do it," Newton said.

After Power Hour, teens head into the gym, where there are game tables and other activities. The middle-schoolers play games such as dodgeball and basketball in the gym, but when the weather is nice they head outside outside for activities like recent water balloon fights.

In addition to the new computers, a ping pong and air hockey table have been added to the games area this year. An XBox system and pool tables also are available to teens after Power Hour.

The space at Seven Oak only houses Seven Oak kids and is open from when school gets out until 5:30 p.m. On early release days the satellite club opens when school gets out at 12:11 p.m. But plans are on the horizon to expand, as Paul hopes to open the club area up during the lunch break.

While the Seven Oak program is in the growing stages, the main club handles the bulk of teen population, with about 25 to 30 teens a day.

On Fifth Street, the club is open until 6:30 p.m., and Seven Oak teens are welcome to come there if they would rather. Teens from Hamilton Creek and Lacomb are able to come to main club as well, since school bus drivers' last stop is the club, which is about a block away from the bus parking.

The Fifth Street teen space is located upstairs in a space separate from the club's younger population and offers activities similar to the Seven Oak site. The teen center is less structured than the rest of the club and offers a Wii gaming system, couches, study tables and bright colors.

"They can focus on getting their homework done, participate in enrichment programs, exercise, or just play games and have fun," said Jason Bolen, teen director.

Brittany Benedict, teen center program staffer, recently painted the room, transforming it from an off-color purple and orange to a blue-yellow-green mix of vibrant colors.

New programs are being added, such as Smart Moves, with a focus on good decision making, and Money Matters, to ready teens for the reality of financial responsibilities. Last year, Central Willamette visited the club's teen center and taught kids how to apply for credit, plan for college, and explain what they should expect when they want a car loan.

"We try to prep these guys and get them ready to roll out into the real world," Bolen said.

Another addition to the club's teen program are dances, to be held the first Friday of each month at the club. The dances are called "Club 305" and are for middle-school age teens. A DJ provides the music; soda, pizza, and glow sticks are available for purchase. The next dance is 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 3. The cost is $6 at the door, but $1 off coupons are handed out at school.

Between the two sites, 45 teens a day spend time in the centers.

"Two years ago we had between six and eight [teens]," Bolen added. "We've worked really hard to get this program off the ground. You really can feel the difference when you walk up here."