In Northern New Jersey, teen canteens and activity centers are giving young people a safe, supervised place to enjoy games, sports and live music, the North Jersey Media Group reported on March 29.

Non-profits, church groups, schools and municipalities in New Jersey have run teen centers for years, but lately communities seem to be increasing their commitment to providing substance-free hangouts for middle school and high school students.

"By and large there is a general consensus that there are not nearly enough places for teens to go after school and on weekend nights," said Robert Guarasci, president of the non-profit New Jersey Community Development Corporation. "The situation is magnified by the growing number of teens who come from two-parent working families or single-parent families where an adult is not present when they come home from school.

With the help of a grant from the state Department of Human Services, Guarasci's organization runs a teen center for students at the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne and plans to open new centers at Clifton High School and Passaic Valley High School.

Another Wayne location hosting youth activities is St. Michael's Episcopal Church. A teen canteen was started there last year by high school junior and youth group member Chris Rosso as an Eagle Scout project. The events are not faith-focused, but offer basketball, ultimate frisbee, dancing and live music performed by young local rock bands.

The canteens began to draw so many sixth through twelfth graders -- 300 last January -- that it may become a regular monthly event. Wayne Councilman Joseph Schweighardt formed a committee to explore building a teen center that seniors could also use during the day. The committee is sending a survey to residents next month to assess the local opinion.

Activity nights have also been established by schools and community groups in West Milford, Pompton Lakes, Riverdale, Oradell and River Edge, offering sports, video games and even karaoke to entertain teens.