School Year Programs 2024-25
Welcome! Programs run weekdays throughout the school year and are open to any high-school-aged teen. ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE, though donations are welcome.
We recommend registration prior to coming to NZ, but teens can register on-site. Try out a program at any time, or let us know your ideas to start something new! Questions? Contact Hananiah Wiggins at hananiah@neutral-zone.org.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media and event calendar for concerts, events, workshops, art shows and special projects. Come on and stop by any program that looks interesting to check it out
PRogram Schedule 2024-25
All teens are welcome to come in at 2:30 every day after school to hang out, grab a snack and connect with friends.
Drop-in Mon-Fri 2:30-6 PM.
Click for a list of programs by day.
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
Visual Arts Council
Mondays 4-6 PM
Collaborate with a hub of creative teens to make art and host creative events.
Podcasting - That’s What You Missed
Thursdays 4-6 PM
Develop, write, record, and release your own podcast with like minded enthusiasts. If you have something to say, we want to hear it!
Vocal Techniques
Tuesdays 2:30 - 4 PM
Explore musical ideas, write lyrics, compose melodies, create chord progressions and become performance-ready.
Little Jams
Wednesdays 4-6PM
Jam out with a group of musicians who are passionate about learning and exploring the sounds of the world. All levels of music experience are welcome.
Partnership with Little Bands Music School.
Game On
Fridays 4-6 PM
Explore new technologies in design and coding to create your own video games, apps, and more.
![Riot Youth Fridays 4:30-6 PMRiot Youth is youth-led social support and social justice program for LGBTQ+ teens at the Neutral Zone. It has been serving SE Michigan for [22] years through weekly meetings, lobbying, attending school board meetings, and educating regional teachers, peers, and medical professionals. We hope you will join us!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b27fbc11137a6da730bc331/1600356768331-SOMHBNGIJN00TD8CZRX8/Pink%25252Band%25252BPurple%25252BGym%25252BBack%25252Bto%25252BBusiness%25252BFlyers.jpg)
Riot Youth
Fridays 4-6 PM
Join a community of LGBTQIA+ teens dedicated to social justice and building a network of support.
TECH SKILL PROGRAMS
Beat Production
Mon & Thurs 2:30-4 PM
Create digital music using audio workstations that host Native Instruments hardware and software.
Youth Owned Record Label
Tuesdays 4-6 PM
Learn audio engineering skills and discover and sign youth musicians to record, promote and sell their original music with Neutral Zone’s own record label “Youth Owned Records.”
NZ Poetry Workshop
Tuesdays 4-6 PM
Love to read, write or share poetry? Meet up and write together and learn fro each other every Tuesday.
DJ Program
Wednesdays 2:30 -4 PM
This hands-on DJ program will teach the fundamentals of DJing and give you the tools to start crafting your own unique sound!
PROJECTS
Future Corps - High School
See our events calendar for the most updated dates and times of our workshop series, from
October 8th, 4:30-6PM
November 12th, 4:30-6PM
December 10th, 4:30-6PM
Set goals, create plans, and achieve your personal and academic goals. Engage in support for a first-time job opportunity, technical training, and college.
Click here for info about the Future Corps Adult Transition 18-24 program.
NaNoWriMo Writers Circle
Kickoff October 4th 6:30- 8 PM, regular meetups through November
November is National Novel Writing Month. We'll be starting early to talk about our upcoming writing projects, whether it’s short stories, novels, plays, or poems! Come to the kickoff or contact danielle@neutral-zone.org
YOUTH NOW CLIMATE ACTION
Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month, 4:00-6 PM
Raise awareness and integrate green environmental practices to address climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and build a more resilient future for us all.
Partnership between the City of Ann Arbor, Leslie Science & Nature Center and Neutral Zone.
Consent Matterz
Date and Time TBD
To join and get updates, email hananiah@neutral-zone.org
A project for youth to come together to learn, understand, inform and lead workshops on consent in relationships and in our lives.
Musical Theater Revue
Date and Time TBD
To join and get updates, email danielle@neutral-zone.org
Do you have a song in your heart? Do you want to get up and perform? This is the project for you. No experience is necessary, we will work together with all levels of talent to put together a performance to be proud of.
Final performance on Friday, December 6th at 7PM.
START YOUR OWN PROJECT
Do you have a great idea for a project? We support young people to envision, create and lead their own programs at Neutral Zone. To get started, call (734) 214-9995, or email Hananiah Wiggins, Program Director, hananiah@neutral-zone.org
LOTS MORE TO COME
Revisit this page throughout the year or follow us on social media for the most up to date visiting artists, workshops and new projects!
Current Covid Guidelines
Neutral Zone implements the following Covid guidelines to prioritize the safety of our teens, staff and community.
Across all programs, NZ is “Mask Friendly” because we know that some families/students are more comfortable continuing to mask, especially while indoors. We strongly encourage all youth to be vaccinated.
Requirements are based on the CDC’s community alert levels for Washtenaw County.
Green (low) = masks are optional indoors
Yellow (medium) = masks are optional indoors
Red (high) = masks are required indoors
We ask anyone who has recently been sick or has someone sick in their home to wear a mask. If anyone has had a recent COVID exposure, we encourage them to rapid test and mask for five days.
Questions? Contact Hananiah Wiggins at hananiah@neutral-zone.org