Whether spending money while exploring downtown shops, going to the mall, or even just grabbing a bite to eat, finding fun activities can get expensive! No one wants to forgo the chance to have fun — so for the high schooler trying to be frugal, the student anticipating loan debt, or anyone wishing to save money for a rainy day, it can be beneficial to explore awesome cost-effective events for students of high school age and beyond.
The Portland Winter Light Festival
The Portland light show is an interactive art installment that encourages Portlanders to get outside, walk around, and enjoy the brisk winter air. It’s open Feb. 2-10 and is completely free to attend, boasting interactive art installments and live music, according to Travel Portland. This year’s theme is ‘Glowing Under Pressure’ inspired by bioluminescence under the sea. Consistent with that theme, the art show is powered by renewable energy resources. The light show also hosts food carts if you feel a bit peckish. To learn more about the Portland Winter Light Festival, check out The Post’s news article on it!
The Bodecker Foundation
The Bodecker Foundation is an arts-based program affiliated with Nike that hosts artistic workshops and cohorts for students ages 14-18. According to former Franklin English teacher and Youth Program Coordinator at Bodecker Jordan Souza, Bodecker’s mission is “to spark young people to realize their creative power through immersive learning experiences.”
Their appreciation of arts and innovation is evident. At Bodecker, creating accessible opportunities for youth to find community and explore the arts means free workshops on a range of topics. Sneaker and apparel design, skate culture, film, creative writing, and musical recording/engineering are all examples of programs they offer.
Personally, I had the opportunity to compete in the virtual poetry slam hosted by Bodecker during the pandemic and was able to go to their studio downtown. Memory is fallible, but the sights I saw in the Bodecker studio stuck with me. “We want young people in Portland to think of Bodecker when they are looking for a place to be creative and collaborative,” says Souza. Their spring workshops about songwriting and cartoon making are now open for applications. To sign up for their free workshops, check out their website at bodeckerfoundation.org.
Portland Community College Library
Whether it’s the allure of your own bed, the baboonish behavior of siblings, or the nagging parent that distracts you, we’ve all struggled to study peacefully at home. At least personally, even a place to hang out with friends under the guise of “studying” is a desired location. However, the cold weather coupled with the fact that they’ll kick you out of warm spaces like the school library — speaking from experience — creates barriers for nice study spaces.
Portland Community College’s (PCC) location on Division is a tranquil library space, just a five minute drive or an easy bus ride from Franklin. Free for usage, the upstairs rooms overlook the greenery of campus. You can bring friends and food, and no one will bat an eye. If you’re feeling talkative, you may ask the front desk if a study room is available, since in those rooms you don’t have to be quiet.
The library is also a couple of minutes away from an affordable crepe shop called Mojo’s with a colorful mural and pool tables for cheap. I highly recommend the Mojo’s/PCC double stop combo.
Portland Parks And Recreation Job Opportunities
Dominick Dawson, the recreation leader for the TeenForce program — programs and activities available to teenagers across Portland, hosted by Portland Parks and Recreation — explains that there are many different job opportunities through Portland Parks and Recreation available to teenagers during the summer that he wishes more students knew about.
Dawson himself happens to be a Franklin graduate, and said he began working with Parks and Recreation in high school. He encourages students to take advantage of their job opportunities during high school, because the positions they offer are paid by the government and look good on any resume.
Portland Parks and Recreation Open Spaces and Classes
The Parks and Recreation programs’ mission is “to provide safe spaces for youth ages 10-20 years old, to engage in pro-social activities surrounded by caring adults,” says Dawson. Their events and programs are available after school every week from Monday through Friday at the following locations: Matt Dishman Community Center, Montavilla Community Center, Charles Jordan Community Center, and East Portland Community Center.
One thing I love about TeenForce’s drop-in programs is that there’s no need to plan far in advance to access their open gyms and team room spaces; once you have your TeenForce pass, it can be a spontaneous decision. In addition to the drop-in spaces, they also have classes on a variety of subjects which teens can register for.
The Portland Art Museum
According to their website, the museum has launched a ‘Free Thursdays program,’ which makes it free for anyone to attend on the first Thursday of every month. The art museum also offers programs to reduce the cost of admission for minors, veterans, and for those in active-duty military.
The above programs are just a few ideas to explore, and there are many more than can be covered in one article. Look into Friends of Noise if you are interested in music. They offer opportunities to get involved in the music scene, learn to navigate the professional world, and they provide workshops and concerts for all ages. Check out the North Pole Studio, a program that supports artists with developmental/intellectual disabilities, and in general works to increase opportunities for artists to thrive. Get a free membership at 24 Hour Fitness for the summer if you’re a student. Whatever it is you’re interested in, there are many ways to indulge in your passions without breaking the bank!
