SCHWEINFURT, Germany (Nov. 26, 2013) -- Jaclyn Lloyd was quick on the introduction at a recent town hall here. She's the new director of the Youth of the Chapel, and, despite closure next fall, she has a wide-range of activities planned for the coming months.

"We have weekly events, we have special events, and we have big camps that we take the kids on," Lloyd said.

Schweinfurt's Youth of the Chapel is an outreach organization provided by Club Beyond, but Lloyd pointed out that it is open to all military teens from sixth through twelfth grade.

"Whether they are in school, out of school or home-schooled, we reach out to all of them," she said. "They don't have to be members of the chapel to come to our events. If they want to come to a camp, they don't have to come to a meeting in their entire life. They just come to camp."

The group holds regular meetings Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Ledward Chapel. They eat, dance and play games before closing the session with a 10-minute talk.

"Last week we did the 'human knot,' a game where they hold hands across a circle and the only possible way to untangle is through communication," Lloyd said.

One upcoming event includes the Fourth Annual Winter Blitz, Dec. 29 through Jan. 4.

It's not too late to sign up. Parents or teens interested should call Jaclyn Lloyd at 09721-96-6021 or DSN 354-6021.

Ketric Wilson, an eighth-grade student who attends the meetings regularly, said that most of his friends are there. He said he gets to know them better because "the activities are more social."

"In the teen center people are more spread out doing their own thing," said Wilson. "That's cool when you want to chill out. At Club Beyond meetings we are doing things together -- there's more interaction."

The meetings, camps and trips are outreach events where the focus is to have fun, break down barriers, and build relationships, Lloyd said.

"We are just an adult to walk beside them while they go through the messiness of the teenage years," she said.

No membership required

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Schweinfurt Youth of the Chapel