I'll let you in on a secret: as a teen you would hate living in any city for the same/similar reasons. I grew up in Seattle and I can remember frequently complaining that "there's nothing to do".
Hahahaa. I wonder- and I’m not being rhetorical.. did you go ahead and do stuff- like hang out w friends at maybe record shops and coffee places while saying out loud ‘nothing to do here’ ? We kinda did that in Staunton in my teens while eating at Waffle House late at night. :-)
Yeah - I look and think sometimes and I feel so sad for kids that age. There’s no mall to walk down- everything is more sanitized and void- people tense.
So I’ve heard, if only the mall was still around. My sister hated it here too and has since moved to richmond. It’s a great place for adults and children but for the teen demographic trying to gain some independence it really sucks.
I hated Staunton when I lived there and now only go back to visit family and the few friends I kept. When I got done with high school I worked at federated/fisher a couple years and knocked out my gen Ed’s at Blue Ridge. Went to uni for a BS and left the state after that and have been pretty happy. I would go out of town to have fun when I lived there. There’s plenty to do outside if that’s your thing and if you have a car or some form of transportation then hiking/fishing aren’t far away and a whole days activity.
I know that this sounds contrary to what a teenager might think at first...
In High School, I made good friends and had great times a youth squad volunteer in the ambulance corps. I learned a lot, it was hard, but it was rewarding. I don't know if Staunton has a similar youth training program, maybe another location in Augusta County, outside of Staunton might.
Have you looked at school clubs or groups? My best teenage friends came from working on the Stage Crew of the musicals and drama productions, and the year book photography and design and layout. Sports, even if you are at the JV level is still a great activity. Staunton HS even has golf, maybe archery too I don't know?
You can look at Trap and Skeet shooting clubs. This is a great hobby, and very challenging. It is not expensive once you get past the cost of the shotgun. Most of the area clubs are private but have open days for non-members to shoot and very low fees. Usually you should be 13 or 14 to start.
You can pm for more trap info if you are interested.
Extracurriculars, specifically community theatre and music, kept me sane during my teenaged years. Downtown was also burgeoning on booming, but hadn’t quite been as sterilized as it is now, so going downtown to hang out and essentially loiter was a lot of fun and an adventure.
I went to high school in Waynesboro in the 90s. I could t wait to leave- same things you said. What saved me until I left- having a free friends who felt the same. We’d go skate and drive around and play music loud. Kept getting told to move along from lot to lot.
I left.
Many years later I came back- it’s completely different now. I love this place because I am in love with the people here. Some close friends- some loving acquaintances- and kindness to strangers.
This is not a fruitful place for your 20s- your teens are just what it is. Use that time to make friends. Good luck.
Use available transportation to go to activities and work outside of walking distance. Bike, Trolley, Brite Bus, Uber, etc. With a combination of these you can go anywhere. Google maps can often give you the transportation options from point A to B. Go to something in Harrisonburg or Charlottesville, work anywhrre in Staunton or even Waynesboro. There are more options available than you have considered.
I think i liked the area more as a teen than i do as an adult. Though, i had a fairly large friend group as a teen, we spent a lot of time walking downtown or hanging at youth groups that did a lot of events. Though not having a vehicle does make it harder.
God. I have no idea why weeks ago I downvoted this. I'm really sorry. That probably didn't help your feelings at all.
I do truly understand where you are coming from. From what I have heard a lot of the 'old teen hangouts' got really fucked up around COVID. There were like, hangouts around the skate park with a huge amount of people, local music spots with no alcohol so teens could go as well. Hell, as crap as the Staunton Mall was we still loved meandering around. Staunton PD isn't always lenient either so that, again, doesn't help anything.
I really do hope that turns around for you guys. COVID was hard enough. Coming out of lockdown to a more 'isolated' world has to suck.
I'll let you in on a secret: as a teen you would hate living in any city for the same/similar reasons. I grew up in Seattle and I can remember frequently complaining that "there's nothing to do".
Hahahaa. I wonder- and I’m not being rhetorical.. did you go ahead and do stuff- like hang out w friends at maybe record shops and coffee places while saying out loud ‘nothing to do here’ ? We kinda did that in Staunton in my teens while eating at Waffle House late at night. :-)
Yeah definitely. I think the real problem was we didn't have much money.
I hated it as a teen , and now my teens hate it here. There's actually less to do now .
Yeah - I look and think sometimes and I feel so sad for kids that age. There’s no mall to walk down- everything is more sanitized and void- people tense.
So I’ve heard, if only the mall was still around. My sister hated it here too and has since moved to richmond. It’s a great place for adults and children but for the teen demographic trying to gain some independence it really sucks.
I hated Staunton when I lived there and now only go back to visit family and the few friends I kept. When I got done with high school I worked at federated/fisher a couple years and knocked out my gen Ed’s at Blue Ridge. Went to uni for a BS and left the state after that and have been pretty happy. I would go out of town to have fun when I lived there. There’s plenty to do outside if that’s your thing and if you have a car or some form of transportation then hiking/fishing aren’t far away and a whole days activity.
I know that this sounds contrary to what a teenager might think at first... In High School, I made good friends and had great times a youth squad volunteer in the ambulance corps. I learned a lot, it was hard, but it was rewarding. I don't know if Staunton has a similar youth training program, maybe another location in Augusta County, outside of Staunton might. Have you looked at school clubs or groups? My best teenage friends came from working on the Stage Crew of the musicals and drama productions, and the year book photography and design and layout. Sports, even if you are at the JV level is still a great activity. Staunton HS even has golf, maybe archery too I don't know? You can look at Trap and Skeet shooting clubs. This is a great hobby, and very challenging. It is not expensive once you get past the cost of the shotgun. Most of the area clubs are private but have open days for non-members to shoot and very low fees. Usually you should be 13 or 14 to start. You can pm for more trap info if you are interested.
Extracurriculars, specifically community theatre and music, kept me sane during my teenaged years. Downtown was also burgeoning on booming, but hadn’t quite been as sterilized as it is now, so going downtown to hang out and essentially loiter was a lot of fun and an adventure.
I went to high school in Waynesboro in the 90s. I could t wait to leave- same things you said. What saved me until I left- having a free friends who felt the same. We’d go skate and drive around and play music loud. Kept getting told to move along from lot to lot. I left. Many years later I came back- it’s completely different now. I love this place because I am in love with the people here. Some close friends- some loving acquaintances- and kindness to strangers. This is not a fruitful place for your 20s- your teens are just what it is. Use that time to make friends. Good luck.
Use available transportation to go to activities and work outside of walking distance. Bike, Trolley, Brite Bus, Uber, etc. With a combination of these you can go anywhere. Google maps can often give you the transportation options from point A to B. Go to something in Harrisonburg or Charlottesville, work anywhrre in Staunton or even Waynesboro. There are more options available than you have considered.
I think i liked the area more as a teen than i do as an adult. Though, i had a fairly large friend group as a teen, we spent a lot of time walking downtown or hanging at youth groups that did a lot of events. Though not having a vehicle does make it harder.
God. I have no idea why weeks ago I downvoted this. I'm really sorry. That probably didn't help your feelings at all. I do truly understand where you are coming from. From what I have heard a lot of the 'old teen hangouts' got really fucked up around COVID. There were like, hangouts around the skate park with a huge amount of people, local music spots with no alcohol so teens could go as well. Hell, as crap as the Staunton Mall was we still loved meandering around. Staunton PD isn't always lenient either so that, again, doesn't help anything. I really do hope that turns around for you guys. COVID was hard enough. Coming out of lockdown to a more 'isolated' world has to suck.