Whitzend KidZone

WHO WE ARE:

OPENED AUGUST 28, 2010 and recently featured on FOX13 and in the Tampa Tribune, we are a teacher-owned, students-inspired, drug-free, alcohol-free, smoke-free, bully and label-free Saturday night hangout for kids 13-17*.

Whitzend kidZone is just an old-fashioned living-room-like hangout with couches, chairs and a huge bean bag chair: casual, cozy, safe and supervised where kids can hang out with friends. We're like a tree clubhouse without the tree.

Whitzend is an eclectic place where kids, ages 13-17* can register online, get signed in with parent (transporter’s) driver’s license, stamped and safely hang out. We want kids to revisit the lost art of socializing with real people in real locations, not virtual ones.

WHAT ACTUAL KIDS ARE SAYING:
“Cool!” “Got to meet new people who were actually nice!” “When can I come back?” “I liked it!” “It was fun!” ”Couldn’t believe how nice and inclusive everyone was.” “5 stars!” “Epic!” "Like being at home, only cooler!" "Fun to chill with friends!"

WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT:
Air hockey. Pool table. Foosball. Mini basketball. Computers. Xbox 360. Wii. Twisted Twister. Board games. Stage. Acoustic guitar. Keyboard. Amp. Electric guitar. Karaoke. Teen DJs. Singers. Bands. Musicians. Contests. Theme Parties. Live Mike. Poetry Slam. Ice Cream Socials. Battle of the Bands. Gaming Tournaments. Pizza every Saturday. YOOHOO in our all-items-.75cents vending machine. Our Halloween Party. Our special event with TV's truth(r) smoking-prevention.

If kids want to DJ and have equipment, come on down. Guest DJs, singers, and bands are always welcome on our stage. We offer free admission to any performer on the night he/she performs, a free entertainer's souvenir tee shirt and free promotion on our website.

High school students in need of volunteer hours for graduation can intern at Whitzend. We provide a STAFF tee shirt and offer free admission to any volunteer on the night he/she works.

We want kids to kick up their feet and feel at home, comfortable in an eclectic blend of furniture and mismatched decor exclusively limited to only 20 registered kids per night. We are a bully-free zone and labels do not exist within the walls of Whitzend. Once a kid is inside our door, we offer THE CHANCE TO LET THE LABELS WE LIMIT OURSELVES DISAPPEAR, BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO YOU ARE, MEET NEW PEOPLE, AND JUST HAVE FUN BEING A KID.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in this world." We are the change. In here, you have friends you just haven't met yet.

*age 12 when accompanied by older child and age 17 when driven to our location and signed in by parent/guardian/transporter