Registration & Membership

The Franklin Youth Center provides a variety of unstructured drop-in center activities, as well as structured programs in a welcoming and safe environment where local teens, ages 12-18 in grades 6th-12th can spend time with friends, receive homework assistance, enhance social skills, and participate in recreation & enrichment activities. Most of the Franklin Youth Center programming is included with membership. Many of the programs are available free of charge though some activities may require further registration and reasonable fees to cover material costs, instructional fees, events, and trip/transportation costs.

Parents/Guardians must register their youth(s) with the Center and complete the necessary forms in the Participant Information Packet which can be found online at the Franklin Township Program Registration before they can attend the program. Parents should carefully review the Positive Youth Center Culture Guideline with their teen(s) before signing. . As a reminder, to provide a safe place for the participants and staff, it is important that parents/guardians notify us of any pertinent personal or medical concerns at the time of registration and any changes as they occur so that we can better accommodate the needs of everyone.

Registration packets are available online at the time of registration https://franklintwp.recdesk.com/
All necessary forms must be completed at the time of membership registration. Applicants will not be able to participate until these items are completed.

IN PERSON, MAIL-IN AND/OR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS ACCEPTED
• Registration Form and Waiver/Liability Release/Photo Release
• Acceptance of Youth Center Policies & Procedures
• Behavior Policy Acknowledgement Form & Participant Code of Conduct
• Parental Sign Out Consent Form
• Emergency Contact Form/Medical Release/Allergy Information Form
• Transportation Waiver Authorization

RENEWAL AND EXPIRATION
Membership must be renewed annually. To renew membership, all paperwork must be updated and signed. Individuals with expired memberships may not attend the Youth Center, special events, trips, or activities until the renewal is completed.

You must update the emergency information form online to reflect changes with emergency contact individual, phone numbers, employment, or have a change of address.

You also must acknowledge that The Township of Franklin reserves the right to photograph facilities, activities, and program participants for potential future use for publicity or promotion purposes. All forms expire each year on June 30. Separate forms must be completed for each participant enrolled in the program. Providing false information may result in disqualification from participation in The Township of Franklin Youth Center and Recreation Programs.

Center and program registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will be accepted until the maximum capacity of the program is reached. At times registration and attendance may be limited. After the program is full, a waitlist will be formed.

RESIDENCY
Registration will be accepted based on the following criteria:
• Participants living in Franklin Township
• Participants attending public or private school in Franklin
• Referral from a partner agency

FEES & PAYMENT POLICIES

 Payment must be made in full before students participate in any Youth Center fee-based program. Online payment is preferred for all program fees. Both payments in-person and by mail will be received by the Franklin Township Youth Center at 429 Lewis Street between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Checks should be made payable to the Township of Franklin. If a check is returned due to a lack of funds, a $35.00 fee will be charged. If more than one is returned, future payments must be made by cash, money order or credit card. If a participant is unable to pay in full by that date, please contact Rec at YouthCenter@franklinnj.gov to receive a financial assistance waiver form.

REFUNDS
Refund requests must be submitted in writing 7 days before the start of the program. There are no refunds after the Youth Center session/program has started. There are no make-ups or partial refunds issued for days missed. There is no refund of membership fees if a child is expelled from the Youth Center.

RECEIPTS
Receipts for payments will be emailed to the email address on file in the Township’s online registration system. Please keep your receipts for tax and/or personal purposes. We do not distribute a cumulative total of program fees. Payment history can be retrieved on your online recreation registration account..

EVENT CANCELATION
Events may be canceled by the Youth Center based on registration numbers, availability of transportation or other situations outside our control. When events requiring additional fees are canceled by the Youth Center, parents of all registered members will be individually notified, and all registration fees will be credited or refunded.

CANCELLATIONS
We understand that individuals may need to cancel their registration for events. Registration fees will be refunded when cancelation occurs before the registration deadline. Fees are non-refundable after the registration deadline except when the event is canceled by the Youth Center and for Physician documented medical issues.

SIGN IN/SIGN OUT PROCEDURES
Members must be signed-in upon arrival and signed-out upon departure.
Parents/Guardians may grant permission or their child to leave the program without the guidance of an authorized adult of indicated in a note or provided a walk-release form is on file.
The township of Franklin will not assume responsibility or liability for your child once he/she has signed themselves out on/after he the time listed.

DIVERSE-ABILITIES/ INCLUSION SERVICES
The YC staff/programming will make every attempt to adapt activities and facilities with reasonable accommodation unless the accommodation imposes hardship on the Township. Modifications must b disclosed at the time of registration.

KEEPING PARENTS/GUARDIANS INFORMED
We will make every effort to keep parents/guardians informed about the Youth Center and our events. Newsletters and calendars are posted on the website, all social media platforms, and will be provided at the Youth Center. Please note that the way we publicize Youth Center events and information may change as needs and resources change.
Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to follow Franklin Township Parks & Recreation/Youth Center social media pages for the most current information.

PHONE CALLS
The Youth Center will communicate with parents about their individual child by phone unless other arrangements are made with the manager. Please ensure that a current phone number is always on file for the primary guardian and any other emergency contacts. Careful discretion will be used when contacting parents at home or work when necessary, when special acknowledgments or concerns are to be noted. These communications are not intended as an inconvenience but to support participants in our efforts to guide their positive development. Information will remain confidential unless legally required to share.

YOUTH CONCERNS
Teens are encouraged to speak with a staff member in any situation best handled by an adult or if they have any questions or concerns. Personal information will remain confidential unless legally required to share. If requested, we will not share anything that is disclosed to us with the exception of situations of potential self-harm or harm to others. We will meet all our mandated reporting requirements.

MANDATED REPORTING
All staff members of the Franklin Youth Center are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect by New Jersey state law. We are legally obligated to report any reasonable cause to believe that an individual we encounter in our professional capacities who is either under the age of 18 or a dependent adult is being abused or neglected.

TRANSPORTATION
Franklin Middle School students can walk directly from the Hamilton Street Campus to the Youth Center.

Members may to walk or ride bikes to the Youth Center but need to complete a permission to walk form. Participants who walk or ride bikes are to report directly to the Youth Center in the appropriate time for their means of transportation. Parents will be notified if students who walk or ride bikes on a regular basis arrive more than a half-hour after school dismissal.

FIELD TRIP FORMS
Field Trip Forms are made available to Youth Center participants interested in attending a Youth Center sponsored Field Trip. Walking field trips will require a completed waiver that permits your child(ren) to participate.