Local teens enjoying the Teen Summer Pool Party in 2024. The second annual event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5 at Kurt Beyer Pool. (Photo from The PULSE Coalition of Chenango County Facebook page)

NORWICH — The PULSE Coalition has partnered with several other community organizations to offer the second annual free Teen Summer Pool Party at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5 at Kurt Beyer Pool, located at 95 Cortland Street in Norwich.

They have partnered with The Place; Tobacco Free Zone of Cortland, Tompkins, and Chenango Counties; Live Event NY; The Place; and the City of Norwich Youth Bureau to provide a safe, substance-free event for Chenango County teens aged 12 to 18.

Pre-registration is required for this event. To register, contact The Place EPIC Program Coordinator Lizzy Hathaway at 607-336-9696 ext. 107 or email teenprogram@theplacenorwich.com, or email The PULSE Coalition Coordinator Jessica Colley at jessicac@chenangohealth.org.

Colley said there will be lifeguards on duty courtesy of the City of Norwich Youth Bureau, snacks available, a gift raffle, and a screening of "Finding Nemo" on a large projector screen secured by The Place through grant funding.

There will also be a variety of games available, including games based on avoiding substances, as well as video games provided by Live Event NY.

"We will have Live Event there with their mobile video games," she said. "Live Event is also bringing glow-in-the-dark furniture for around the pool, so kids who don't want to swim or want to take a break can get out and sit on that, and we will be showing the movie, they will have the floats to float on and watch the movie on a giant screen."

Colley said Will McGuire of Live Event NY has been a big supporter of both the Teen Summer Pool Party and past events, such as the recent Safe Summer Fun Day.

"Live Event has been amazing. They did so much at Safe Summer Fun Day. He's so willing to do this," she said. "We're talking about partnering on other things in the future, so I'm excited about that."

Additionally, teens will receive a raffle ticket when they sign in, and can also win raffle tickets by playing the games and participating in activities. Then they can enter to win gift baskets and items donated by local businesses, such as a gift card to Gilligan's Ice Cream; movie baskets with popcorn, candy, and drinks; and coloring baskets with adult coloring books and markers.

Any businesses or organizations who would like to donate raffle items can do so by emailing Colley at jessicac@chenangohealth.org.

After enjoying the games and activities, teens can hop in the pool or lounge on the furniture at dark to watch the movie.

Colley said the goal of this event is to educate local teens on the dangers of substance use, while also providing a fun event.

"We want them to feel their freedom with having a substance-free party without having adults everywhere they turn, and show them that it's okay to have fun without substances," said Colley. "We're just excited to be able to bring it back and give teens a night of substance-free fun."

The PULSE Coalition (formerly Drug-Free Chenango) consists of many representatives from all areas of the community working to provide change for improvement among the community to ensure good health and safety. In order to do so, they work to implement training, policy changes, and further action to make a change.

For more information on The PULSE Coalition, visit thepulsecoalition.org or The PULSE Coalition of Chenango County Facebook page.