NARROWSBURG, NY — Tusten Social, a nonprofit organization that serves rural Sullivan County, announced the launch of its Teen Club program, a free afterschool initiative designed to foster creativity, skill-building and community connections among local youth. The program runs weekly from February 19 through June 18 at the Commons, Tusten Social’s Community space at 90 Main St. in Narrowsburg and in select locations in Narrowsburg.

The Teen Club welcomes students in grade seven and above from the Town of Tusten and surrounding areas, including Pennsylvania residents. Sullivan West students can utilize bus transportation to the program, with parent/guardian pickup required afterward. 

The spring program has three session offerings: 

Session 1: Cucina Italian Culinary Exploration (Wednesdays, February 19 to March 26) In partnership with the Blue Fox Motel, internationally acclaimed Chef Bruno Carvalho will lead students through a six-week Italian cooking intensive. Chef Carvalho, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who has developed restaurants worldwide, will teach participants the fundamentals of Italian cuisine, including bread-making, soup preparation, pizza crafting, pasta-making, risotto techniques and dessert creation. 

Session 2: Art & Design (Wednesdays., April 2 to May 14). There will be no class on April 16. 

Led by local artist Catherine Chesters, this six-week immersive art and design course introduces teens to the fundamentals of mixed-media art while fostering creative exploration and portfolio development. This experience extends beyond the studio—students will have the opportunity to showcase their work in the Zine Project, which will be presented at the Deep Water Literary Festival. 

Session 3: The Art of the Zine (Wednesdays., May 21 to June 28) 

A five-week creative workshop focusing on self-published magazine creation and design. Workshops will be led by local artists and zine makers. The workshop will culminate in a showcase event during the Deep Water Literary Festival. 

"The afterschool program for local teens represents our commitment to addressing unmet social needs in our rural community," says Greta Knutzen, cofounder of Tusten Social. "By providing these enriching afterschool activities, we're creating opportunities for teens to develop new skills while building lasting connections with their peers." 

While the program is free, registration is required by emailing hello@tustensocial.org. Additional teen social events and programs will be announced throughout the year. 

About Tusten Social 

Tusten Social is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering community connections in the Town of Tusten and surrounding areas of Sullivan County. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, Tusten Social addresses unmet social needs with a particular focus on isolated community members. 

- Instagram: @Tusten_Social 

- Facebook: TustenSocial 

- Website: www.tustensocial.org 

Community partners include: 

About the Blue Fox Motel 

Blue Fox Motel and Restaurant is a family-owned boutique establishment offering comfortable accommodations and premium amenities, including a pool, pizza bar, pickleball court and live entertainment. The property combines modern comfort with personalized hospitality to create memorable guest experiences. 

- Instagram @bluefoxmotel 

- Facebook Blue Fox Motel 

- Website www.bluefoxmotel.com 

About Catherine Chesters 

Catherine Chesters is an artist and designer whose practice spans abstract painting, multimedia work, and community engagement. With a BH Honors from the London College of Communication and additional studies at prestigious institutions including The Gowanus Studios NY and Otis School of Art, Chesters has evolved from splitting her time between graphic design and painting in Brooklyn to running a full-time studio and gallery in the western Catskills. Represented by Cynthia Byrnes Art and Interiors and Elizabeth Sadoff Art Advisory, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, the 2018 Wassaic Project, and various exhibitions in New York City. Through her local art studio, Chesters Creative, she continues to pursue her artistic practice while conducting workshops and fostering the local creative community. 

- Instagram @chesterscreative 

- Website: www.chesterscreative.com 

About the Deep Water Literary Festival 

The Deep Water Literary Festival, founded in 2018 in Narrowsburg, combines author events and arts programming to celebrate storytelling along the Delaware River. The festival promotes literary arts in the Upper Delaware region by bringing together international authors and local artists, fostering community engagement through innovative programming that extends beyond traditional book festivals. 

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- Instagram @deepwaterliteraryfest 

- Facebook Deep Water Festival 

- Website www.deepwaterfestival.com