Casper Youth Hub

Where Casper teens build, belong, and become

A youth‑only third space for Casper—popping up now, building a permanent campus next.

Where teens can explore maker culture, find mentorship, get paid for your ideas, and shape your own future. No judgment. Just possibilities.

Our Mission

Foster curiosity, confidence, belonging, and community among Casper youth through maker culture, mentorship, and mental‑health‑aligned programming.

What we’re building

A permanent, youth‑only campus in a renovated surplus school—lounge‑first and lab‑rich:

  • Maker Wing: welding, carpentry, CNC, laser, 3‑D printing

  • Tech Classrooms: electronics/PCB, sewing, coding, media lab

  • Community Lounge: gaming, VR corner, board‑game library, snack bar

  • Gym: open run, e‑sports mezzanine, Youth Nights

  • Hydroponics Grow Room: hands‑on STEM + food for the café/donations

  • Market Hall: weekend Youth Market with vendor tables

  • Partner Suites: 3–4 offices for youth‑centric nonprofits

  • Live Streaming & Podcast Studio for content/production workshops

    (Phase‑1 occupancy with targeted code/ADA upgrades.) 

Programs That Pay It Forward:

1. **🎪 Pop-Up Campus** - 8-week summer intensive + weekend sessions

2. **🔬 Youth Research Fellows (YPAR)** - Get paid $15-20/hour to research and improve youth spaces

3. **🌱 Automated Hydroponics Lab** - Learn STEM through growing food

4. **🎬 Content Creation Studio** - Professional equipment and mentorship

5. **🛠️ Maker Space & Skills** - 3D printing, robotics, crafts, and more

6. **💬 Mentorship & Support** - Crisis support and life skills 

The Vision

Every young person in Natrona County has a safe place after school to learn, create, and launch ideas that improve their lives and their city. We combine maker labs, entrepreneurship, recreation, and mentorship to grow Positive Childhood Experiences—belonging, supportive adults, and real‑world skills

- Youth-Centered Design

- Trauma-Informed Spaces  

- 100% Free Programs

Why Casper, why now

  • ~14,000 local youth; after‑school hours show unmet need.

  • Existing options don’t offer a youth‑only fabrication + entrepreneurship pipeline.

  • Too many teens spend late afternoons unsupervised; we provide structured, welcoming alternatives

How we get there (Pop‑Up → Campus)

Year 1: Pop‑Up Campus (multi‑site, summer + evenings)

We deliver programs across trusted locations while the building is readied—formalized through MOUs (dates, capacity, insurance, safety, custodial). Teens help shape hours and policies via paid Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR).

Our commitments (what funders & families can count on)

  • We serve Natrona County and foster dignity, belonging, and inclusivity.

  • We do not use general operating funds for capital purchases; kits are rentals/loans/in‑kind or covered by aligned equipment grants.

  • We maintain posted safety ratios, incident plans, and a photo/recording consent system.

  • We start each partnership with a clear MOU and internal‑controls checklists.

The Story

We started as an idea: what if teens had a space that was truly theirs? Not school, not home, but a third space where they could explore, create, fail safely, and discover who they are. We're building The Void Outreach to run across trusted host sites in Casper, bringing programs directly to where youth already are.

The Neutral Space Charter

Every Void space will operate under our Neutral Space Charter—with staffed quiet rooms, sensory supports, and trauma-informed practice—so more youth can participate, stay longer, and come back.

Features:

- Quiet rooms for decompression

- Sensory kits available

- Trauma-informed staff

- No questions asked support

- Multilingual resources

Our Approach

**Youth-Centered Design:** Everything we do will be designed with and by youth. Our planned YPAR (Youth Participatory Action Research) Fellows will lead research, design programs, and publish guides for other organizations.

**Trauma-Informed Practice:** We understand that many youth have experienced trauma. Our spaces and practices will be designed to be healing and supportive.

**Equity & Access:** We will provide transportation, remove barriers, and ensure all youth can participate regardless of background or ability.