Growing Up on the Ridge after the Camp Fire

When the 2018 Camp Fire swept through the town of Paradise and across the Ridge, it reshaped the lives of thousands. Families returned to neighborhoods that were forever changed, schools re-opened with new challenges and an entire generation of young people have grown up in a community is still rebuilding itself. Many of today’s Ridge teens were young children during the fire; they remember the evacuation, the dislocation and the long journey home. Even now, recovery touches nearly every aspect of their lives: long commutes from temporary housing, multi-generational living arrangements, financial stress and ongoing uncertainty about their future. For young people navigating these harsh new realities, the need for stable, affirming spaces is greater than ever.

Paradise Teen Center provides refuge, resources

Spaces like the Paradise Teen Center are the foundation for a better future for the people of this community and are invaluable to the lives of those they touch. The Ridge’s youth carry a quiet resilience, but they also carry the weight of interrupted childhoods and the pressures of rebuilding alongside their families and friends. The Paradise Teen Center exists because that resilience deserves support, community and resources to help them become the best versions of themselves possible.

The Paradise Teen Center (PTC), a program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley, was created to be a consistent, caring home-base for teens ages 13-18 on the Ridge. More than just an after-school program, PTC is a place where teens can drop their cares, be themselves and build meaningful connections with their peers and mentors. “The Club is somewhere I can come to after a long day and drop my worries like stones in a river,” says 17-year-old Sage.

Paradise Teen Center staff offer support, understanding, care and listening ear

With so many Paradise families still recovering, the Club offers the stability, routine and belonging young people often struggle to find in other spaces. What sets PTC apart is its direct focus on the lived experiences of Ridge youth. We recognize that the impacts of the Camp Fire aren’t just in the past. They still shape the day-to-day lives of the teens we serve, in obvious and less obvious ways.

Many teens juggle responsibilities far beyond the expectations of their age; helping raise younger siblings or working part-time jobs to support their struggling families. Others deal with transportation difficulty, limited housing options or social isolation. At PTC, these challenges are acknowledged but never used to define a teen. Instead, the emphasis is on their strengths, creativity, humor, talent and endless possibility. Our staff lead with empathy, patience and genuine care. We listen. We celebrate. We show up. And we create an environment where teens feel safe, seen and supported every single day.

Teens learn essential skills through unique Paradise Teen Center programs

The Paradise Teen Center’s programs are designed around the real needs of our community and the hopes our teens have for their future. Through programs like Money Matters, youth learn essential budgeting and financial literacy skills that help them support their families through the long-term rebuilding process. Teen Grub gives teens a chance to cook together, enjoy a shared meal and bring leftovers home, providing comfort and addressing food insecurity that still affects many households on the Ridge.

Partnership programs such as MedEd Club, presented by HealthyRural California and local health care professionals, open doors to high-demand career pathways – helping teens imagine themselves stepping into future roles that strengthen their community. Physical wellness programs, art and creativity clubs, career readiness workshops and leadership initiatives all work together to build confidence and skills that teens can carry with them on their journey to adulthood. “I have met and bonded with the best people in my life here,” says Sage, “and I have ‘glassblown’ myself, my present and my future into something I can be proud of.”

Teens learn to give back and help rebuild their community

Beyond structured programming, PTC fosters community pride and service learning. Teens participate in local events and give back through leadership roles, service-learning projects and collaborative efforts with partner organizations. From Trunk-or-Treat celebrations to community cleanups, kindness campaigns and school-based collaborations, PTC teens actively contribute to the growth and spirit of the Ridge.

At its heart, the Paradise Teen Center is a hub of healing and momentum; a place where young people rebuild their confidence, rediscover joy and help shape the future of a community that has endured so much. The Ridge’s recovery has been long, but its teens continue to rise and we are honored to rise with them!

Nathan Starkey is the Site Director of the Boys and Girls Club of North Valley Paradise Teen Center. A longtime resident of Butte County, he is dedicated to providing much needed support and resources to Ridge teens and doing his part in helping the Ridge community thrive and recover.