Summer 2026! Mental Health Team

This is our final newsletter for this academic year. It is FULL of free or almost free activities available throughout the summer, as well as job and volunteering opportunities. Wander through. Check it out!

This Newsletter is HUGE - why?

This newsletter:

• 1st 1/3: Mental Health/Crisis Supports;
• Bottom 2/3: Many summer opportunities.

We know that positive and active engagement can help mental health. We have a (very) long list of free or almost free options below in an effort to give ideas for engagement this summer.

• Try volunteering.
• Attend an interactive camp.
• Fly a kite.
• Learn how to swim.
• Attend the Juneteenth rodeo.
• Sign up for (free!) Planet Fitness and try working out.
• There are a LOT of PCC offerings for teens linked below - try a couple!
• Get a job.

Wishing all a safe and healthy summer. We will see you again in the fall!

TriMet is removing transportation barriers for high school students, ages 14-19, all summer long with the TriMet Summer Pass. This free transit pass empowers students throughout the Portland area with greater access to jobs, education, social opportunities and a whole lot more. All students— regardless of their economic resources— are eligible. A pass will automatically be loaded to your Portland School District student ID. Find out more at trimet.org/summerpass

*Your student ID has a 16 digit # on the back of it for the "Hop Card Number"

End/Beginning of school + Summer:

June: June is LGBT Pride Month, Loving Day (JUN 12), Autistic Pride Day (JUN 18), Juneteenth (JUN 19), Stonewall Rebellion (JUN 28)

July: BIPOC Mental Health Month | Mental Health America (mhanational.org), Disability Pride Month and the Disability Rights Movement , Black Hair Independence Day (JUL 3), International Non-Binary People’s Day (JUL 14), International Day of Friendship (JUL 30)

August: INTERSECTIONALITY AWARENESS MONTH | Decide Diversity

Images are linked to the Benson Wellness Center page. Or, link is here: https://benson.pps.net/families-community/benson-wellness-center

As is always the case, it is OK to not be OK: here are resources that can help.

• BHS community resources (google.com)
  

PPS Healthy Choices Bulletin

This newsletter has a curated list of substance use resources and also highlights student and family accessible services and activities.

• May/June edition, Summer Recovery Options, Substance Abuse Prevention Resources & Cannabis Use; link to archived Healthy Choices Bulletins.
• Substance Use Resources, includes Request for Supports Prevention Strategies and Healthy Decision Making.

Benson Wellness Resources

• Benson Wellness Center with mental health supports

• BHS Counseling Center with school counselors (by alphabetical order) - limited to school year

• Archive of Benson Mental Health Newsletters

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family Support Groups are peer-led support groups for adults with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of mental illness. Every group is offered free of charge. All of these groups are facilitated by trained individuals who are family members of people with mental health conditions.

• NAMI support groups offer a flexible and casual environment without an educational format. You will learn about local resources and gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others.
• The groups follow a structured model to ensure you and others have an opportunity to be heard and to get what you need out of the session.

Learn more here: Family Support Groups — NAMI | Multnomah (namimultnomah.org)

from @raisingteenstoday

Additional Resources:

• Coping Mechanisms for Adolescents - linked HERE
• Active, Relaxing, Creative, Social, Mind-shifting Coping Strategies - linked HERE

Charlie Health provides Intensive Outpatient Services. This is an outside program (not part of PPS) that might be a good fit for some students. Website: Personalized Youth Intensive Outpatient Program | Charlie Health

Great Resource:

-Career (Jobs)/Internships/Volunteering Newsletter from Benson Career Coordinator- Jzalana Bethune-Summers - jbethunesummers@pps.net

UPTURN, is a 4-week Leadership Academy for young people ages 14-26, youth are paid $23/hr for their participation in the program! This is an introductory course into community organizing, that centers individual transformation, collective power building, and radical imagination!

Youth interested in policy, activism, or community building are encouraged to apply. No special skills or experience is required, just a passion to lead our communities forward!

Applications are due Sunday, June 14th at 11:59pm. Link to application!

For any questions or concerns, reach out to iyanna@nextuporegon.org

McDaniel hosted a Transitions Resource Fair - what a great opportunity to learn more about: Vocational Rehabilitation, Portland Community College, Disability Rights Oregon, Autism Society, Albertina Kerr, PPS Community Transition Program, and so much more! If you couldn't make it, no problem.

• Here is a document for all organizations with links - GREAT resource! (also linked below - each website is hyperlinked)
• Also, here is a link to local organizations: Local Disability Organizations and Resources | Portland.gov -
• You can also contact our Youth Transition Specialist: Veronica Bastillos, Youth Transition Program (YTP), Transition Specialist - Benson & Meek High School, 971-895-1707
  vebustillos@pps.net

Free & Nearly Free | The Official Guide to Portland (travelportland.com)

Benson Tech Students,

Here is the link for any teen (14 yrs-19yrs) interested in working out at Planet Fitness this Summer - for FREE! Register Here: Free Summer Gym Membership for Teens | Planet Fitness

Summer 2026 Free Fun (June-August)

• Summer Free for All: Includes free movies and concerts in local parks, starting July 10, 2026.
• Free Lunch + Play: From June 22 – August 21, 2026, providing free lunch and activities for youth 18 and under at various parks.
• Outdoor Pools: Free swim sessions at Portland parks pools (e.g., Creston, Peninsula, Montavilla) beginning June 18, 2026

Source: https://www.portland.gov/parks/arts-culture/summer-free-all/free-lunch

Active & Creative Teen Spots

• Skateparks: Ride at popular spots like Burnside Skatepark (legendary), Gabriel Park, Pier Park, or Glen Haven.
• Library Maker Spaces: Check out local library branches for free, independent project spaces.
• TeenForce: Free drop-in, counselor-led activities, and lounge spaces at community centers (e.g., Charles Jordan, East Portland) for ages 10-20.
• First Thursday: Free art gallery walks in the Pearl District and downtown on the first Thursday of every month

Source: https://shebuystravel.com/free-activities-portland-oregon/

For youth ages 10–20. The TeenForce pass gives FREE access to scheduled drop-in and special registered activities at community centers throughout Portland.

TeenForce programming is at Charles Jordan, East Portland, Matt Dishman, Montavilla, Mt. Scott, and Southwest Community Center.

How to get a TeenForce Pass (link below)

Registering for a TeenForce Pass is easy, fast, and FREE! Registration must be completed in person at any TeenForce location. Come prepared with your address and phone number, a parent/guardian's address and phone number, and information about any health conditions you may have.

You can also download a TeenForce Pass form below, print it, and bring your completed form to any TeenForce site.

Source + Links: https://www.portland.gov/parks/recreation/teenforce

PCC’s Community Ed Teen Program offers a variety of dynamic and engaging educational experiences for students aged 12-17.

• Class sizes are small, and the focus is on having a good time while you immerse yourself in an intriguing subject.

• Teen Program

  • Behind the Scenes: Fashion and Media Camp
  • Botanical Drawing in the Rose Garden
  • Calligraphy Paint
  • Ceramics Camp: Intro to Hand Building
  • Creativity Collage Studio
  • French Cooking for Teens
  • Group Canvas Painting
  • Intro Pottery Wheel Camp
  • Kitchen Confidence for Teens
  • Learn to Can: Pickles
  • Learn to Can: Strawberry Jam
  • Photography: Beginning
  • Summer Snacks: Realistic Food Sculptures
  • Sweet Street Baking Camp
  • Teen Aerial Camp
  • Teen Artist Academy
  • Teen Badminton Camp
  • Teen Beginning Sailing
  • Teen Ceramics: Make a Box
  • Teen Ceramics: Make a Mug
  • Teen Ceramics: Make and Glaze
  • Teen Fan Fiction Writing
  • Teen Farm Day
  • Teen Finance: Dollars and Sense
  • Teen Glow Up Camp
  • Teen Kitchen Passport
  • Teen Poetry Lab
  • Teen Welding Fundamentals Camp
  • Teen Wildcat: Beginner Wheel
  • Teen Wildcat: Handbuilding Clay
  • Teen Wildcat: Intermediate Wheel
  • Vintage Video Games
  • Wooden Boat Building Teen Camp

Website: https://www.pcc.edu/community/special-classes/teen/?gad_source=1#summer-2026

When: Saturday June 20, 2026

Where: Parade starts at King School 11am.

Festival kicks off after parade at Lillis-Albina Park

Grab your chair, blankets, family & friends and come celebrate Juneteenth with us.

We are a local Oregon-based nonprofit working to preserve and amplify the history and legacy of Juneteenth–founded by the late Clara Peoples, a beloved community leader who organized Oregon’s first Juneteenth celebration in 1945. Source

More details/tickets here: Rose Quarter | 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo

BSTRONG is a summer program for Black youth gaining rich cultural and entrepreneurial experience through exciting workshops, hands-on activities and field work led by Black educators and professionals.

More information: https://beamvillage.org/beam/bstrong-summer

Waterfront Festival
Saturday, July 18, 2026 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday, July 19, 2026 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Parade
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Parade begins at 11AM from the North Park Blocks and ends on Naito Pkwy at the Festival

Pride FAQs

Portland Pride | Portland, OR

Link to Waterfront Blues Festival HERE

Oregon Trail card Overview (state.or.us)

This program offers "free, inclusive, and family-friendly activities that celebrate Portland’s diverse cultures and local artists" to help build and support the community. Activities are staged in several of Portland's scenic public parks through July and August.

Don't forget: the Libraries include Discovery Passes, which can provide free entertainment through Multnomah County. Participants include: Artists Repertory Theatre, Boom Arts, Five Oaks Museum, Friends of Chamber Music, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Literary Arts, Northwest Children’s Theater and School, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Oregon Koto-Kai, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Portland Columbia Symphony, Portland Japanese Garden, Portland Opera, Rose City Comic Con

Amazing opportunity for families who receive food relief through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card. This includes P-EBT (pandemic food relief).

Arts for All - Regional Arts and Culture Council (racc.org)

High School

Grand Prize: iPad Technology package. Retail value of $600. Instead of this prize the winner may select a $250 gift card. Made possible by The Library Foundation.

Runner-up Prize: A birthday party package at Oaks Amusement Park skating rink. Retail value of $365.

All prizes are based on availability and subject to change. Source

Middle school and high school

-Teens may think reading is the only option for participating in Summer Reading. Not so! If toddlers can participate through play, why shouldn’t teens and adults?

-Try tabletop or video role playing games. Teens can learn history and practice storytelling. There can be a lot of reading and math in character development and game rules. Teamwork in these games builds the same skills as physical sports.

-Other ways teens can stay involved in Summer Reading is by learning to be good digital citizens online and through social media. Everyday rules in our day to day lives don't always translate to those in the digital space, so learning how to seek good online spaces, research information for accuracy, and checking community guidelines can make a big difference.

“This gets to the point of Summer Reading. It’s not just about reading books. It’s about preparing youth and teens to go out and navigate the world as adults,” says Keli Yeats, youth librarian.

At the Rockwood Makerspace, teens can learn how to use new technology or create independent art projects. It’s a great way to build digital skills and confidence.

More Info here: https://multcolib.org/summer-reading