Hi,parents.
Happy Crew is a free weeknight hour for teens, run by a nonprofit, upstairs in a coffee house in Lone Tree. Here’s what we’d want to know before sending our own kid.
Amy Mays, founder, with student leaders (stand-in photo)
It is
- Dinner, then a small group.
- One mental health tool a week.
- Amy Mays and the student leaders she trains.
- Amy Mays, with 4 to 6 mentors in the room.
It isn’t
- Therapy.
- A lecture.
- A sign something’s wrong.
“Teenagers run the night. Adults are there to equip them, not to run the show.”
Amy Mays
“I learned about the three R’s, and how I should reflect, respond, and rest instead of respond, reflect, and regret. I will use this with my parents this week.”
A student, after the night on the three R’s
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Your questions
What to know before you say yes.
Safety
Yes. Every adult is background-checked.
The leaders walk everyone down the stairs and out to their rides. Nobody leaves alone.
Call or text 988, any hour, or text TALK to 741741. If someone is in danger, call 911. Then text Amy at 303-916-1515.
The hour is the teens’ own, and they lead it themselves. If you’d like to wait nearby, you’re welcome to relax on the first floor.
The night
One tool a week from Amy’s plan for the season, like active listening or the three R’s. The whole season is on the calendar.Wednesdays don’t have a topic list yet.
High schoolers who lead the night. Amy trains them every summer, and this year there are 22.
Yes. Thirty minutes a night, approved by Amy once your permission form is in.
No big deal. They’re welcome back any week.
Mental health
No. It’s an hour where teens practice everyday mental health tools together. If your teen needs more, a counselor or therapist is the right next step, and you can text Amy to talk it through.
No. It’s for every teen, and nobody needs a reason to come.
The topics are everyday ones, like gratitude or starting a hard conversation, and a trained student leader runs each small group with Amy in the room.The topics are everyday ones, like gratitude or starting a hard conversation.
Yes. Start with Amy’s video on active listening, below. And on Wednesdays, there’s Parent Crew.
Signing up
So we know who to call in an emergency, and for a photo release. It asks for your contact details, an emergency contact, anything we should know (like allergies) and a yes or no on photos. It takes about two minutes, once a year.
Yes, any time. Email amy@thehappycrew.org.
Every Monday and Wednesday night is paid for by people who believe it matters, so it’s free for every teen. The Happy Crew is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Give
Six talks from Amy, for the conversations at home.
About 42 minutes in all · watch them in any order
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If you’re worried about your teen right now, call or text 988, any hour.
Parents get a Wednesday, too.
No sign-up. On a Middle Crew night, stop in while you wait to ask questions and pick up tools for talking with your teenager.
Wednesdays, 7–8 PMHappy Crew Coffee HouseWith Amy Mays · free
Any parent is welcome, high school too.
“My son has been looking for community, as school can be very difficult and challenging. I am so grateful for Middle Crew! He was reluctant to come the first time, but ever since that first night he is always ready on Wednesday.”
A Middle Crew parent
Still wondering about something? Text Amy.
303·916·1515
Amy Mays started Happy Crew in 2007. It’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and this is her own number.
Mondays, 7–8 PM.Wednesdays, 7–8 PM. See the calendar →