The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department invites teen girls in 6^th through 12^th grades to participate in Girls Night In – She Leads: School Year Kickoff, 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 615 S. McClelland St.

The free event is designed to ease back-to-school butterflies and promote positive mental health. Attendees will enjoy games, hands-on projects, and activities focused on building confidence, reducing stress, and starting the school year with a strong foundation.

The program supports the city’s vision of providing teens with meaningful opportunities for growth.

Through events like She Leads, participants are encouraged to build leadership skills, practice creativity, and strengthen connections with peers in a safe and supportive environment, the city said.

These experiences are designed to help teens develop tools that can benefit them both in school and in the community.

Registration is available online at www.cityofsantamaria.org/register or in person at the Recreation and Parks Department office, 615 S. McClelland St.

For more, call the Recreation and Parks Department, 805-925-0951 ext. 2260.