Living in North Laurel, Brianna Bradford, 17, often wonders what to do to entertain herself.

"You go to the mall, you go to the movies, you go out to eat, but besides that, there's not much else," she said.

Bradford and other teens are trying to fill what they consider to be a void in teen social outlets in the county by launching a program called Freestyle, a new "teen drop-in center" in Jessup.

The program, which periodically takes place at the Ridgely's Run Community Center, was created by Voices of Change, a coalition of adults and students from county middle and high schools. The group worked with the county's Department of Recreation and Parks to start the program.

The drop-in center, which is currently funded by the county on a trial basis, is scheduled to be open once or twice each month through December. Teens pay a $5 admission fee.

At the first Freestyle event in July, teens played basketball and video games such as "Guitar Hero" and "Dance Dance Revolution," and listened to music and ate snacks, a program coordinator said.

Adam Castelbaum, 16, of Ellicott City, was one of five teens that attended the first event. Although he would have liked more teens to show up, he said he still had an enjoyable time.

"You can meet new people, not just the same crowd," he said. "You can meet new people while having fun with your old friends. It's a get-together kind of place."

Danielle Bassett, recreation services coordinator for the Department of Recreation and Parks, said Freestyle is a "trial" project for which the county is currently paying, although she would like to see it become a self-sustaining program through grants and revenue from the admission fee.

In addition, Bassett said she hopes to attract more teens to the program by adding dances, basketball tournaments and a battle of the bands.

Despite her disappointment at the low attendance at Freestyle's first event, Bassett said she hopes the program will grow once school resumes and with better publicity efforts.

"The kids that came loved it; they really enjoyed it," she said. "I hope they will talk it up to their friends."

The center is located at the Ridgely's Run Community Center at 8400 Mission Road, in Jessup. Freestyle will be offered from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and 21, Sept. 11 and 25, Oct. 25 and 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4.

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