Seaside Youth Club aims to be a welcoming place for Swampscott pre-teens to relax, connect, and express themselves. Founded in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, co-founder Diana Beaupre and her peers recognized through discussions with members of First Church in Swampscott Congregational that many children struggled with social anxiety due to the isolation.
“It’s non-religious, but it promotes certain values that we as a community hold in high esteem,” Beaupre said. “Being inclusive, accepting of all, and providing a safe place for kids to be and develop … hang out and have fun.”
The club, open to fifth through eighth graders, meets every Friday afternoon in its headquarters on the church’s second floor. Director Sarah Pierce, a Medford native with a background in community-focused work, begins each gathering with “circle time,” where the 15 members can talk freely and share their experiences from the past week. Now in her second year with the club, Pierce believes her role is to help prepare youth for challenges in high school and beyond.
“They will come in here and be like, ‘I failed this test,’ and then we’re like, ‘How are we going to fix this for next time?’” Pierce said. “I want it to be more organic rather than psychoanalyzing all these kids.”

Seaside Kid’s Club all together on bean bags. Hannah Waugh, Mae Manzini, Aoife Quann, Sadhbh Quann, Emerson Rose, Mae Delano, Alecia Beaupre, Eva Marshall, and Sarah Pierce Director of Seaside Youth Club.

Emerson Rose does a split.

Eva Marshall, left, and Mae Manzini fool around at Seaside Youth Club.
Pierce added that academics and athletics can create severe competitive pressures, and she fosters an environment at Seaside that is free from competition.
Emerson Rose said Seaside provides a way to unwind at the end of a busy week filled with school and extracurricular activities.
“It’s nice to be able to come here and talk with my friends without chaos and actually be listened to,” Rose said.
Vera Zartman shared that the club gives her a chance to catch up with friends she might not see in school or other activities.
After the group discussion, members can engage in activities like arts and crafts, foosball, board games, and video games on a Nintendo Switch. The “Zen Den” is a quiet room for members seeking a calm environment, equipped with games, activities, and a variety of snacks.
Pierce has also organized community activities for the club, such as baking for the elderly and winning a prize in the town’s Halloween costume party trivia night.
Beaupre expressed her satisfaction with the support Seaside has provided its members and looks forward to the club’s continued growth.