Screenshot of AdirondackTeen.com homepage

SARANAC LAKE — A website aimed at teenagers in the Adirondacks launched in January, and its founder is looking to expand it further.

“I wanted a place for teenagers to be able to go for resources, jobs, a place where they can show off what they do in the Adirondacks, how they got there. Their accomplishments,” said AdirondackTeen.com founder Caroleigh Meserole. “The idea was to get kids to be more involved in the Adirondacks, and even what was going on, even in the little towns, like what’s going on in Inlet, what’s going on in Long Lake,”

The site offers photography as well as resources for teens for long-term financial planning, information on scholarships and legal information like how to get a driver’s license.

Additionally, there’s an ongoing skateboard design contest, called “What’s Your Art?”

“Somebody designs the deck and the winner gets a weekend stay at the Great Escape Lodge in Lake George sponsored by Six Flags,” Meserole said.

She said the AdirondackTeen website has received around 1,000 unique visitors since January, and gets far more hits on its Facebook page. Meserole said she hopes to one day expand into print — with Adirondack Teen Magazine.

In the future, she said she wants to do interviews with people who grew up here and stayed here, making a career in the Adirondacks, to encourage other youth to stay.

“We’re trying to keep the younger people here,” Meserole said. “The communities would benefit. We’ve all got to figure out how to keep kids here.”

Dominique Denson, Meserole’s niece, who works as an editor and designer for the website, said it’s important to remind young people growing up in the Adirondacks what makes them special.

“They have boatloads of grit, compassion, and respect for the beautiful things around them,” Denson wrote in an email. “Whether they know it or not, their hometowns help them to be amazing people, and we want to give kids an opportunity to realize this with features such as a space to share their local photos, articles highlighting exceptional teens, and art contests.”