Inside the Zen Den: How a Sensory Calming Room Is Helping DAR Boys & Girls Club Youth

Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation are committed to serving youth struggling with mental health, working toward a goal of having every club trained in trauma-informed practices, so staff are better equipped to serve the young people who need them most. The DAR Boys & Girls Club of Menominee/Marinette set out to bring that commitment to life for its own members.

Grant funding helped the DAR build the Zen Den, a sensory calming room where bubble walls cycle through changing colors, the sound of water fills the space, and kids can settle into rocking chairs or stretch out on a sensory carpet, playing with its fibers as stars light up overhead. A behavioral specialist manages the room, talking with youth through their feelings to teach coping skills and healthier ways to redirect big emotions. 

The room is making a difference. Club CEO Koreen Gardon said meltdowns that used to take hours to work through now resolve far faster. Youth are learning to identify when they need a break, which has reduced breakdowns overall and cut the time it takes to redirect a child in distress. 

The benefits have been tremendous. One of our families can speak to this firsthand. Before the sensory room, DAR regularly called the parents at work to pick up their child due to behavioral challenges. The family was experiencing similar situations at school, creating significant stress and placing a strain on the parents' relationship. 

Since the sensory room was introduced, they have not had to call the child's parents a single time for behavioral concerns. The sensory room has given the child a safe space to regulate emotions, practice calming techniques, and redirect behaviors. In just a few minutes, the child is typically calm, refocused, and ready to return to activities with the other youth. This has been a life-changing resource for both the child and their family. 

In 2025, Superior Health Foundation recognized these results with the very first Superior Impact Award. The award goes to a grant partner whose work has made a significant impact on their community. Along with the award, the DAR received a $5,000 unrestricted gift in recognition of its dedication and hard work. 

This year, DAR Boys & Girls Club CEO Koreen Gardon returned to the Superior Impact Award ceremony to present the award to its newest recipient, Gogebic Community College. 

SHF awarded $14,595.23 through its 2023 Spring Grants cycle to help fund the Zen Den's creation. 

Learn more about the DAR Boys & Girls Club of Menominee/Marinette on their website.