Redlands Boys & Girls Clubs unveils teen innovation center to inspire entrepreneurship

Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside use heat presses to make logo t-shirts and hats in the new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center in Redlands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Israel J. Carreón Jr., Redlands Daily Facts, April 21 2026

David Ruiz, a 16-year-old junior at Citrus Valley High School, has spent half of his life at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside.

His regular hangout spot, which had previously consisted of a couch, a pool table and a small television, has now been transformed into a state-of-the-art technological haven.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Boys & Girls Clubs unveiled its new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center, revamping the space to accommodate four 3D printers; a laser cutter for crafting projects across a variety of materials, including wood, acrylic, and leather; and a vinyl printer capable of producing stickers and designs on clothing. The room also has eight new computers for attendees to use.

Ruiz, who plans to pursue a degree in aeronautics engineering, said the Teen Innovation Center allows teens to express their creativity.

“Some kids don’t really express themselves on a canvas or on paper, but they can really make something here,” Ruiz said as he was playing the video game “Street Fighter” on one of the new computers.

Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside play computer games in the new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center in Redlands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Garner Holt sits in the new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside in Redlands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Four new 3D printers to be used by children in the new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside in Redlands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Reach for the Stars. Even Schwingl, 13, left, looks up at Garner Holt as Holt talks with Adrianna Ruiz, 14, right, about her artwork during the grand opening of the Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Landon McColl, 16, uses a computer to build a 3-D art project in the new Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center as the ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place outside the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside in Redlands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Members, Adrianna Ruiz, 14, left, and twin sister Adrianna Ruiz, 14, meet Garner Holt and thank him during the grand opening of the Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The project was made possible by Garner Holt Productions Inc., a local manufacturer of theme park animatronics, and by other funding partners: Yuhaaviatam of the San Manuel Nation and the Overdeck Family Foundation.

“Garner Holt Productions provided the custom-build elements and key innovation space components, including furniture, 3D printers, a laser cutter, a heat press, storage units and related setup items,” said Andrea Carter, a spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Club purchased equipment and related items for the new center from Garner Holt Productions for $124,356.

The idea for the center began with the site’s CEO, Michael Wells, Carter said. Wells envisioned a space dedicated to teenagers that would offer hands-on learning, with a focus on tools that could help introduce the skills needed for careers in technology.

“We knew we wanted to create a STEM-focused space where our kids could work with modern equipment and focus on STEM and entrepreneurship as a workforce development focus,” Carter said.

Jordan Greenstein, Garner Holt project manager, said the teen center took five months from conception to launch. The room is divided into two spaces: a larger common area with six computers and a vinyl printer, and the “manufacturing hub,” which houses all the 3D printers and a laser cutter.

“Our goal here was teen and innovation relaxation; a hangout space where the teens can come after school and just have a good time,” Greenstein said, adding, “They have a ton of really amazing equipment back there, where they can just make products and design their dreams.”

Garner Holt, founder and president of Garner Holt Productions, attended the grand opening ceremony, expressing hope that the tools at the Teen Innovation Center would inspire the next generation to get excited about technology and pursue STEAM careers.

“When they get their hands on some of the equipment that’s in these rooms, they realize there’s more to life than sitting on your bed and playing on your games on your iPad until you’re 28 years old,” Holt said.

Editor’s note: This story and a photo caption have been updated to correct errors. The Boys & Girls Club purchased equipment and related items from Garner Holt Productions for $124,356. The Club, which also bought eight computers, opened the Garner Holt Teen Innovation Center.