Young Vermonters living along the Canadian border experience cultural, spatial and material marginalisation, as well as historically high rates of death due to alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. This research examines the relationship between teens' place in society, their material geographies in a rural setting, and the strategies they employ to create social opportunities and produce 'cultural gateways'. As active cultural producers, young people, especially older boys, are successful in building socio-spatial networks that extend beyond their local area, across the US-Canada border, and into Quebec bars. The research reveals that teens live in a highly gendered social environment, one that encourages risk-taking for boys and closes down social opportunities for girls. This study opens up new directions for further research into the social and environmental conditions under which North American teens craft their lives in rural places.