Youth Services
Youth Programs
505 Silas Deane Highway
Wethersfield, CT 06109
RITE OF PASSAGE EXPERIENCE
The Rite Of Passage Experience is a three phased program designed to assist Wethersfield families with the transitions they experience as their children move through adolescence. These programs are a collaborative project between Social and Youth Services and Wethersfield Public Schools. Phase one, ROPE, is part of the sixth grade curriculum. Phase two, the Home School Collaboration, focuses on the middle school years through the Crossroads and PAC (Parent Action Committee) programs. Phase three, ROPE III, is a community service based program for high school students.
ROPE (6TH GRADE)
The ROPE (Rite of Passage Experience) program is a joint project between the Department of Social and Youth Services and the Wethersfield Public Schools as part of the sixth grade wellness curriculum. ROPE provides opportunities for sixth grade students to participate in small group activities that help promote a positive transition from elementary school to middle school and from childhood to adolescence. Activities may be challenging both mentally and physically and are designed to be gradually more difficult so that young adult skills can be practiced. Call 721-2977 or e-mail Becce Reslock.
CROSSROADS
Crossroads, an after school program held at Silas Deane Middle School is open to all 7th and 8th grade Wethersfield residents and 7th and 8th graders at Corpus Christi school. The goal of the program is to provide youth with various positive leisure time activities in the after school hours as a prevention tool. Some examples of courses offered are Outdoor Adventures (canoeing, rock climbing, orienteering), Ceramics, Cooking, Babysitting, visits to Healthtrax Gym (fitness and strength training, racquetball, swimming), Fishing (fresh and salt water), Bowling, Knitting, Image Consulting (make up, hair, fashion), Cooking for Fun, Jewelry Making, Dance, introduction to various sports such as Field Hockey, Wrestling, Cross Country, Skateboarding, Mountain Biking, Self Defense, and many other classes. Three different six week sessions run during the school year. Information is mailed to all SDMS and Corpus Christi 7th and 8th grade students. For further information call 721-2977 or e-mail Jane Johnson.
PARENT ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)
The Parent Action Committee (PAC) is a joint program between the Silas Deane Middle School and the Department of Social and Youth Services. The goal of PAC is to build a sense of community for youth by connecting them with opportunities to learn adult values, behaviors, attitudes and beliefs. PAC actively promotes the collaboration between parents and school. A variety of PAC sponsored activities occur throughout the school year. Contact Cathy Mandile at Silas Deane Middle School, 571-8300 x140.
ROPE III
ROPE III is a program offered to 9th through 12th graders. The goal is to connect young people with volunteer opportunities through community service and apprenticeships. These experiences provide opportunities for youth to participate in more adult sanctioned roles within their community. Many activities involve having high school students serve as mentors to elementary or middle school students in community service or adventure programs. Contact Youth Services at 721-2977.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
The department offers some opportunities to youth who are interested in or required to perform community service. During the school year there may be various projects such as bulk mailings, baking for the Food Pantry, helping at Food Share in Windsor, visiting residents at elderly housing sites. During the summer months there is an ongoing community service gardening program. All planting, weeding and harvesting is done by volunteers with the vegetables, herbs and flowers going to the Wethersfield Food Pantry. We also have a list of Community Service opportunities in Wethersfield that you may request by calling 721-2977 or e-mail Jane Johnson.
WILDERNESS AND ADVENTURE PROGRAMS
Throughout the year the department offers wilderness /adventure programs open to 7th - 9th graders with space available for high school mentors. Adventures range from one-day trips with activities such as rock climbing, canoeing, cross country skiing, caving, and challenge courses to three-day trips rowing the Connecticut River, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail or back country skiing in the woods of northern New Hampshire. There is also a multi-day camping trip to northern New England or Canada each summer that is open to high school students. Call 721-2977 or e-mail Becce Reslock.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
Youth Employment Service is a referral service that connects residents who need assistance with Wethersfield youth (13-17). Residents in need of various services such as babysitting, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, housekeeping, raking, and other household chores may request that they be contacted by a student who has registered with the Youth Employment Service. YES is a referral service only. Residents are responsible for interviewing, checking references, setting up payment arrangements and work hours with the student. Call 721-2977 or e-mail Jane Johnson.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Workforce Development Program is designed to prepare youth for life beyond high school graduation. It is a year long program that meets every day for six weeks during the summer and once a week during the school year. During the summer the youth work on a project that is beneficial for the community as well as resume writing, career preparation, college planning, youth leadership opportunities and other activities that promote responsibility. Special criteria needs to be met to be eligible for this program. For information call 721-2977 or email Jane Johnson.
YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
The Youth Advisory Board consists of Wethersfield citizens and representatives of key agencies in town including the school system, police, Town Council and Social and Youth Services. The Board's purpose is to gather information from youth and adults in town to form youth policies and to develop youth programs in response to town needs. It also serves to advocate for youth issues and disseminate relevant information to the appropriate audiences who have interests or involvement with youth. Recent activities include volunteer recognition events and involvement in drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention efforts. To contact call 721-2977 or e-mail Nancy Stilwell.