About the Program
The Harrisburg Housing Authority’s Environmental Teen Program is part of our Summer Growth Program, conceived and directed by Program Director Mr. Clarence Watson. With guidance from the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), we aim to create an enriching environment where teenagers can learn, grow, and make meaningful contributions to their community. The EAC’s insight and dedication have been invaluable to the program’s evolution, and we are deeply grateful for their involvement.
This dynamic program sees an increase in participant numbers each year, testament to its continued success and the strong demand in our community. We’ve expanded the program from four weeks during the summer to six weeks, allowing for more in-depth exploration of environmental issues and community engagement.
Program Philosophy
Our program strikes multiple chords at once. We build in our teens higher expectations for themselves, make them aware of environmental issues in their community and globally, and instill the importance of responsibility and accountability. Mr. Watson’s leadership ensures that the investment from the Harrisburg Housing Authority and the City of Harrisburg continues to deliver life-changing results for our inner-city teens.
Partnerships and Engagement
In collaboration with Capital Region Water (CRW), our program integrates practical educational experiences. CRW provides tours and lessons about the water industry, shows our teens the significance of green infrastructure in the city, and offers our mentors career opportunities within their company. This partnership reinforces the practical learning aspect of our program, giving our participants firsthand insight into potential career paths.
Program Structure
Under Mr. Watson’s leadership, our program is structured to ensure maximum engagement and learning. We start each season with a mandatory orientation for all teens and their parents. The teens’ workday runs from 9am to 3pm, and their meeting place is the Camp Curtin Academy—an ideal educational venue. With an emphasis on good character and behavior, Mr. Watson uses various quotes throughout the program to help the teens improve their emotional intelligence.
Leadership Mentors
A fundamental element of our program is the influence of our college and adult mentors. These mentors come from various backgrounds, from program graduates to community leaders. They share their wisdom and experience, helping to prepare the teens to lead their own Environmental Teen Corp. (ETC) group. All staff and mentors complete a First Aid/CPR course and pass a criminal history and child clearance background check.
Development of Emotional Intelligence
With the understanding that emotional intelligence is crucial for teens, Mr. Watson integrates mandatory study lessons from the book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” These habits are taught and reinforced regularly to help the teens successfully complete the program and incorporate these principles into their daily lives.
Program Objectives
Our program revolves around three key objectives:
- Community Beautification: The ETC is actively involved in neighborhood clean-ups, trash pickups, and various activities aimed at enhancing the beauty of the City of Harrisburg. This objective is to get the teens to appreciate the importance of cleanliness in their community and how it impacts the overall aesthetic of the city.
- Healthy Eating Initiatives: The Learning Lunch Program educates our teens about the importance of healthy eating, restaurant etiquette, and the varying perceptions of food across different cultures and income levels. The teens dine at different local restaurants each week, learning about different styles and cultures of food.
- Career Exploration: Each week, our program hosts environmental and educational tours and invites inspirational speakers to share their success stories. The goal is to expose the teens to different career opportunities and instill life leadership skills.
This comprehensive program combines environmental awareness, community engagement, and personal development to create an enriching summer experience for Harrisburg’s youth.
For more information, visit www.authorityteen.com