In August, Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) presented the District 8 CEP Youth Development Training in McLennan County. Family and Consumer Sciences agents Sheryl Austin and Rosondra Hartsfield, along with committee members from Communities in School and Texas Hunger Initiative, planned the daylong training to focus on current CEP youth programs that could be implemented in afterschool programs. A total of 68 attendees were introduced to Cooperative Extension Program and participated in interactive PowerPoint presentations, nutrition updates, curriculum reviews, and a hands-on simulation. Specialists from CEP and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, as well as, Cooperative Extension Program agents provided the presentations.
Rosondra Hartsfield began the day with an ice breaker and introduction to Cooperative Extension Program. Next, a 4-H Extension Agent from Harris County, discussed several ways 4-H could be incorporated into their afterschool programs. Michael Lopez, AgriLife Extension Program Specialist, got the attendees moving by letting them experience quick, fun and easy ways to add physical activities into their daily program plans.
After lunch, Dawn Burton, Health Coordinator for Cooperative Extension Program introduced the group to the teen life skills curriculum, Tackling the Tough Skills, by allowing them to work through some of the lesson activities. Sheryl Austin ended the day’s presentations with a training on Welcome to the Real World. Attendees went through the process of choosing a career, creating their expenditure report and visiting each budgetary station before finally sitting down to discuss their experiences. The day concluded with a quick question and answer session, a program evaluation and a review of Cooperative Extension Program programs, resources and materials presented.
Texas Life donated their building for the training.