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CAMDEN, Maine - Over the last month, teen parents enrolled in The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden's Passages Program have been making tote bags to benefit theHumane Society of Knox County. The young women, ages 14-20, are making the tote bags out of empty pet feed bags. The students cut and sew the recycled sacks into tote bags for the Humane Society to sell for $10 apiece.
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| Students Ashley and Kenzii, Passages teacher Erica, and student Jessica participating in a community service project. |
The Passages Program is a home-based high school educational program for pregnant and parenting teenagers whose education was interrupted by parenthood. The program serves students in Knox, Waldo, Washington, parts of Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, and Cumberland counties and culminates in a state of Maine approved high school diploma.
Passages student Kenzii has been volunteering with the Humane Society as part of her community service credit. She says, "Volunteering my time means helping people who need it and makes me feel like I've done something good."
Throughout the program, Passages students are required to perform community service at an agency of their choice. Already some of the teen parents have completed over 20 hours of community service at the Camden/Rockport Animal Rescue League, the Humane Society of Knox County, Blake Veterinary Service, and the AIO Food Pantry.
Lead Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator Andrea Itkin has been involved with the Passages Program since 2003. Andrea said, "Each of our students completes at least six hours of community service work, and we provide transportation and set up the volunteer opportunities. Having the chance to work with their peers in teams while working on something that is appreciated by the larger community enhances the experience and spurs them on to volunteer beyond the minimum requirement."
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Students Kenzii, Jessica, and Ashley sewing tote bags out of recycled pet feed bags to benefit the Humane Society of Knox County.
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Community service and engagement is an integral aspect of the Passages Program curriculum. Students learn that, no matter your age or income, giving back to your community is an important part of life. As one Community Schools graduate stated, "Students graduating know how to hook into a community and become civically engaged. They learn to invest not only in themselves but in their world."
In order to graduate from Passages, students must create self-directed learning plans to study 24 core skills covering academic, parenting, and life skills and attend monthly workshops related to these core skills. Students must also develop, orchestrate, and execute a challenging final project, called "The Passage," with the guidance and support of a mentor and teammates.
You can find out more about the Passages Program and The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden here: www.thecommunityschool.org/passages-program/program-overview.
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About The Community Schools:
The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden ( www.thecommunityschool.org) provide a nine-month Residential Program for at-risk adolescents at its locations in New Gloucester and Camden, in addition to a home-based Passages Program for parenting teens. Both programs enable students to earn a State of Maine-approved high school diploma. The schools encourage life-long learning and provide students with the skills and experiences necessary to connect with their families, practice personal responsibility, and contribute to their communities.
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