Jack Bowman had agreed to whip up a meal for a small group of colleagues and thought he could use an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.
As program advocate at Juvenile Services (JS), Bowman approached a student at the JS Day School about the idea. The teenager agreed to help.
“This was kind of the catalyst” for a new program at JS, Bowman said. It is called Adulting Academy and focuses on a variety of life skills, financial know-how and employment advice.
“Since cooking is one of the life skills, I asked the student if he wanted to help prepare the meal,” Bowman recalled. “We shopped for the ingredients and, even though his kitchen skills were limited, he was enthusiastic.
“Actually, I told him ‘if you continue cutting those green onions while holding the knife like that, they will turn into red onions,” he laughed. “But we made it through and the event was a success.”
The word “adulting” is used in the name of the academy because young people use it to describe behaving like an adult while performing mundane, but necessary, tasks.
Volunteers needed
If the program is to succeed, volunteers are needed to teach, and/or donate supplies and locations for certain classes. For example, a mechanic’s shop would come in handy for instructions on how to change the oil or check the fluids in a car.
“It’s one thing to watch a video on YouTube but another to actually perform the task,” Bowman explained. “For many of us, it is much easier to learn by doing.”
One of the first volunteers was Justin Brown, English instructor at Barton Community College. He will present four classes in May and June on Survival English: Writing for the Workplace.
“Justin contacted me, saying he was interested in giving back to his community,” Bowman said. “This meant a lot to all of us.”
Class schedules depend on the number of students, the topic, and equally important, the volunteer’s availability.
“We will work with volunteers about scheduling,” Bowman said. “If they are kind enough to share their time and expertise, that is the least we can do.”
Priority is given to JS clients. But, when possible, others can join in – whether it’s a classroom or community setting. Classes are designed for ages 16 through 19.
“A lot of us probably remember looking back to early adulthood and the questions that arise,” Bowman commented. “I could call my parents for help and advice but some kids don’t have that connection.”
For now, Adulting Academy is offered only in Barton County. However, if this pilot program is successful, Bowman hopes to expand it into other counties in the 20th Judicial District. These are Russell, Stafford, Rice and Ellsworth.
Marissa Woodmansee, JS director, noted the objective of the state grant that supports this program “is to connect young people to post-high-school opportunities. We want to partner with community stakeholders on a wide variety of topics to guide teenagers into the next stage of their lives.
“We have a community with vast resources,” she continued. “However, if you are not aware of these resources, a little guidance will be helpful. We appreciate Jack’s initiative and are grateful to anyone who volunteers to make this happen.”
Class topics focus on skills in many categories. These include domestic, automotive, financial, relationship, job, citizenship, time management, problem solving, self-care and miscellaneous.
For more information or to volunteer, call 620-793-1930.
