Career Explorations: Food and Fitness

 Career Explorations (C.E.) is a year-round pre-employment ‘Earn and Learn Mentorship’ and Job Training program. This dynamic initiative is designed to empower and inspire the youth of the city. The program is aimed at teenagers who are looking to explore different career paths, develop new skills, and gain valuable hands-on experience leading into employment with the parks and recreation department and beyond.

Food and Fitness participants will focus on health and wellness through cooking, finding healthy ingredients, exercise and movement, and more. Teens in the Fall 2023 program have worked on creating a yoga routine and learning how to teach it to others, cooking skills, and they have taken trips to markets to source healthy ingredients from local sources.

The program also focuses on personal growth and leadership skills as teens will be given the opportunity to work together on team-building activities and community service projects, helping to develop their communication and collaboration skills. They will receive support and guidance from experienced Parks and Recreation mentors, who will provide guidance and advice as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of the program.