TCS students participated in a summer work program, building a variety of job skills through school and community service.
While summer is a time to relax and unwind for many, four students at the Troy Community School spent part of the summer break developing workplace skills through Troy CSD’s Resilience, Innovations, Skills & Empowerment (RISE) Summer Youth Employment Opportunity.
Students built workplace basics through team-building and safety lessons. They practiced skills including time management, communication, problem-solving and respectful behavior.
Much of the work took place in the school garden. Students watered, mulched and weeded; cared for tomato plants; planted lettuce, broccoli and beans; and took soil samples for testing. They also harvested produce and cooked a meal using almost all garden ingredients.
Off campus, students joined a community work day at Soul Fire Farm. They also explored the Osgood Woods Trails near the school, learning from local community members about land care, erosion control, and the impact of invasive species. The group began mapping the woods and spread wood chips to create a school trailhead that connects to Osgood Woods.
Students also tapped into their creativity. They made natural dyes by boiling marigolds and crushing indigo flowers, then dyed and braided fabric to make a garden decoration.
Thanks to their work through the program, students left feeling more connected to their school and community, proud of their work, and better prepared for future employment.