orientation for youth participating in the inaugural Recreation
Employment Corps Mentor / Mentee program on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6:30
p.m. – 8:30 p.m., at the Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center, 2921
Tuckaseegee Road.
Recreation Employment Corps is a program designed to provide teens,
ages 14 – 17, with the opportunity to gain first-time work experience
and positive life skills by serving as mentees at various recreation
facilities around the County. Each participant will work closely with
an assigned recreation supervisor for 10 hours a week through
November. Mentees will be compensated for their time and will be
subject to policies and procedures just as other County employees are.
Recruitment for the REC program began in fall 2011. Park and Rec staff
identified potential candidates – teens currently active in Park and
Rec programs – and developed an application process consisting of a
written essay and an in-person interview. Sixty teens applied and 20
were selected to participate.
"We are proud to offer this wonderful program which gives students the
chance to develop positive working skills and habits which will serve
them throughout life," said Park and Recreation Director Jim Garges.
"It is a great example of Park and Rec's commitment to providing an
atmosphere that stresses both education and personal growth."
