Members of Girl Scout Troop 5441 spent mornings this summer at the Jackson Free Press, participating in a real-world work environment. Photo by Trip Burns.
The Jackson Free Press packs in a variety of interns during the summer, including a number of middle- and high-schoolers whose parents send them here to avoid the "summer slide" by staying busy, keeping their minds active and learning the "soft skills" of working with an age-diverse team on a variety of projects.
During the summer of 2014, we were joined by several young women from Girl Scout Troop 5441 nearly every morning of the summer. They participated in workshops, brainstormed ideas, and worked with older interns and staffers. After it was over, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Cedrick Gray honored the Scouts' summer here as an example of the "learning academy" approach that helps young Jacksonians reach their potential. Research shows that involvement in extra-curricular activities such as sports, Scouts or church youth ministry can offset idleness among young people and help them develop a healthy social life among positive, like-minded friends.
We asked the Girl Scouts and troop leader Rosaline McCoy to brainstorm tips for adults on how best to work with young people during such collaborations.
• Plan activities that are flexible enough for young people to safely use technology in ways they enjoy and are most familiar (cell phones, social media, etc).
• Provide incentives for tasks that require more than two hours of their time in one setting, such as lunch, movie passes, etc.
• Allow young people to have a voice in things that directly involve them. Avoid too many "adult" ways of thinking and doing things.
• Use individual strengths to challenge young people. It builds confidence and makes them want to do more on their own.
• Learn the language of young people and use it to communicate with them; you can always get what you need out of them when you "get on their level."
• Add more color and sound; enhancing what young people see and hear will always keep their attention. Study learning styles to make sure you're reaching all of them.
• Celebrate their successes, so they feel good about what they're doing. Compliment them often so they know you noticed their effort.
• Create activities that are relevant and relatable to who they are individually and culturally. They must know you understand them.
• Assign tasks that are simple and less overwhelming; trying to accomplish too much at one time often turns off a young mind.
• Give helpful feedback. If they need to improve, guide them through making it better by using something they like or are already good at.
• Rotate and transition as often as possible. Keep them moving and motivated—"Too much of the same thing will soon get boring," the Girl Scouts say.
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