Girl Scouts & Clan Mothers

[H2O Man]

9. Decades ago,

when I worked with "at risk" youth in a rural, upstate NY county, I found it more beneficial to work with the kids outside of my office. I assumed that they had plenty of experience dealing with an adult in his/her office, on opposite sides of a desk. So, I'd get groups and do projects such as restoring pioneer cemeteries. (The teen who engages in this is not likely to trash a cemetery, a too common activity in these parts, associated with kids partying in grave yards.)

We also did an archaeological excavation of a small occupation site, high on a mountain. A professor from a local university assisted in the project. In fact, employees of several county agencies volunteered, allowing the youngsters to interact with them as human beings.

A local private university, with an outstanding museum, then invited us to have their biggest display for a month. It connected those youngsters with people and places they were unlikely to encounter otherwise.

I love museums!