Youth services: National Job Shadow Day held Feb. 2.

On Feb. 2, the National Recreation and Park Association encourages your agency to participate in National Job Shadow Day by inviting youth to job shadow positions in your field for the day.

National Job Shadow Day is a subsidiary of National Youth Congress, which is a workforce development program recently created through NRPA to actively engage youth ages 13-19 years to participate in internships in parks, recreation and conservation while receiving a unique nationally recognized leadership curriculum.

National Youth Congress is a three-step process: the Town Hall Forum, Action Councils and Internships. This program offers all youth nationwide opportunities to:

* Have their voice heard in their community;

* Participate in a structured and nationally recognized leadership curriculum, the Prudential Youth Leadership

* Institute (PYLI), sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation;

* Explore career opportunities through internships;

* Learn leadership skills for their personal and professional life;

* Receive proper communication and interview skills/tips (resume writing, proper dress attire, appropriate interview questions);

* Participate in educational team building activities; and

* Brainstorm with a positive and powerful team community service project.

Recently, Sondra Clark, a 13-year-old writer, job shadowed park and recreation jobs across the United States and in Germany and wrote about her experiences, including interviews of people she job shadowed. Clark's experiences were possible with the support of the National Recreation Foundation, and S&S Worldwide Crafts. Her book, "Cool Careers in Parks and Recreation," is available for $10 and can be ordered through NRPA's online, www.nrpa.org, or by calling 708-858-0784, Ext. 2199. This book is a magnificent way for teens to read about the many job opportunities in the field and encourages teens to pursue a career in parks and recreation.

By becoming involved you are giving our future leaders the opportunity to listen to one another, to respect others and their opinions, to resolve conflict in a positive way to believe in their own abilities, and to leave their world "better than they found it."

For more information on the Job Shadowing Program, contact Sonia M. Bowie, director of Youth Services, at 703-858-0784, Ext. 2199, or by e-mail, [e-mail].