16 special needs youth cleaning up Sterling State Park
Sterling State Park is tidier this summer thanks to 16 area youth.
Garrett Montague, Joseph Provost III, Owen Laura, Joel Pattee, John Torio, Herne Liedel, Gerald Liedel, D.J. Moore, Caden Scaggs, John Villasenor, Anna Anderson, Anthony Anderson, Dakotah Cheney, Frances Beasley, Wyatt Yeary and Devin Young worked 5½-hour shifts, five days a week, at the park as part of the paid Work Based Learning Experience for special needs young people. Participants also were taught life skills. The final session of this summer runs through Aug. 25.
Initially, the participants mowed grass and cleaned the day use areas at Sterling. But then they advanced to bigger jobs.
“The kids do a variety of jobs, including mowing where the large mowers can't reach, weed whipping, picking up trash, cleaning out firepits, cleaning pavilions," said Tennery McCutcheon, employment program manager for Disability Network-Washtenaw/Monroe/Livingston. "The kids have been given more jobs as time has gone on. We started working on the campsite areas, the boating areas and the trailhead. Sometimes the Department of Natural Resources will get a grant for a special project, like building picnic tables or painting fences, and the kids may get recruited to help."
McCutcheon has run the program since it began.
Youth participants receive on-the-job training.
“They are shown what to do until they feel comfortable doing it. The DNR rangers are present day one to instruct and guide the kids in the use of the equipment. It is a learn-as-you-go process,” McCutcheon said.
Before arriving at Sterling, the young people also are taught life skills.
"The kids are all required to complete eight hours of work-readiness training before they can participate. This is usually virtual, and I am the instructor. That training covers things like conflict resolution, teamwork, social skills, chain of command, time management, hygiene, organization, self-advocacy, ADA guidelines and ethics," McCutcheon said.
Youth are supervised at Sterling by two skills trainers. Cheyenne Bolton has been with the program for two years, and Anthony Jordan joined this year.
“I love this program because it is great for kids who need a less restrictive environment due to their disability. It also allows for many teaching moments when it comes to social skills," McCutcheon said. "Where other jobs do not have time to stop and address a conflict between coworkers, we can talk about it and see what could have been done differently. This makes the learning very concrete, which a lot of these kids need."
The Work Based Learning Experience began five years ago and is open to Monroe County residents ages 16-26. The program has grown through the years.
“We originally had one session of six kids, then two sessions with six, then two sessions with 10. Now, at year five, we have two (five-week) sessions with 12 kids,” McCutcheon said.
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In addition to Disability Network-Washtenaw/Monroe/Livingston, the program also is operated by Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the DNR. MRS funds the program. Tiffany’s Pizza provides free food to the kids every Friday. Step Printing offers discounted T-shirts.
“Allen Chevrolet lets us sit in their pavilion for the (July 4) fireworks. The whole community is helping my group,” McCutcheon said.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 16 special needs youth cleaning up Sterling State Park
