Internship with the Youth Programs at The Salvation Army Harrisburg (Capital City Region)
Supervised by Beth Johns, Youth Programs Coordinator
Messiah College Internship Center
Sarah Bartz, Internship Faculty Advisor
Spring 2014
Supervised by Beth Johns, Youth Programs Coordinator
Messiah College Internship Center
Sarah Bartz, Internship Faculty Advisor
Spring 2014
Job description
This internship position was designed to help improve the partnership between The Salvation Army Harrisburg Youth Programs and the families, parents, and students of Downey School and the after school program. The after school program, entitled EXPLORE, involves a tutoring segment for the students according to grade level, dinner, and a nutrition lesson called, "Kids in the Kitchen", where the students learn about healthy nutrition, the five food groups, portion sizes, and then make a recipe. My internship position included embracing and inspiring leadership qualities in students, encouraging, welcoming, and engaging parents in the after school program, and maintaining a closer collaboration with the elementary school, Messiah College, and the Together for Tomorrow initiative that has been implemented in Downey School. My main assignment was to focus on parent engagement and help bridge the gap between The Salvation Army and the parents of the students involved in the after school program.
Responsibilities:
1. Help bridge the gap between Messiah College, The Salvation Army Harrisburg, and Downey School
in Harrisburg.
2. Coordinate ways in which The Salvation Army can become more involved in the Together for
Tomorrow initiative at Downey School and how they can provide more for the school and families.
3. Develop strategies for how to engage parents in the youth programs and school.
4. Assist in The Salvation Army’s after school program, EXPLORE, each week by assisting in tutoring
the students and helping with the "Kids in the Kitchen" nutrition program.
5. Figure out a way to effectively evaluate and assess how The Salvation Army is reaching and
educating the students in “body, mind, and spirit. ”
6. Update the monthly newsletter concerning the EXPLORE program that gets distributed to the families.
Responsibilities:
1. Help bridge the gap between Messiah College, The Salvation Army Harrisburg, and Downey School
in Harrisburg.
2. Coordinate ways in which The Salvation Army can become more involved in the Together for
Tomorrow initiative at Downey School and how they can provide more for the school and families.
3. Develop strategies for how to engage parents in the youth programs and school.
4. Assist in The Salvation Army’s after school program, EXPLORE, each week by assisting in tutoring
the students and helping with the "Kids in the Kitchen" nutrition program.
5. Figure out a way to effectively evaluate and assess how The Salvation Army is reaching and
educating the students in “body, mind, and spirit. ”
6. Update the monthly newsletter concerning the EXPLORE program that gets distributed to the families.
Learning Objectives
As a self-directed learning experience, I established some goals and objectives for my internship with The Salvation Army's Youth Programs. I reviewed these learning objectives periodically with my site supervisor and internship faculty advisor throughout my internship experience.
My Work & assignments
The monthly newsletter for The Salvation Army's "Kids in the Kitchen" nutrition program is used to inform parents of what their children are learning in the nutrition lessons, what food they have prepared, and also gives nutrition tips for healthy living and eating. The file below shows the newsletter that I wrote for the month of March. The second page includes tips taken from the myplate.gov website on healthy nutrition. (Objective #1)
One of my biggest assignments for this internship was to create a parent or family event. My supervisor and I decided it would be a good idea to bring the parents to the school, show them a little bit of what occurs during the after school program, have them connect with The Salvation Army staff and other families, and hopefully build some stronger relations with the parents. One of the first steps in the planning process for the Parent Appreciation Night was to create a general outline/agenda for the evening event. The agenda I created below shows a general overview of what the event entailed. (Objective #3)
Below is the flyer I created for the Parent Appreciation Night at the school. (Objectives 2&3)
Another assignment of mine related to the Parent Appreciation Night was to create a survey for the parents, which asked for their rating of the after school program, the services of The Salvation Army, how they connect with their child regarding what he or she has learned in the program, and the parents' personal opinions regarding involvement with the school. Below is an image of the survey I created. (Objectives 2&3)
To include in the handout for parents, I also created a short worksheet for the students to fill out with their parents in hopes that the information that the kids are learning from the program can be implemented in the home and the parent-child relationship. I tried to create a simple handout that students in grades K-4th would be able to comprehend (with the help of a parent or adult) regarding information we've discussed in the Kids in the Kitchen program. (Objectives 1&3)
After each day at my internship, I wrote a short summary about the events of the day, the observations I made of the students, and things I've learned along the way. This was a great way for me to see the progress in the students, my own work, my interactions with students, and professional skills. Below are two excerpts from my journal that give a little insight into my observations at the after school program. (Objectives 1&2)
Friday, 2/28/14
Today was our last day with the No-Bake Cookie recipe. All throughout the week the students have been learning about “sometimes” foods and how they compare to “anytime” (healthy) foods. As a group, we read the directions aloud so that some of the kids could take turns reading the directions. I helped a group of boys with the recipe and they seemed very engaged and excited with learning how to make the cookies; they were very cooperative about reading the directions and measurements, taking turns, and staying focused. If some of the students finished early, they helped wash the dishes. After the kids were finished making and eating their cookies, they then drew their favorite “sometimes” snacks and healthy snacks. I can tell that some of the kids are really excited to take what they’ve learned in the lesson and apply it at home. One of the boys mentioned that he wants to make this recipe at home because he has all the ingredients. It was affirming to hear that the kids are enjoying these lessons and that they desire to apply them in their life outside of school.
The more I’ve been able to get to know the kids, the more comfortable I have felt relating and interacting with the students. I’ve been working to get more familiar with their names, and I’ve loved coming back each week to talk with some of the students I’ve met in previous classes. As the relationship builds, it makes it easier for me to talk with them and challenge them in what we are teaching them.
Monday, 3/31/14
Today at the office, I spent the afternoon sorting through many, many boxes of children’s books that were donated by the community for Downey School. It’s amazing to how successful something can be when the community is invited to join in and do something good for the school and the students. Once I stopped for the day, I loaded my car up and delivered them to Downey. I told one of the school faculty members that I wasn’t sure exactly what books could be used, but she responded saying, “Honestly, many of the kids don’t have access to books like these,” so I was reminded that whatever books we are able to give them, they can definitely be put to use and make a difference in a child’s life.
I joined in on the last part of the tutoring lesson with the second grade students, which mainly consisted of me talking and hanging out with them, and them showing me their class pet guinea pig named Jordan. :-) We had the fourth graders for the nutrition lesson, and finished our last lesson on the cucumber sandwiches. We reviewed some points about the MyPlate model and then dove into the recipe-making. Some of the kids were hesitant at first to try the cream cheese and a few of them said they didn’t like cucumbers; but it was interesting for me to see many of them try it and like it! I think this is a great part of the program because it provides an opportunity for the students to not only learn about nutrition, but to be creative, try new things, and hopefully apply that at home to continue to explore healthy options with food.
Today was our last day with the No-Bake Cookie recipe. All throughout the week the students have been learning about “sometimes” foods and how they compare to “anytime” (healthy) foods. As a group, we read the directions aloud so that some of the kids could take turns reading the directions. I helped a group of boys with the recipe and they seemed very engaged and excited with learning how to make the cookies; they were very cooperative about reading the directions and measurements, taking turns, and staying focused. If some of the students finished early, they helped wash the dishes. After the kids were finished making and eating their cookies, they then drew their favorite “sometimes” snacks and healthy snacks. I can tell that some of the kids are really excited to take what they’ve learned in the lesson and apply it at home. One of the boys mentioned that he wants to make this recipe at home because he has all the ingredients. It was affirming to hear that the kids are enjoying these lessons and that they desire to apply them in their life outside of school.
The more I’ve been able to get to know the kids, the more comfortable I have felt relating and interacting with the students. I’ve been working to get more familiar with their names, and I’ve loved coming back each week to talk with some of the students I’ve met in previous classes. As the relationship builds, it makes it easier for me to talk with them and challenge them in what we are teaching them.
Monday, 3/31/14
Today at the office, I spent the afternoon sorting through many, many boxes of children’s books that were donated by the community for Downey School. It’s amazing to how successful something can be when the community is invited to join in and do something good for the school and the students. Once I stopped for the day, I loaded my car up and delivered them to Downey. I told one of the school faculty members that I wasn’t sure exactly what books could be used, but she responded saying, “Honestly, many of the kids don’t have access to books like these,” so I was reminded that whatever books we are able to give them, they can definitely be put to use and make a difference in a child’s life.
I joined in on the last part of the tutoring lesson with the second grade students, which mainly consisted of me talking and hanging out with them, and them showing me their class pet guinea pig named Jordan. :-) We had the fourth graders for the nutrition lesson, and finished our last lesson on the cucumber sandwiches. We reviewed some points about the MyPlate model and then dove into the recipe-making. Some of the kids were hesitant at first to try the cream cheese and a few of them said they didn’t like cucumbers; but it was interesting for me to see many of them try it and like it! I think this is a great part of the program because it provides an opportunity for the students to not only learn about nutrition, but to be creative, try new things, and hopefully apply that at home to continue to explore healthy options with food.