By Bob Keeler
Staff Writer

They’ve pulled weeds and gardened. They’ve taken part in mock job interviews. They’ve had their picture taken and hung on the wall along with a description of their short-term and longer-range goals. They’ve visited community service organizations and businesses. They’ve learned about careers and finance.

It’s all part of the Teen Leadership Experience taking place last week and this week at Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club in Souderton.

“By the time it’s over, they’ll have close to 30 speakers coming in,” said Jennifer Jarrell, unit director at the club.

“We’re really just trying to expose them to as much as we can,” she said, especially “the things going on in the community.”

The 22 participants come from Pennridge and Souderton school districts, Souderton Charter School, Penn View Christian School and Community Service Foundation. They were chosen after having been recommended by someone at the Boys & Girls Club, school officials, churches or non-profits. The teens also filled out an application, including answering an essay question on why they were interested in being in the program.

Considering the types of things involved, it might be expected the students would be at least high school age, but they’re not.

“They’re 13- through 15-year-olds,” Jarrell said.

“We wanted to start the process early,” she said. “The idea is to get them involved in all these areas, especially community service.”

Opening day speakers were Souderton Mayor John Reynolds, North Penn/Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club CEO Bob Kreamer and North Penn Valley Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Nick Khan.

On the morning of July 14, Cindy Yannone, of Harleysville National Bank, was one of the speakers during a group of Financial Wellness workshops featuring speakers from HNB, Harleysville Savings Bank and Univest.

After starting out by teaching the participants the difference between needs and wants, Yannone spoke about budgeting and staying out of debt.

“That’ll be very important for the future,” Alexander Cupo, 15, of Harleysville, one of the participants, said.

Cupo, a Boys & Girls Club member who helps out with the club’s summer reading program, noted the variety of activities during the two-week Teen Leadership Experience.

“Lots of people came in to talk to us about stuff we’ll need later in life,” said Cheyenne Nguyen, 13, of Souderton, another of the teens in the program.

In most cases, she had a general knowledge of the organizations visited and information given, but the program added to that, Nguyen said.

“It’s really great to see the community and to see what opportunities there are for volunteering and community service,” Cupo said.

The program has been both a great opportunity and fun, he said.

“It’s a good way to help out the community and for us to prepare ourselves,” Cupo said.

Speakers and presentations included diversity and communications training by retired Souderton Area School District teacher Louisa Abney-Babcock; job-seeking information; information on workplace professionalism facilitated by Giant Supermarket; mock job interviews conducted by six volunteers from Univest; a career exploration workshop led by Jeneen Flamer, Norristown High School student career specialist; career exploration small group discussions with Chad Clemens, owner of C&S Lawn and Landscape, Khary Flamer, a North Penn School District teacher, attorney Misti Conway, Danielle Archer of Univest and Dr. Tom Derstine of Rockhill Veterinary Associates; job site visits at Univest and Allebach Communications; weeding and planting flowers for Souderton Borough outside Keystone Opportunity Center and Tilly Mint Tea Room; lunch and card playing at Generations; a tour of the Souderton firehouse; and the financial workshops.

The group is also leading with the painting of a mural at the Boys & Girls Club displaying the theme “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

This is the first time the program was held at the Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club. It was started as an offshoot of the United Way’s Leadership Development Innovation Team, with a specific goal of helping get young people involved in the community.

The response from the participants has been good, Jarrell said.

“They’re always asking for more information, new opportunities,” she said.

The program will also give further exposure to other projects the participants can become involved in, she said.

“We wanted it to be something that carried over and they continue in their own lives,” Jarrell said.

Most of the adults only spent a relatively short time speaking to the teens, but the overall impression made was a big one, she said.

“With all those people combined, they made a huge impact on these kids,” Jarrell said.