Canaan Summer Jobs program gives sound experience to youth

NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Summer Jobs program has logged another great season, according to organizers. It is closing in on nearly two decades of providing summer jobs for 14- and 15-year-olds, as well as experience in the entire process, from interviewing to good work ethics.

And then there are the workplaces and programs that benefit from these young, energetic workers.

The Canaan Community Trust started the program in the early 1990s, and allocates a portion of its annual contributions. The students, who are under 16 and not legally allowed to work at regular jobs because of child labor laws, earn a small wage.

“It’s approached just like a real job, and it is, really,â€� said Lynn Nania, who has directed the program for the last seven years. “They start by submitting an application and going  through a typical interview process. They receive training. They are supervised and evaluated both by me and their employers. They are expected to show up for work on time and do everything they would have to do to keep any job.â€�

The number of jobs depends mainly on the amount of funding available.

“It’s been a tougher year than most to raise funds,� said Trust President Linda Patz. “But we are fortunate to have a very loyal and generous group of businesses and individuals who we can always count on. They keep us going. We also get some assistance from the town of North Canaan and the Wellner Fund.�

This summer, the trust was able to hire 21 youngsters. Typically, the number is a little higher. Nania said the biggest year since she’s been director involved 36 young people.

Jobs include working at all the Geer facilities on maintenance, office work and dining services. Teens have helped supervise children at the Canaan Child Care Center, at swimming lessons and the YMCA summer recreation program. They have done maintenance at the state police Troop B barracks and at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, where the office and library benefited from help with summer chores. At North Canaan Elementary School, every desk and chair was scrubbed down during vacation.

Nania never forgets that she is working with young teens or that the experience can play a large role in shaping future attitudes toward employment.

“I know it’s not easy to spend vacation time at school day after day, cleaning, so I mix it up a little, juggling the schedule to break up some of the less desirable jobs. In other venues, such as the YMCA, where they are working with kids in ongoing programs, consistency is important.�

She also lined up some “odd jobs,â€� taking a crew of teens out to area residences  where they worked for free, donating the fee for their services to the summer jobs program fund.

It might be difficult to evaluate the lasting effects of such a program, but not in this case.

“There have been more than a few kids who went on to get a regular job at their summer job venue. I think that says a lot.�