Lennox Island youth try out different jobs in summer program

It was the first time someLennoxIsland First Nation youth had beenon a working ranch and it was an eye opening experience.

"If you try something new, it's usually pretty cool," said James David Bernard.

The kidsare part of a five week summerwork programcalled Pathwaysorganized and funded through the Mi'kmaqConfederacy of P.E.I. The confederacy also organizes similar programs in Charlottetown and for AbegweitFirst Nation.

Targeting students from LennoxIsland between the ages of 13 and 16, Pathwaysprovides work experience in a variety of jobs inside and outside their community.

"Pretty much a program that shows you a whole bunch of different things you can do in the future," said participant Aaliyah Lewis.

Lewis said the days spent in technology sessions were also an exciting part of the program.

From cutting grass to cutting edge

ShannaSark, the Pathways supervisor,said the program was designed toengage the youthin other things and other places.

The student's24-hourwork weeks were comprised of different sessions,doing everythingfrom using technology and science to more physical work, like cutting lawns and paintingtraditional colours on LennoxIsland's telephone poles.

"We are just teaching the kids about employment what is out there, different jobs, just getting a grasp on a different perspective on things," Sarksaid.

"Some people have only one mindset on being one thing, like I use to only want to be a welder," said participant DanielClory.

"Now I've seen that you can actually have a variety of things that you want to do."

During their farm experience the kidsmadetheir way though seven different stations at the Grand River Ranch. The facilityworkswithpeople to get them moreinvolved with farm animals.

"We offer the program that is very animal hands on, horticultural, very much outside, very much utilizing what the individual a) enjoys and b) is good at,"said HeatherBlouin, who runsGrand River Ranch.

"When there are tasks that aren't as fun or as enjoyable or require teamwork, that offers an another entirely different opportunity to learn and grow."

For the youth pounding nails into fence posts and grooming horses, it was just another step down the path that could one day be a career.

"It's just a new experience and Inever would have done this before and now that I have done it, I would do it again, over and over and over, it is so much fun," Lewis said.

More P.E.I. news