Support helps Youth Club remain a success

Times Reporter      

 

The Chef program hosted by the Youth Club of Strathmore has been a resounding success. The kids who participate get a chance to learn about cooking, measurements and how to prepare a meal, skills that are taught in a fun group environment. 

The programs’ continued success is due in part to the support from No Frills owner Tina Shipley. 

“Tina has been one of our longest and strongest supporters. Her support provides our youth the opportunity to learn best practices, such as utensil handling and operation of appliances, kitchen hygiene, safe food prep and handling, and nutritional choices,” said Program Coordinator Colina Clark. 

“For our older youth program (Create A Cook) this includes meal planning, budgeting, and smart shopping too. Tina’s support has allowed us to deliver these programs to our youth. All people need to cook some time in their lives, this provides a great place to start with skill building to encourage further practice and self-sufficiency. Two of our current youth participants, both boys, have expressed interest in pursuing the culinary arts later in life.”

Shipley supports many organizations and events in Strathmore, always ready to lend a hand wherever she can. 

This year’s sessions for the Chef program are focused on meals. This time of year sees a lot of people baking, and so the current session is ‘Savoury Sweets.’ The hope is that maybe the participants will be encouraged to bake something for the school bake sales, or as treats for their families. 

In January the theme is ‘Bountiful Breakfast.’ Often time is limited on a school morning so the goal is focus on quick, yet healthy options to begin the day. 

Clubworks is a program that offers a chance to try out a variety of programs that the Youth Club offers over the course of four weeks. Each night of the session will consist of an experiment, a recreational activity, a chef creation and a craft if time permits. Hussar is next up to have the program come to their community and after the new year Clubworks will be held in Gleichen and Carseland. It will also be held in Strathmore twice a year as a way to highlight the programs offered. 

The Youth Club of Strathmore is now a Town of Strathmore organization. They receive funding from Wheatland County for the Clubworks program, and the club has built and created new programs as they have grown and based on the community needs. 

For more information about the Youth Club of Strathmore and the programs offered go to www.youthclubofstrathmore.ca