In Fleming and Lawrence counties, special projects are underway to promote life skills in middle school youth. Funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program Sustainable Communities Project, youth in these counties are participating in a variety of activities.
Lawrence County CYFAR youth have been very busy with a number of projects. In April, CYFAR core youth from each school participated in a community service project at AEP Kentucky Power. Youth bundled trees to be distributed in honor of Earth Day
Prior to the end of the school year, the group organized a talent show at Louisa Middle School. Students in the school signed up to perform different talents like singing, dancing and playing musical instruments.
CYFAR core youth are actively engaged in a gardening project, growing broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, corn and beans. As part of their leadership development, they sell their produce at the local farmers market as part of an entrepreneurship program.
In June, four CYFAR core youth led programs at the Operation Military Kids camp at Lake Cumberland. They planned and implemented programs for the military families, including Cookie-in-a-Jar, Wii Fun with Fitness and a Geochaching Scavenger Hunt.