‘Adulting 101’ workshops teach teens life skills virtually
Geared at teaching Yolo County teens life skills that are typically not taught in the classroom, the Woodland Public Library is hosting its annual “Adulting 101: Life Skills for Teens” month-long workshop series.
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop the event, now in its fifth year of existence. Instead of holding the workshops in person, county middle and high school students can attend from the comfort of their home via Zoom.
The webinars are running through the end of September, with classes held every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Regular attendance has an incentive — students who attend all 15 virtual classes and earn all five activity badges will be entered into a raffle to win a $500 cash scholarship sponsored by Friends of the Woodland Public Library. Random raffle prizes will also be drawn each week.
The virtual setting, and what Teen Services librarian and program organizer Rhea Gardner refers to as “Zoom fatigue,” contributed to a smaller number of participants — last year’s program had nearly 150 student attendees while this year, only 55 students registered.
“It’s still meaningful engagement,” Gardner said. “They’re asking questions. They’re getting something out of it and that’s what is important.”
Gardner has been working with the program since its inception. She joined the Woodland Public Library in 2014.
Though she went to school thinking she was going to pursue a career in education, she worked at a library during college and discovered a passion for the services and programs offered by local libraries.
“The library is all about community and bringing it together,” Gardner said. “Adults, teens and kids.”
Now, Gardner serves as the adviser for the library’s Teen Advisory Board, which includes about 30 students from schools around the county.
These students are all involved in the workshops’ planning process. According to Gardner, they’re the ones who suggest the topics explored in the program.
This year’s topics, subdivided into weeks, include media, college and careers, financial and physical health, civic engagement and voting, and activism, anti-racism and mental health.
Wednesday afternoon’s session, a back-to-school rally, tested teens’ knowledge of money and budgeting with Travis Credit Union.
The event was hosted by Gardner and Travis Credit Union Community Engagement Officer Anthony Volkar. Speakers included Williams Unified School District Superintendent Edgar Lampkin, members of the Teen Advisory Board, members of the Fairfield Police Activities League and members of the RYSE Center in Richmond.
“We know that many of you are starting your school year in distance learning, and it’s definitely different than what you may have expected,” Volkar said as he kicked off the virtual event, held via Zoom. “We are here to rally your community behind you.”
One Teen Advisory Board member said they think financial literacy is important because it’s what “makes the difference between being a teen and a young adult.”
“Now, you have to start paying for your own thing,” they said. “Money is really the basis of a lot. That’s why I think it’s important.”
A member of the Fairfield PAL program shared some information they learned about debt and loans, as well as their impact on credit scores. The member showed webinar attendees “Cat Insanity,” an online clicking game seemingly about feeding cats, that really teaches players about paying back debt.
The session closed with a raffle laptop giveaway, part of the Travis Credit Union Back to School challenge.
The “Adulting 101” program started five years ago thanks to a grant from the California State Library. At the time, the program focused on the same skills but was originally geared at teen parents.
During the program’s second year in 2016, the skills workshops shifted to instruction for all teens held at Woodland Community College in partnership with the UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program and the Yolo County Office of Education.
Next week’s workshops include civic engagement on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., voter registration on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and the Youth Empowerment Summit on Saturday. Students can register on the Woodland Public Library’s website.