Education Roundup: Cool summer jobs, Globetrotter in town and more

Teen opportunity: The National Park Service is seeking applicants for its 2021 Youth Conservation Corps. The summer program enables teens 15-18 to work and learn alongside National Park Service staff. The paid outdoor work program at SF Maritime provides youth with an opportunity to gain work experience and skills, learn about their local environment and explore careers in environmental science, conservation, parks and recreation. The work program is eight weeks long, from June 14 – Aug. 6. The pay is $14/hour and applicants must be able to commit to the entire eight weeks. To learn more, contact Michael Gorman, 415-244-4877 at michael_gorman@nps.gov. Applications are due Saturday, April 20.

Young adult opportunity: The Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC) is taking applications for its eight-week summer job program for 18- to 24-year-olds. Two dozen youth will be hired to work outside from June 14 to Aug. 5 on environmental ecology projects throughout the county. Crews will complete the physical work that helps prevent flood damage, restore local creeks and streams, and reduce fire fuel loads. Additional longer-term opportunities may also be available. Pay is $15 per hour. Youth will also receive weekly career and environmental education and job training. For more information, visit scyec.org.

Photo show: The Santa Rosa Junior College Photography Club will host the first annual juried student photography exhibition, entitled, “SoCo Clicks.” This is a hybrid event, with the winner’s work displayed at the Museum of Sonoma County July 3 to Oct. 31 and a virtual exhibition of selected entries online. The event will showcase photography taken by Sonoma County students, high school and up. There will be a cash prize of $1,000 for “Best of Show,” as well as other prizes. Entries are open April 1-30. Enter at santarosa.edu/SoCoClicks.

New program: Charlie’s Acres has launched an Animal Assisted Therapy program and is partnering with mentoring organizations and children's hospitals. The Sonoma farm animal rescue center’s goal is to expand this program and provide animal assisted therapy services full time for at-risk youth locally and across the country through virtual and in-person sessions. To donate or learn more, contact brenda@charliesacres.org

New app: A new language therapy app called MITA uses game-like exercises to teach complex language skills, could help children ages 2 to 12 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children who used a new app regularly showed a more than twofold improvement in their language skills than children who used it less frequently. The app is available at the Google Play store and iTunes.

Globetrotters: Harlem Globetrotter William Bullard is coming to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, thanks to a donation from Sonoma Fit. This free event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10. Bullard will speak about his inspiring life story as well as talk to the kids (and parents) about the importance of physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Immediately following, he will take to the court to wow them with all the tricks he has up his sleeve. The event is already sold out but the public is invited to watch the event on Sonoma Fit’s public YouTube page. There is also an event with Bullard at Sonoma Fit from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday that is open to the public.

Congratulations: Patricia Bengtson of Sonoma was among more than 800 Emporia State (Kansas) undergraduate students recognized for academic honors in the fall 2020 semester. Bengtson was named to the university honor roll and The Teachers College dean's list.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.