Donations!

Your donations make Teen Power Scholarships happen!

We welcome donations at any time through the year. You are welcome to let us know what types of scholarships you'd like to fund. Throughout the year, depending upon student need, we will raise funds for various reasons. Please watch for your opportunity to hit the Donate button!

Donation Dollars will...

1. Help us with our "Straighten Up" campaign. This fundraising effort's goal is to provide financial support for teens who need braces. A healthy smile bolsters self-esteem and the probability of future job attainment. Straight teeth are empowering.
2. Help us continue providing our "Hole Experience" scholarships. They allow all teens to experience what Jackson Hole offers. From Rock and Roll Camp, Leadership Camp, and Center for the Arts classes to karate classes, sports equipment, and school supplies, we help our teens have the "Hole Experience"!
3. Help us maintain and update our website and blog. Thanks to community donations, our website is user friendly and efficient.
4. Help us support teens and community members so that empowering relationships continue to grow.

If you are interested in knowing about how our donations have been spent to date, please see our scholarship page! This page will be evolving as our scholarship fund grows. It's exciting to see what teens do when they are supported by their community. Donate today by hitting the Donate button!

Teen FAQs

WHAT IS TEEN POWER?

Teen Power is a program designed to connect YOU with the community through jobs. Teen Power provides YOU with the opportunity to be employed and valued by the community.

Teen Power helps community members find YOU using a website that acts like an online "yellow pages" of teen workers.

Teen Power also provides educational classes provided by Teen Power and/or different organizations within the community as a way to help YOU attain your future goals.

The Teen Power website also helps you create a resume and gather recommendations that can be used for scholarship and college applications. The hope of the Teen Power program is you will feel empowered and supported by your community and that community members will value your talents and dreams. This connection will serve to strengthen our community.

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN TEEN POWER?

Teen Power finds jobs! We believe that Teen Power provides you with the opportunity to be employed and feel valued by our community. We believe the Teen Power service will help you develop work ethic and strong connections with their community.

HOW MUCH SHOULD WILL I GET PAID?
A: Most middle school students will work for $5 - 10/hour. High school students work for $8-10/hour. Usually, the younger the student, the less s/he will get paid. When scheduling a job, you can ask about the hourly wage. If it is too low, state the wage you would like to work for. Talk with your parents about a wage that is fitting for the job.

WHY SHOULD I USE TEEN POWER?

Teen Power provides a way to get jobs and earn money!! By using the website, community members who need YOU will be able to hire you!

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Complete your bio! Remember, your audience is community members who want to hire you to care for their children or pets or yard or car. You want your bio to persuade them to hire you. You should share past work experiences or reasons that you can be trusted. Don't be afraid to share your future dreams. Your voice is essential in this piece of writing.
2. Add a picture. Clients want to know what you look like before hiring you!
3. Make sure your email address doesn't scare people off! While funny and/or true, email addresses like these probably won't get you a job: tvaddict@hotmail.com or couchpotato@yahoo.com or partyallnight@yahoo.com! You get the idea. These may be funny to friends, but future employers may not hire you because of them.
4. Add to your "Resume" (see below) after each job, volunteer activity, extra-curricular activity/class, and/or club/sporting event. This will show your potential employers what you are interested in and that you are responsible.
5. Ask for client reviews. Again, potential employers are going to be thrilled to read a nice review of your work ethic. They might even know the person writing it, which helps them to feel even more confident about hiring you.
   

WHAT IS A RESUME?

A resume is a summary of job, community service, education, and extracurricular experiences. The Teen Power website allows your to create a resume by posting your jobs, community service activities, educational experiences (outside of school) and other extracurricular experiences. You are able to request a "client review" from the people for which you work or volunteer, teachers of the classes you take, and/or coaches if they are Teen Power clients. If they are not on the website, you are welcome to ask the Teen Power administrator (Ms. Rooks) to add any comments they send to you via email.

When a client sees your name, they will also see your bio, job history, and any client reviews. It looks like this:

• About

  Hello! My name is Taylor! But a lot of people call me Taybay or Tay! I love kids! I have three little siblings so I have quite a bit of experience! I am thirteen years old. lately I am saving most ...

• Taylor has 3 client reviews »

They can read what the clients had to say about you! It's a great way for them to feel confident hiring you!

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY SERVICE & EDUCATION HOURS?

“Community Service” hours are hours spent helping the community without being paid. These hours can be served through Teen Power or you can create their own opportunities. Teens should always record these hours on their "resumes". You never know, maybe this organization is a favorite of a client who is looking for a teen worker.

“Education Hours” are hours spent learning about educational topics. These might be classes offered by Teen Power during the school year OR opportunities provided through other community organizations. Remember, these classes are outside of your regular school day. They are additional learning opportunities. Again, these should be added to your "resume". Future employers like to know you are a life-long learner!

SCHOLARSHIPS

It is Teen Power's goal to provide scholarships to those students who participate in the Teen Power program. For a scholarship application, click here. Also, check out our scholarship page for examples of the types of scholarships that have been given in the past. If something is going to forward you toward your dreams, we'd like to help!

Types of scholarships:

1. Teen Power "Straighten Up" campaign. This fundraising effort's goal is to provide financial support for teens who need braces. A healthy smile bolsters self-esteem and the probability of future job attainment. Straight teeth are empowering.
2. Teen Power "Hole Experience" scholarships. They allow YOU to experience what Jackson Hole offers. From Rock and Roll Camp, Leadership Camp, and Center for the Arts classes to karate classes, sports equipment, and school supplies, we help YOU have the "Hole Experience"!

AM I SAFE?

All community members are checked through the Teton County Sheriff’s department; however, if anything suspicious or uncomfortable occurs, act immediately.

1. Call 911 – if the threat is dangerous.
2. Talk to your parents.
3. Contact the Teen Power administrator with concerns through the website (mrooks@tcsd.org), in person at the middle school (Ms. McIntosh or Ms. Rooks) or at 733-5167.

WHAT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM DURING THE JOB?

If there is an emergency of any kind, call 911! For problems that can be addressed after the job, please communicate with the appropriate person as soon as possible. If you need assistance communicating, your parents should be able to help. If you need further assistance, the Teen Power administrator is willing to help. The Teen Power administrator (Ms. Rooks) is available through the website (mrooks@tcsd.org) or at 733-5167.

WHAT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM BEFORE OR AFTER A JOB?

Please contact the Teen Center administrator (Ms. Rooks) through the website or at 733-5167.

WHAT IF I NEED HELP WITH MY ACCOUNT?

During the school year, Wednesday classes will be offered after school at the JHMS to help teens with their Teen Power accounts. When school is not in session, please contact the Teen Center administrator through the website (mrooks@tcsd.org) or at 733-5167.

Research Behind Teen Power

We're FAMOUS!!  Check us out on the Search Institute website!

WHAT IS TEEN POWER?

Teen Power is a program designed to connect middle & high school students with the community through jobs. Teen Power provides teens with the opportunity to be employed and valued by the community.

Teen Power facilitates these jobs through a website designed to provide busy community members an online "yellow pages" of teen workers.

Teen Power also encourages teens to participate in educational classes provided by the Teen Center and/or different organizations within the community as a way to attain their future goals. Additionally, Teen Power encourages teens to donate their time and talent by participating in different community service opportunities.

The hope of the Teen Power program is that teens will feel empowered and supported by their community and that community members will value the talents and dreams of their teens. This connection will serve to strengthen our community.

WHY SHOULD TEENS PARTICIPATE IN TEEN POWER?

We believe that Teen Power provides teens with the opportunity to be employed and feel valued by our community. We believe the Teen Power service will help teens develop work ethic and strong connections with their community.

WHAT IS THE PREMISE BEHIND TEEN POWER?

Teen Power is based on the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. “The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. According to the research of the Search Institute, teens who feel supported and empowered, understand boundaries and expectations, and have constructive ways to use their time have more assets, which leads to their positive development.” (Quote from Search Institute Website.)

We believe that Teen Power will provide for “asset-building--the Institute’s term for purposefully helping youth experience more assets in their lives. The Institute (and Teen Power) understands the awesome power we have in making positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people.” Teen Power is our contribution to growing a healthy community and healthy youth in Jackson Hole.

THE SEARCH INSTITUTE:

The Search Institute's mission statement: The Search Institute is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. To accomplish this mission, the institute generates and communicates new knowledge, and brings together community, state, and national leaders.

At the heart of the institute's work is the framework of 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

40 DEVELPMENTAL ASSETS:

“Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.

The Developmental Asset framework is categorized into two groups of 20 assets. External assets are the positive experiences young people receive from the world around them. These 20 assets are about supporting and empowering young people, about setting boundaries and expectations, and about positive and constructive use of young people's time. External assets identify important roles that families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods, and youth organizations can play in promoting healthy development.

The twenty internal assets identify those characteristics and behaviors that reflect positive internal growth and development of young people. These assets are about positive values and identities, social competencies, and commitment to learning. The internal Developmental Assets will help these young people make thoughtful and positive choices and, in turn, be better prepared for situations in life that challenge their inner strength and confidence."

There are two (2) asset categories: external and internal.

External Assets: The first 20 Developmental Assets focus on positive experiences that young people receive from the people and institutions in their lives. Four categories of external assets are included in the framework (descriptors in blue are goals of Teen Power):

• Support-Young people need to experience support, care, and love from their families, neighbors, and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.
• Empowerment-Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.
• Boundaries and expectations-Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are "in bounds" and "out of bounds."
• Constructive use of time-Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs

Internal Assets: A community's responsibility for its young people does not end with the provision of external assets. Caring adults must make a similar commitment to nurturing the internal qualities that guide positive choices and foster a sense of confidence, passion, and purpose. Young people need this wisdom to make responsible decisions about the present and future. The framework includes four categories of internal assets (descriptors in blue are goals of Teen Power):

• Commitment to learning-Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
• Positive values-Young people need to develop strong values that guide their choices.
• Social competencies-Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.
• Positive identity-Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth, and promise.

We invite you to thoroughly explore the Search Institute’s website. Read about each of the 40 Developmental Assets, learn more about the research behind the assets, and discover all the resources and support services Search Institute provides to assist those who are ready to begin improving the lives of young people and their communities.

Teen Power was designed to provide opportunities for teens to develop assets!

Information reprinted with permission from Search Institute, About Search Institute/40 Developmental Assets.

Copyright © 2005 Search Institute®, Minneapolis, MN; www.search-institute.org

All Rights Reserved.