Auerfarm’s Growing Opportunities Summer Program
“When preparation meets opportunity, you grow and GO!”
4-H Education Center at Auerfarm in Bloomfield is excited to offer Greater Hartford transition students (ages 18-22) a unique summer educational opportunity to gain power and technical skills for workforce development. The Growing Opportunities (GO) program is designed to increase workforce training opportunities while helping prepare students for future self-sufficiency and hire-ability.
Auerfarm’s unique approach provides special needs students access to workforce development on the farm. Students are exposed to four industry pathways of; agriculture, facilities management, hospitality, and food service on our remarkable 120-acre farm campus.
The GO summer transition students will:
• Gain exposure to a variety of careers/employment pathways
• Develop hard skills in the four industry pillars, while gaining soft skills in personal presentation and confidence
• Prepare for certifications, such as ServSafe
• Earn a weekly monetary stipend
• Build a personal resume and network of career-related professionals
• Cultivate skills to create a path towards independence and securing
meaningful employment with the help of our GO job coaches
For the past seven years, Auerfarm has built successful collaborations with eight Greater Hartford school district special education programs and community organizations.
The GO program opens new windows to vocational possibilities after graduation while participating in an educational, unique, outdoor worksite opportunity.
Summer Program: July – August • School-Year Program: September – June
For more information, please contact:
Simone Upsey, Program & Community Advancement Manager
email: supsey@auerfarm.org, phone: 860-242-7144
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab Why Support GO?
Young adults with special needs have more societal risks of living below the poverty line. Research shows that only 1 in 5 working-age individuals with a disability are successfully employed. An Accenture study found 29% of Americans with a disability between ages 16 and 64 were employed compared to 75% of non-disabled Americans in the same age bracket. A 2018 study found businesses that seek to engage people with special needs outperform those that do not. Furthermore, such companies saw a 90% increase in overall employee retention.
Auerfarm offers a paid summer opportunity for educational and workforce training to students who need it the most, as well as to students who are interested in helping as Mentors. This experience will also count toward high school/college volunteer hours.