Clackamas County’s second-largest industry is agriculture, which includes nurseries, field crops, Christmas trees, berries and orchards. Field workers are the heart of Clackamas County’s agriculture industry. Most of them are first- and second-generation Latino families. While hard-working, most receive low wages and often suffer from food insecurity. Older youths join their parents in the fields during the summer to help support their family, which decreases the likelihood of their participation in Oregon State University Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development Program.
In response, Janet Nagele, 4-H faculty in Clackamas County, secured a grant from the Oregon 4-H Foundation to partner with Elena Illescas, education program assistant with OSU Extension’s Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed), to develop and implement a Teen Chef and Teens As Teachers program targeting Latino youths. To address food insecurity an eight-lesson program was specially designed using “Kids In The Kitchen,” a nutrition and cooking curriculum that encourages kids to eat healthy meals and snacks by providing them with hands on learning experiences that teach them how to prepare food.
The project has three phases: A Teen Chef education, Teens as Teachers training and an elementary age Kids In The Kitchen summer and after-school program. While preparing the recipes, teen members learn how to safely use knives and other kitchen equipment. They learn how to follow a recipe, measure ingredients and clean-up after cooking. The lessons are delivered in both English and Spanish and are adapted to be relevant to the Latino culture.
To date, 49 teens have participated in the Teen Chef classes. Sixteen have been chosen to participate in the Teens As Teachers and have taught Kids In The Kitchen lessons to 186 elementary and middle school students.
An evaluation of the program shows that all of the teenagers enjoy and learn new knowledge and skills from participating in Teen Chef classes. The elementary school students benefit and enjoy from having teens teach them. The teen teachers experience significant growth in the leadership and life skills. Teen Teachers said they would highly recommend the program to their peers.