Mentoring the next generation of food entrepreneurs
The Port Townsend Food Co-op, Skillmation & folks like YOU team up every year with PTHS Teacher Jen Kruse in her 9th Grade Life Skills Class to literally cook up some product magic and so much more…!
9TH GRADE MENTORING is an innovative program that brings community into the classroom once a month to help 9th graders transition from middle schoolers into high schoolers; learning to converse with adults who are neither relatives nor teachers. Topics range from how to turn your interests into steps towards your future, how to interview for a job, teamwork and much more... and the transformation of students throughout the year is astonishing.
The year culminates in the PT High School gym, where teams of 9th graders offer for sale, products that they have invented, scaled, logoed, packaged & presented. The kicker is that each product must include at least one local ingredient, be that flour, herbs, fruit or occasionally pet rocks, driftwood sculptures, or yard work for hire! All proceeds go to the class fund for trips and dances. The Food Co-op not only supplies many of the necessary locally sourced ingredients but helps students learn about producing, scaling, and branding a product. Very heady stuff for 9th graders!
Please come join us! The commitment ranges from 1, 2 or 3 hours once a month between now and June. We’d love to hear from you with any questions (yes we will train you!) and hopefully get you into the classroom!