The Ranch Ehrlo Summer Work Program encourages youth to become capable and contributing members of our community by providing opportunities for growth and employment.

The Summer Work Program has been successfully operating from Schaller School for more than a decade. The job training program offers Ranch youth, alumni, Community Vocational Education Program participants, and others associated with the agency, the opportunity to secure meaningful employment.

Program coordinator and Schaller School Vice-Principal Ian MacLellan explained youth are identified as potential candidates, and are requested to submit a resume and participate in an interview process prior to being hired.

“They have been identified as good workers…and the opportunity is here when they may have a difficult time finding alternative work,” said Ian.

Program participants are over 16 years of age, and work a seven-week paid period throughout July and August. Youth are picked up from two drop-off locations in Regina each morning, and begin their day at 9 a.m. with a team meeting.

The group (averaging 12-15 workers per day) is divided into three crews for the morning, and assigned jobs throughout Regina and area.

“We try to simulate a regular working day,” Ian explained. “We try to have a coffee break in the morning and in the afternoon, and we come back to Pilot Butte for lunch.”

As lunch wraps up, youth participate in a team meeting where morning jobs are debriefed, and afternoon crews are established and assigned new tasks. Everyone returns to Schaller School at 3 p.m. to put away equipment and evaluate the day’s accomplishments, said Ian. Staff then identify two workers who have gone above and beyond for the “Digger of the Day”. After small tokens of appreciation are awarded, and words of encouragement are delivered, the day wraps up and youth are returned to the city.

The summer workers complete general caretaking, maintenance and odd-jobs for all Ranch Ehrlo properties, in addition to fulfilling community contract work.

Ian said the opportunities available to workers in the Summer Work Program foster growth, development and confidence in each of the youth.

“The motto of the work crew is ‘take pride in your work, and work to the best of your ability’,” Ian said from his office at Schaller School. “They all have varying ability levels…but if they’re working to their own strengths and trying their hardest, they’ll be just fine.”

“I have had some youth who have moved on and done really well,” he continued.

A large number of summer workers return season after season, said Ian, demonstrating growth and initiative each year.

“It’s great to see them come back. I enjoy having the chance to see them grow, to see them as they get older and continue to progress,” he said. “They learn how to do things without being asked; they take on leadership roles, being positive, and helping others.”

Ian said the Summer Work Program helps youth prepare for the workforce, establishing expectations and standards required for employment. Every two weeks staff meet with youth to discuss work ethics and behaviours in a performance review. Workers are evaluated and provided feedback on criteria that includes: attitude, effort, initiative, reliability and the ability to work independently, and as part of a team.

This feedback allows youth to enhance their individual strengthens and work on their weaknesses, said Ian.

“We reinforce that they’re an elite team; that the Ranch is counting on them to do a good job,” he said. “We don’t do anything meaningless around here, everything we do has a purpose. They’re needed and it’s nice for them to feel that way, and feel that they are contributing.”