YOUTH SERVICES

Current program listings: http://ccetompkins.org/4h/rural-youth-services/t-burg-ulysses

Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Services is a program in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County to offer fun, educational opportunities, as well as a youth employment program, to youth who live in Trumansburg, the Town of Ulysses, or the Trumansburg school district.Most programs occur at school during lunch or immediately after school. In the summer, programs are offered at various community sites.

Youth Program Managers:

Nancy Irish - for the middle school . nls32@cornell.edu
Carissa Mann Parlato - for the high school clm48@cornell.edu.

Office:
     upstairs of the Town Hall
     10 Elm Street
     Trumansburg   
     387-4910

Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Services (T/UYS) is one of several programs offered through the Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Commission.  T/UYS offers enjoyable educational and recreational experiences to students who live in Trumansburg, the Town of Ulysses, or the Trumansburg Central School district. All programs are designed to help youth build positive life skills.

T/UYS is staffed by two part-time Program Managers, Nancy Irish and Carissa Mann Parlato who are supervised by Cornell Cooperative Extension staff member Linda Schoffel and frequently collaborate and share ideas with other youth Program Managers within Tompkins County. As Cornell employees, the Program Managers also have unlimited access to the latest research in youth development and timely workshops and trainings.

T/UYS operates as part of Rural Youth Services and is coordinated through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.Town and Village activities are designed to complement services offered by schools, communities, and countywide agencies and operate under the guidance of volunteers serving on the Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Commission. 

Program Goals

• Give rural students opportunities to take part in meaningful pastimes, other than mainstream activities like sports, music, or drama
• Teach teens appropriate employment skills and give them first-time job experiences
• Offer positive role models and mentors for young people to bond with
• Reach out to both younger and older teens so they can find a place to belong in the programs
• Provide “intentional programming” that teaches values and skills to students while engaging them in fun activities with adults and peers

Program Staff

Carissa Mann Parlato

High School Youth Program Manager, Rural Youth Services

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

Carissa has worked part-time for Rural Youth Services for ten years, six of these in the Trumansburg/Ulysses area. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Education and Human Services.One of her professional goals is to be a positive influence in young people's lives and to introduce youth to new opportunities and experiences that they may not normally have access to.  Carissa and her family live in the Village of Trumansburg.

Nancy Irish

Middle School Youth Program Manager, Rural Youth Services

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

Nancy has been employed by Rural Youth Services for eight years. Nancy and her family live in the Trumansburg School district and,as her children grew, Nancy was involved in organizing many youth-oriented activities in the school, community, and church. Nancy is constantly pursuing her goal of providing exciting and challenging activities in the Trumansburg area for middle school youth. Her programs frequently encourage local residents to share their talents and skills with the students or involve some type of service project that will benefit the community as a whole.

Popular Programs

• Big Friend/Little Friend
• Earth Day Cleanup and other community service projects
• Gifts Galore
• Cooking Classes
• Babysitter Training
• Outdoor Adventures
• Job training/ Employment and interview skills

Additionally, both Carissa and Nancy run weekly lunch groups that offer students an alternative to eating in the school cafeteria.

Most Rural Youth Services programs are free and occur immediately after school. Both transportation and supervision are provided. In the summer, programs are also available at various community sites.