Hampton Youth in Government Day 2017

A group of Hampton scouts explored their local government during Hampton City Council Scout Youth in Government Day on March 22. The day was planned by Hampton’s Economic Development Department for youth to explore careers and learn about the importance of financial planning.

The day kicked off at City Hall, where the scouts took part in a financial literacy workshop with Bayport Credit Union. Each scout received a real-life scenario, complete with education and a career, and they had to fill out a budget sheet to live within their monthly salary while being able to afford housing, utilities, transportation, clothing and food. After calculating costs, the scouts sat down with a financial coach to review their choices. The morning’s activities ended with a guest speaker from New Horizons Youth Workforce Development, who spoke to the scouts about the variety of career opportunities and training available in Hampton, as well as the skills needed to acquire those jobs. The scouts then had lunch with members of the city council.

After lunch, the scouts boarded a bus and visited TE Connectivity, a sensor solutions operations company, and the New Horizons Mechatronics Lab, where students learn mechanical and electrical engineering and troubleshooting.

"The scouts were very interactive and engaged in both civic aspects of local government and their future career choices,” Mei Christine Stukes, a Girl Scout leader who attended the day with members of her troop, said. “They gained valuable insight into how to process and maintain improvements as a community. From this program, they understand that it takes teamwork, collaboration and research to achieve a common mission."

Hampton City Council Scout Youth in Government Day is an annual event designed to give youth an inside look in local government operations, as well as to prepare them to lead successful lives.