RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A group of teenagers from the youth center's summer program got a head start on their peers this week, learning what it's like to work in a retail clothing store.
The students - all of them 13- and 14-year-olds enrolled in the base's Teen Extreme summer program - boarded vans on Monday and headed to The Forum shopping center, where they took part in a job-shadowing program at Old Navy.
Raymond Chase Jr., teen coordinator of Randolph AFB Youth Programs, said the students' workplace adventure is "a tremendous opportunity for (the) teen members to gain valuable experience inside a professional work environment."
He said the program was made possible by the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Air Force and the Gap Foundation.
During the more than two hours they spent at Old Navy, the students enjoyed breakfast, took a store tour and learned a variety of duties, among them how to run registers, replenish stock, assist in the fitting rooms and work the sales floor.
"It's fun and interesting," said 13-year-old Randolph eighth-grader Alexis Castriotta. "I didn't know what it's like behind the scenes - how to do price checks and size checks and how to work the dressing rooms."
Matt Chapman, 14, who will be a freshman at Steele High School this fall, said he was also struck by the work that shoppers don't see. He said he appreciated the thoroughness of the job-shadowing program.
"They were teaching us the basics - how to stock shelves, bring up prices and do transactions," he said.
Both Alexis and Mark said they would like to work at a retail store like Old Navy when they're 16.
Mr. Chase said any apprehension the students may have had when they started the day disappeared quickly.
"They're not sure of what they're coming into, then they enjoy it," he said. "They find out what it's like being in a real job atmosphere and what it's like to work in a store."
Mr. Chase said this is the second year for the Teen Extreme summer program, which is open to active duty military and retirees' dependents. They take part in a variety of activities, including the Fit Factor program, leadership development, community service, photography and bowling. They also visit colleges, universities and technical schools and take field trips to places such as Cascade Caverns, the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum, Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and the San Antonio Zoo.
"We keep these guys moving," said Mr. Chase. "We want to make sure they're learning throughout the summer."
For more information on the Teen Extreme summer program, call 652-3298.