NORWICH – The Place is putting parents at ease and children to work this season with its Summer Youth Volunteer Program (SYVP).

The program is running strong in its ninth year of operation, providing an opportunity to approximately 30 teens who want to stay busy throughout the summer.

“The program is so big that we don’t even have to advertise it; the program recruits itself,” said Service Learning Coordinator Shelly Barlow.

The program is designed to target youths ages 11-15 and teaches children the impact of giving back to the community. The SYVP is a part of the service-learning program at The Place.

The program runs for 10 weeks throughout the summer and youths are encouraged to provide 100 hours of service in various employment locations.

The program is based on four key components that ensure youths are receiving effective, quality and educational experiences. These components are: preparation, service action, reflection and celebration.