Youth Earn Real-Life Skills at Teen Conference

More than 150 students from Coginchaug Regional, East Hampton and Middletown high school, and attended the 29th annual Teen Life Conference recently at Wesleyan University’s Exley Science Center.

The conference gave participants an opportunity to attend workshops conducted by professionals from health and social agencies on subjects that may be of interest to teens but not usually found in traditional school curriculum.

This year’s workshop topics and facilitators were:

• “Relationships,” Sarah Chagnon, Child Advocate, New Horizons Domestic Violence Prevention Program
• “Teen Parenting,” Karen Veith, Nurse Practioner, Community Health Center School-Based Health Clinic
• “Stress Management,” Christine Muska, Graduate Assistant, Tara Lutz, Graduate Assistant University of Connecticut
• “Exercise and Fitness,” Kristen Champagne, Health & Fitness Director, Tony Sharillo, Youth & Camp Senior Director, Maegan Musanti, Youth & Camp Assistant Director, Middlesex YMCA
• “Body Art,” Joleen Nevers, Health Education Coordinator University of Connecticut
• “Nutrition,” Maribeth Abrams, Certified Nutritionist and Holistic Practitioner, Health Harmony
• “Communication,” Tim Kearney, Chief Behavioral Officer, Alissa Wurtzel, Social Worker, Community Health Center

Participants also attended a presentation on bullying, called, “Crossing the Middle Ground” with John Boiano, director of Pulse Integration.

The Teen Life Conference is sponsored by the Middletown Health Department in cooperation with Wesleyan University and participating schools. Middlesex Hospital and the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council made financial donations to this year’s event.