Experts weigh in on how to combat those back-to-school jitters
Going back to school can be exciting, and yet it can also be the cause of a case of the jitters. Students may feel stress and anxiety for many reasons, and we want to help families with the transition so we spoke to the experts at Mind Wellness Counseling.
New program aims to educate new teen drivers in areas where they lack experience
One of the most exciting rites of passage for teens is getting a driverโs license. It can also be one of the most troubling for parents who have concerns about safety. This happens to be National Teen Driver Safety Week, and there is a program called โStrive 4 a Safer Driveโ that is dedicated to helping teens make safer driving choices.
Make plans for a fun summer in the D
This is going to be a unique summer in and around the D this year. Many of the annual experiences we love have returned and there are various new experiences you can see for the first time. Host Tati Amare takes us on a tour of all the different things you can see from Downtown Detroit to Dearborn to Ann Arbor. They are fun family events that everyone can enjoy. Hereโs a list of some of the things she highlights.
Pfizer vaccine safe, effective for young teens, company says
DETROIT โ New information suggests the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12. Pfizer said the data from a late-stage trial shows the vaccine is highly effective in adolescents. The company said there were 18 COVID cases in the placebo group and zero cases in the vaccine group and no significant side effects -- an efficacy rate of 100%. Infectious disease experts believe vaccinating children will ultimately be necessary to stop the pandemic. โBy the fall, I think thereโs a good possibility weโll be vaccinating teenagers 12 and up,โ said Dr. Peter Hotez.
โMore than cookies and craftsโ: Girl Scouts aims to grow STEM program
Girl Scout troop leaders have spent decades encouraging young girls to explore their potential. In 2017, the Girl Scouts introduced 70 new STEM badges and over the past year, 127 girls across all age levels earned some of those badges. โI think Girl Scouts are so much more than cookies and crafts,โ troop leader Jeni Prahler said. Prahler said that Girl Scouts has evolved immensely since she was a kid. I know when I was a Girl Scout my mom was a leader and she didnโt camp,โ Prahler said.
How students are helping students talk about mental health in Macomb County
MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ Students at Dakota High School are working to help each other with mental health issues at their level. Theyโre trying to make a difference before their time in high school comes to a close. Their first step is addressing the stigma. Watch the full story above. More: Return To School stories
St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor to offer free cooking classes, food assistance to teens
St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor will provide Farm Share produce boxes to 2021 Nutrition Buddies participants for two seasons. Help them enroll in a virtual nutrition and food course hosted by St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor. Through the program, participants will learn about science and agriculture, have hands-on cooking and nutrition instructions and will work with St. Joeโs physicians to create plant-based meals while at home. Teens in the Nutrition Buddies course will also receive a free two-season membership to the St. Joeโs Farm Share, which collaborates with 18 local farms to offer a variety of produce, according to a release. The organizationโs Map the Meal Gap, 2016 report found that 13.6% of Washtenaw County residents face food insecurity, said the release.
The Neutral Zone offers virtual programming to Ann Arbor area youth
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Known for its robust youth programming and events, Ann Arborโs The Neutral Zone is offering all-virtual programs for area youth this year. Eight virtual programs are currently scheduled but more will be added in the upcoming weeks, according to the Neutral Zone website. Here is the current Neutral Zone virtual program lineup:Black Lives MatterWhen: Mondays, 5:45-7 p.m.What: A virtual space for youth of color. Riot YouthWhen: Thursdays, 5:45-7 p.m.What: A virtual youth-led social support and social justice program for LGBTQ+ teens at the Neutral Zone. LIVEWhen: Fridays 5:45-7 p.m.What: Participants can use the virtual space to book bands, artists and performers while organizing, and hosting virtual live stream shows.