It’s always a good time to learn something new. Whether you want to lead a community project, improve communication skills or learn a trade in 2023, Green County has educational resources for students of all ages.
“There is always room for us to learn and grow,” said Olivia Otte, executive director of Green County Development Corporation (GCDC). “These are beautiful, vibrant aspects of life — to learn more about issues and opportunities in the community, to reflect on the leadership legacies we each want to build, and to hone skills and build relationships to have positive impacts.”
One of these leadership opportunities is Green County Leaders (GCL), an educational program in partnership with UW-Madison Division of Extension Green County and the Green County Development Corporation. The program is open to any adult who lives or works in Green County. Participants develop leadership skills while broadening their understanding of community issues.
GCL consists of 10 full-day, in-person sessions from September through May. Program participants also partake in community awareness activities, “experiencing something they haven’t yet experienced in Green County.”
“Sessions are in different communities across Green County and include building connections with other participants, leaders across Green County, and unique tours ‘behind the scenes’ of different places,” said Otte.
Otte’s top tips for getting the most out of a learning experience:
● Lean into a leadership program — or any opportunity — with a growth mindset. Have space in your metaphorical teacup to explore new learnings.
● Be present. It’s easy to be distracted — but there’s power in being present and intentional in the moment.
● Build relationships. There are lots of opportunities to build great relationships and networks in Green County.
“GCL is a good fit for people who have a growth mindset and want to actively learn more about Green County issues and opportunities, expand their networks and meet more people, and spend time honing their leadership skills,” said Otte.
There have been 75 community projects completed by Green County Leaders since 2002. Seven projects are currently underway on topics ranging from electric vehicle charging stations and Green County beautification to homelessness and ATV/UTV mapping.
“One of the great things about Green County Leaders is the power of the projects and the opportunities that alumni have in making a positive impact on the community,” said Otte.
Applications for the 2023-2024 Green County Leaders session open June 1.
For those looking to continue their education beyond high school — or pick up a new skill as an adult — Blackhawk Technical College may be the perfect fit. Blackhawk’s Monroe campus offers agriculture, food and natural resource programs, as well as medical laboratory and phlebotomy studies. Students range in age and background, Liz Paulsen says the school is seeing more students attending directly from high school. Paulsen is the executive director of marketing at Blackhawk Technical College.
“Whether a student is coming to us from high school with a 4.0 GPA or is an adult looking to change career, Blackhawk offers pathways for anyone,” said Paulsen. “The best part is that a Blackhawk education is affordable no matter what pathway you choose.”
High school students can also take Blackhawk courses through the “Start College Now” program. Students can earn college credits while saving time and money.
In addition to for-credit courses, Blackhawk also offers non-credit classes open to anyone — some online and some in-person. Are you interested in pivoting to a career in business? Or maybe you have some free time and an interest in beekeeping or woodwork? A non-credit class may be a good fit for your new year.
Paulsen’s top tips for getting the most out of a learning experience:
● Ask for help, including through resources like tutors, accessibility accommodations, counseling or career coaching
● Get involved in student groups and other activities to build communication and leadership skills
● Complete an internship or get an on-campus job to apply what you are learning in the classroom
Continued learning, said Paulsen, is good for much more than just career advancement. “It offers students an opportunity to network, explore new areas of interest and try new things,” she said. “There isn’t a ‘right age’ to learn something new. At Blackhawk, we believe that life-long learning is a key component to living a happy, fulfilled life.”
Morgan Kennison knows this principle well. She sees individuals of all ages continuing to learn and build life skills in her role as Aging Programs Coordinator with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Southwest Wisconsin-Green County.
“Learning is something you can do every day for the rest of your life,” she said. “It may be something small, but it’s still learning.”
The ADRC is based in Monroe and provides resources to aging individuals as well as their caregivers, with services ranging from assistance with Medicare and Social Security to providing home-delivered meals.
The ADRC is also home to the Hand in Hand Adult Day Center, a social gathering space for older adults who are experiencing cognitive and/or physical changes “to continue socializing with others as they age.”
“Hand in Hand is a great opportunity for older adults who are looking to get out and socialize but might require a little extra support from another person,” said Kennison. “It also allows the attendee’s caregiver respite while knowing they are safe and at a place with trained staff.”
Education and enrichment activities at the Day Center include art projects, musical entertainment, and physical and cognitive activities.
Outside of the Day Center, the ADRC also provides educational programming through Wellness and Prevention classes, such as brain health classes and caregiver support groups. More information can be found on adrcgreencounty.org.
Kennison’s top tips for maximizing an enrichment experience:
● Try something new
● Look for activities at local senior centers or wellness centers
Learning isn’t limited to books or classroom instruction — social and mental/cognitive enrichment also helps participants learn valuable life skills. The ADRC works daily to ensure these learning opportunities continue to be accessible to the community.
“Staying social is very important as one ages,” said Kennison. “Though physical and cognitive challenges may make that difficult to do the things someone did when they are younger, it’s important to find programs or services available as their lives change.”
— This story is part of a six-part series highlighting local services to help readers be the best version of themselves in the new year. This story focuses on the topic of education.
