Fair offers opportunities to teens

La Cañada High School students on Tuesday were offered the chance to star on a televised game show, volunteer for the Special Olympics of Southern California or work at local skate store Billy’s Board shop.

The offerings were presented during the sixth annual Teen MOVE Fair hosted in La Cañada High’s quad. The goal of the event each year is to bring volunteer and job opportunities to La Cañada High students and the rest of the community. The fair is sponsored by the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, the La Cañada High School PTSA and the city’s youth council.

More than 300 students meandered through the fair during the two-hour event to check out one of the 27 organizations on hand, said Mary Jane Snyder, the Y’s event coordinator.

“This is a great way to get kids on their way out of school,” Snyder said. “It makes it really convenient and it’s great for a lot of the nonprofits who are really in need of people right now. People aren’t getting jobs right now so it’s a great way to do something else with your time. If you’re not employed, you might as well do something productive and have something on your resume instead of a gap.”

Arthur Eckelberry, a LCHS freshman, was scouring the Teen MOVE Fair for a part-time job. He was thankful the event made it easy for him.

“It’s always nice when the opportunities come to you,” Arthur said.

The types of jobs being offered ranged from clerical positions to instructor to even a game-show contestant. Damien Garbett, a recruiter for Cartoon Network’s game shows “Destroy Build Destroy” and “Hole in the Wall,” was looking to fill spots for both shows. If chosen, students had a chance to win as much $1,000 if they won “Destroy Build Destroy” and $600 for just appearing in “Hole in the Wall.”

“This is such a cool way to give kids volunteer and job opportunities,” Garbett said. “We said, ‘Hey, why not come out and give them the opportunity to be on TV?’”

Snyder said the success of the fair, which seems to grow every year, is thanks to the event’s many volunteers.

“Without the La Cañada High administration and PTSA, it would be a much different event,” Snyder said. “Their energy and enthusiasm are remarkable. The PTSA members who volunteer to be part of the Teen MOVE Committee are so dedicated and interested in creating the best event possible for the teens in the community.”