ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Oneida County Office building received some flower power Monday. Nearly a dozen students from the county's Municipal Housing Authority planted hundreds of flowers around the building.

The students, who range from 19- to 24-years-old, are participating in Workforce Development's summer employment program. These students are not only learning about working in green fields, but they're also learning life and work skills.

"I've learned to be flexible. I have learned really how to plant flowers, how to weed whack. I learned there's an educational course time management. This program is setting you up for future jobs," Municipal Housing Authority Student Melinda Nieves.

"Every time they go by the County Building now, they can say, 'we were a part of that.' I think teaching them community service is an important thing, to give something back to their community. The community has certainly made an investment in them" Sid Municipal Housing Authority Community Resource Director David Zogby.

The students will work on different projects for the rest of the summer. The program will run through mid-September.