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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-23.pdfPage 1 of 9 10/23/2013 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission October 23, 2013 Members Present: Sharon Todd (Vice- Chair), Steve Meyer, Stephanie Mulinos and Tracy Kurtz Director of Recreation: Melissa Bianconi Town Board Members: none present Guests: Janice Johnson, Mike Armitage, and Alan Green from the Recreation Partnership 1. Reading of Commission Meeting Minutes: M. Bianconi asked for some changes to the minutes from October 3, 2013. The minutes reflected inaccurate information regarding the Town’s future park. The sentence was removed but does not affect the accuracy of the information provided. S. Meyer moved to accept the minutes as amended, T. Kurtz seconded the motion and all approved. 2. Additions/alterations to the Agenda: none 3. Introduction of Guests/Prospective Members: Alan Green is affiliated with the Ithaca Youth Bureau and lives in the Town of Dryden Janice Johnson is the Coordinator of Community Youth Services for Tompkins County Youth Services Mike Armitage is the Ithaca Youth Bureau recreation program coordinator 4. Report from the Town Board Liaison: not present 5. Dryden Youth report: attached 6. Dryden OURs report: attached 7. Recreation Partnership Presentation: Janice Johnson shared a power point presentation which explained the purpose and goals of the Partnership. (A digital copy of the presentation will be available with the minutes at Dryden.ny.us) The Recreation Partnership has had a relatively stable level of participation that breaks down to about a third of participants from the City of Ithaca, a third from the Town of Ithaca and a third from the other participating municipalities. All of the Towns in Tompkins County are involved except the Town of Lansing. Programs are run based on the ability to attract participants. About half of the funding comes from fees, donation and sponsorships, and municipal contributions. The Rec Partnership offers scholarships which many people are unaware of. For the Town of Dryden, the most valuable aspects of the Partnership are the summer day camps. M. Bianconi said one of goals is to look at offering some of the programs that have been cut. She would like to see more programs re-offered. Page 2 of 9 10/23/2013 The group discussed ways to try to reach more youth. One of the ways is through the schools but Dryden has been against sending things home with students due to a variety of reasons. M. Bianconi thinks that if she approaches the school or school board with an explanation of the benefits (including scholarships and economic consideration) of the programs offered through the Town and the Recreation Partnership, the school might be willing to work something out. 8. Youth Needs Assessment: M. Bianconi met with Kris Bennett a couple weeks ago. They brainstormed and came up with the following list. 2014 DRYC Youth Needs Assessment Initial Brain-Storm and rough timeline We want to reach out to 4 key groups: 1. Parents 2. Kids 3. Professionals (school employees, local police, recreation department, CCE (or maybe they go with youth serving orgs) 4. Local youth serving organizations-Sertoma, Kiwanis, Rotary, Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund, Library, Cafe Method of reaching out to: 1. Parents: Undetermined 2. Kids: Rachel's Challenge group can reach out to kids at school, and Nikki's Teen Council to communicate with the OURS kids, HS Honor Society, kids at library? 3. Professionals: Invite them to a DRYC meeting for interviews-making sure we are getting responses specific to Dryden Youth (not national trends). 4. Youth Organizations: Attend their meetings with some very specific questions about needs and the strengths of the current service infrastructure. Existing documents for supporting information: Dryden Community Profile State of Tompkin's County Youth (including interview with former DMS principal Larry Hinkle), teen survey (Dryden) and parent survey (Dryden) Youth Development Survey (including drug/alcohol) GIS map overlaid with youth population Rough Timeline: Questions for groups to be finalized-December 2013 Visit service groups: January Invite professionals: February Kid and Parent responses back: February Draft document: March Finalize: April S. Todd asked what age group we are interested in for the Assessment. Page 3 of 9 10/23/2013 S. Mulinos understands that the middle school age kids are going through a hard time in life and can use the support but she is wondering if we are not missing out on some valuable input. Would it be helpful to talk with some of the high school kids to find out what they felt would have benefitted them when they were younger? High school kids can articulate more effectively what the issues were and what needs they have. S. Mulinos agreed that the High School and Middle School honor societies will be good sources. Ms. Johnson asked if the group had seen all of the data from the Youth Development Survey. M. Bianconi said K. Bennett had given a presentation on the information and the DRYC intends to pull out the information relevant to Dryden. Ms. Johnson said that the Recreation Partnership has the ability to mine the data and they might be able to put information together that we wouldn’t otherwise have access to. S. Meyer suggested talking to sports teams. Perhaps get the Athletic Director or coaches to cooperate and get all the kids together at the same time for more information. M. Bianconi agreed with S. Meyer’s suggestion and with S. Mulinos’ idea that we might want to talk to the high school students. The more information, the better. Ms. Johnson suggested that we get the students at TC3 trained to lead focus groups. The youth in Dryden might be more willing to talk to the younger students versus an older person from the Commission. M. Bianconi said that as far as Professionals, it might be easier to have them to come to us than for the Commission to split up and try to meet separately. She is also interested in keeping the information that we are getting about local trends and events. M. Bianconi said the Dryden Community Profile can generate a lot of good statistics such as drop-out rates, graduation rates, teen pregnancies, test scores, average schooling for parents, median age of families, how many have a 2 parent family, etc. The “State of Tompkins County” has a lot of information, far more than we need, but we can pull out the information pertaining to Dryden. The GIS map would be wonderful so we could see which areas of town are not getting services or are not participating. S. Mulinos asked what M. Bianconi’s plan is for getting the questionnaires done by December since the DRYC is only meeting one more time this year. M. Bianconi said she and K. Bennett would be getting together to put together the actual questionnaires and then will electronically communicate with the rest of the Commission for their input. M. Bianconi broached the subject of tackle football. She doesn’t feel it is a program that they want to continue to offer due to the recent information regarding concussions and head/neck injuries. The Heads-Up Program doesn’t really prevent the dangers and new research is showing that kids should not play tackle until at least 14 years of age. She doesn’t like the thought of removing the program because of the benefits it does provide, the kids that are working hard to succeed and the parents Page 4 of 9 10/23/2013 and coaches that are dedicated to the program. At the same time, the possibility of injury is not decreasing and it might be a good time to start looking for alternatives. S. Mulinos asked if other Towns are considering dropping the program. M. Bianconi said not in this area but nation-wide it is definitely becoming a concern. S. Meyer said this has been big news nation-wide and maybe it is time to adjust and start working on inclusion; let’s get girls involved with football. Insurance rates are starting to reflect the information that is becoming commonly available. M. Bianconi also pointed out that if a young person got injured, the possibility of legal action becomes a serious possibility. S. Meyer suggested that the Town Board be involved and M. Bianconi agreed that she needs the Town Board behind her to support this decision. S. Meyer pointed out that there are only 55 kids playing ball now and that is a fairly small number. He said he will be looking at the lawsuit angle and alternatives. Andrew Pierce is going to be looking at research done at Virginia Tech where they put sensors in youths’ helmets. Most of the injuries are occurring during practice. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9PM. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk Dryden Youth Programs Youth Report 10/17/2013 David Hall 1) Monday Makers Ongoing Programs A: Participants: 10 B: Monday Makers is a youth inspired program meaning that all that we do comes from ideas within the group. This planning encourages thinking about logistics, cost and practicality. The planning process also encourages a bit of compromise as well as creativity. Page 5 of 9 10/23/2013 Monday Makers is proving to be a great opportunity for participants to try new things and make new friends. In the past few weeks we have letterboxed, exploring and finding hidden treasure in the Town of Dryden. On October 14th my group met at 4-H Acres to demonstrate outdoor cooking with the Dutch oven. The Cooperative Extension annual meeting was held at the Acres this day in honor of the organizations 100 year anniversary. My kids did a great job despite wet and rainy conditions. This was a fun challenge in fire making and teamwork. In future weeks we hope to visit the Lab of Ornithology, play some new games and perhaps even go fishing. 2) Community Helpers A: Participants: 12 B: Community Helpers gets our youth involved with service projects that better their school and community. Once again we are getting involved with the Dryden Sustainability Club and will help with their garden and the upcoming greenhouse build. In addition to community service this program gets kids learning by doing. We will be using hand tools to build raised garden beds. For the past few weeks we have been working on the Sustainability Club’s greenhouse. We built the frame which the PVC hoops will be attached to. We have also been helping to move a large pile of gravel to the building site. The building process has been an excellent learning opportunity. Students have learned to measure twice and cut once, as well as use simple tools such as a square and a level. Most participants had great difficulty using a power drill. This can be a difficult task but with instruction and some cheerleading we got the frame built. Usually after a few hours of hard labor my group is ready to shift gears. We have been spending the remainder of our time playing ultimate frisbee and enjoying exploring the forest behind the school. 3) Primitive Pursuits – Session 1 A: Participants: 14 B: Primitive Pursuits teaches youth the basics of wilderness survival, nature awareness and stewardship. Through challenges, games and activities, participants learn critical skills such as how to stay warm, create a matchless fire, procure safe water and find food. As time and circumstances permit we introduce crafts such as cordage making, basketry and bow making. My rookies have been busy learning to use the 2-person cord drill to make fire. It still amazes me that this simple device can harness the energy of the average middle schooler and make fire. We have also been working on shelter building, coal burning and tracking. We, meaning Sam from the Primitive Pursuits program and myself, have really been cramming in the skills knowing that we only have each group for 6 weeks. I have heard so many great comments about this program. One parent said that his daughter is enjoying herself more at Primitive Pursuits and the other afterschool programs that she signed up far more than at the expensive summer camp she attended. 4) Teen Challenges A: Participants: 44 B: This program allows student s to leave the lunch room and participate in group activities. I emphasize cooperative games, positive communication, fun, as well as physical activity. I am trying to keep the size of my in school groups a bit more manageable this year. I have spoken with the guidance people and am making sure to focus on kids who are really in need of this Page 6 of 9 10/23/2013 type of program. (Of course they are all in middle school and all could use this kind of positive outlet) Teen Challenges is very popular and it is hard to say no to students who come up to me and ask if they can join. My groups are large enough at this point. It’s possible that I may start fresh after the New Year allowing students who have not been involved to get in on the action. My groups are doing very well as we figure out from day to day how we are going to spend our time. This program allows for positive peer interaction, a bit of public speaking as well as a time to get some exercise. I have seen new friendships start as student who normally don’t hang out together find themselves on the same team. Because of its informal nature these programs allow me to get to know students and find out what their interests are. I know that for many participants this lunch time program is the highlight of their day. 5) Hikers Anonymous A: Participants: 11 B: Hikers Anonymous is designed to teach students how to get outside and travel in the backcountry in safe ways. It is my hope that this program will inspire kids and families to get outside and enjoy the many opportunities that Dryden and our region have to offer. Our first meeting took us to Hammond Hill State Forest and the new Finger Lakes Land Trust property off of Irish Settlement Rd. This first day was spent learning about sensible clothing choices, important gear to bring along on any trip, as well as navigating without a compass. I brought along a simple backpacking stove that we used to make hot chocolate. One of the best things about this program is how it can lead to so many fun and spontaneous opportunities. Our explorations at the new preserve had us tracking beaver, trying to catch minnows with our hands and listening to the birds as we tried to figure out if an owl was nearby. One student commented say “I wish the whole school day was like this.” 6) Fun with Frisbees Finished Programs A: Participants: 8 B: Fun with Frisbees encourages participants to learn a new skill, have fun and get involved in a healthy activity. Learning Frisbee can be frustrating for some youth so we start slow with simple games such as Frisbee Bocce while we work on the fundamentals of throwing. As skills grow the games and challenge level increase. Our final meeting was spent at TC3 playing Frisbee golf. I was glad to see how everyone really improved with their accuracy and distance. This was so much fun with everyone asking to come back and play the course again. One of things that I was proud to notice was how supportive everyone became of each other. Participants tried to instruct each other or just gave encouraging words when needed. Upcoming Programs Please note that all programs are full with waiting lists. 7) Primitive Pursuits – Session 2, Wildlife Watchers, Iron Chef The following wed address will get you to our all permission form. http://ccetompkins.org/4h/rural-youth-services/dryden Page 7 of 9 10/23/2013 Dryden OURS Program Report: Mid Sept. thru October 2013 Nikki Nease, Youth Program Manager YOURS Volunteer trainings were exceptionally organized and attended to this semester, with a whopping 95% attendance, and the other 5% covered during the "make-up" session! Our Tuesday Program Coordinator led flawlessly, covering what it takes to engage youth and provide positive experiences in which they create successes for themselves, from reporting accidents, incidences, suspected abuse or neglect, to enhancing a true understanding of our mentoring culture; the high standards set by past mentors, and what is expected of YOURS, both by youth and the elected board of Cornell volunteers and it's team of coordinators and advisors. With 16 elected board members (75% of whom have newly stepped up from their mentoring positions), a fundraising committee, and 90+ volunteer mentors, YOURS is stronger than ever with industrious new goals to make OURS a success! Summary We are proud to announce that the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library Thanks again to the Center for Transformative Action: We are invited back to the Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair this holiday! If you are not familiar with this event, it is AWESOME and please note that the on-line fair offering will begin before the physical fair this year, to coincide with giving Tuesday, December 3rd, and to allow folks to purchase donations for Hanukah as well as Christmas. have awarded us a grant that, along with a generous pool of alumni donations, will enable us to create a library at the 4H Acres! With many thanks to our donors and the permission granted us by the 4H Team Coordinator, we intend to bring in the New Year with a kid-created, fully-functional library system that is sure to comfort anyone who has ever commented on the stark, cold, concrete that has necessarily been the shared environment of Kiwanis Hall. The OURS library will augment and compliment several aspects of each weekly program, providing a cozy reading and writing study that encourages youth to read, read, and love to read! The following program descriptions will be similar to past semesters, but there are exciting new developments within each! Program Descriptions: This program offers youth opportunities to develop relationships with their mentors, to complete homework with adult support, and to work on life skills including social skills, teamwork, healthy lifestyles, kindness and sharing. Mentor-mentee pairs build relationships and learn experientially through activities that the mentors prepare/provide based on their mentees' interests; including art, writing and illustrating stories and comics, baking, sewing, sports, exploring the forest, reading, role-playing, science kits, talking about life, etc. It is really a wonderful thing to see even the most challenging youth’s needs met in the individualized mentoring environment, and the diversity of activities that are keeping youth engaged in creative learning in a one to one ratio with encouraging mentors is truly inspiring! Youth are intrinsically motivated to participate in long term educational projects with their mentors, because it is fun for them, and because they feel special and cared for by this one adult, who gives them their undivided attention and unconditional support. 2013-Autumn-Monday Mentoring + Mentors-In-Training (41 Youth, 35 returning, 6 new): We have some impressively youth-savvy mentors this semester and great accountability so far. It’s a joy for me to recognize everyone's special talents, and look forward to the future of my predictions on which ace-mentors are destined for the YOURS e-board! Page 8 of 9 10/23/2013 Dryden OURS Program Report: Mid Sept. thru October 2013 Nikki Nease, Youth Program Manager Continued “Check-ins” at the beginning of each program continue to help youth and volunteers clarify program expectations by gaining a feel for how everyone’s day is going, and who might need extra support, special needs, or perhaps be willing to take on extra responsibility for the evening. Several mentees admitted just this week, a rather telling concession, "-that we go to school and do good there so that we can go to 4-H, because we know we can't come do projects with our mentors if we don’t go to school!" We have finally graduated our Mentor-In-Training program from "pilot" to a full-fledged curriculum with a dedicated coordinator and 9 participants. Each MIT is developing a unique project to improve OURS programming. Given the choice between two categories: Leading Group Activities, or, Shaping Program Through Rules and Structure E-board, and with approval and guidance, they are provided the opportunity to co-creatively reshape program. Also, our eldest OURS participant was promoted from MIT, to Mentor, and she is now one on one with a younger peer. , youth have set goals and requested the materials necessary for them to plan and present their projects to the YOURS The Teen/'Tween Leadership Council is for highly motivated O.U.R.S. youth, willing work together as a team in order to solve real issues in their community through discussions, community service-learning, and event planning. Youth are expected to take on leadership roles within their peer group and community; a high level of maturity is required. This semester, youth will be planning and executing two community service projects based upon what needs they see in their community. 2013-Autumn-Tuesday Leadership Council (Ages 12-17)(22 youth, 18 returning, 4 new): We are charmed that, given relatively unrestricted options for serving their community at large, the OURS Leadership Council unanimously concerted to devote their efforts this program year to the renovation and beautification of 4H Acres. By joining forces with members of the 4H Plant-Science Committee, our first project is the expansion of our forest garden. In addition to the American plum trees that are growing healthy since we planted them at the end of the year celebration last Spring, we are removing invasive species this week and replacing them with native ferns and shrubs. The theme for Fridays is experiential learning. Fridays are run as a three-project model, offering Nutritional Cooking, Fitness, and Arts & Crafts projects. This program offers youth opportunities to master new skills, to work together in groups and to develop healthy life styles through nutrition and activities, all while having fun! 2013-Autumn-Friday Fun for All Ages + Teen Circle (41 Youth, 35 returning, 6 new): We continue Fun Friday's classic three-project model that youth can consistently count on. It's a program that integrates elemental structure into their weekly lives and meets their faithful expectations. Page 9 of 9 10/23/2013 Dryden OURS Program Report: Mid Sept. thru October 2013 Nikki Nease, Youth Program Manager Continued Because we receive such copious donations from the Friendship Food Donation Network, we are able to expend our weekly snack budget solely for Fun Fridays Nutritional Cooking projects. Our new Coordinating Chef assists youth-cooking projects with a lovely array of fresh herbs, organic ingredients, and unusual fruits and vegetables that expand palates as participants learn how to create dishes, dips, and sauces that people typically only see at restaurants, or prepackaged from the super market. One of the new YOURS President's goals for this semester is to encourage parent/guardian participation with our programs. Last week, a trio of sisters invited their Grandmother to program. Miss Naomi led our craft circle and youth made beautiful jewelry with materials that she donated. We are currently surveying families and creating a directory of guardians who are willing to share their talents and skills, and/or simply join program periodically. In response to the ever-apparent and increasing urgency to address the needs of maturing youth, and in consistence with our dedication to improving life-skills, we have added a Teen Circle to the Fun-Friday Program. Jen Mainville of Planned Parenthood and Lyn Stack of the Advocacy Center, (both returning from the highly successful OURS Girl's Circle of last Spring), will join us monthly to lead activities and facilitate discussions on topics that surveyed parents, guardians, and youth, have agreed upon the importance of, such as, dealing with and communicating emotions, pressure from peers and adults, gender and sexuality, internet safety, and setting goals for the future. The new Teen Circle consists of 8 participants aged 13 and older. Participants and their families are responding ever so positively to this new addition to OURS!