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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-23Page 1 of 8 DRAFT Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission April 23, 2014 Members Present: Tracy Kurtz, Vicki Wilkins, Steve Meyer, Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), Tom Fuchs Youth Services Coordinator: Kris Bennett Town Staff Present: Mary Ann Sumner, Supervisor Guests: Alex LaLonde , Recreation Assistant Town Board Liaison: Joe Solomon (not present) The meeting was called to order at 7:02PM. 1. Review and approval of minutes from February 26, 2014. T. Kurtz moved to accept the minutes with suggested changes, T. Fuchs seconded the motion and the minutes were approved unanimously. 2. Additions/Alterations to the Agenda K. Bennett requested that the retirement of Linda Schoffel (Cornell Cooperative Extension – Rural Youth Services Coordinator) be announced. 3. Introduction of Guests: Alex LaLonde, Recreation Assistant 4. Report from the Town Board Liaison: Not present Supervisor Sumner briefed the Commission regarding recent topics. 5. Program Reports: See attached 6. Old Business A. Recreation Director Search update: V. Wilkins, K. Bennett and S. Mulinos reviewed the applications, narrowed the field to six potential candidates with whom they held phone interviews, and again narrowed the field to four. At this point, they have held two personal interviews and will hold 2 more within the next week. S. Meyer asked for clarification regarding the protocol in the search, primarily asking whether the DRYC would be making a recommendation to hire or a recommendation to interview with Supervisor Sumner. Supervisor Sumner said it will be a recommendation to hire. She has faith in the competence of the interviewing committee. She missed the first two interviews but plans to attend the next two. B. Youth Needs Assessment Update: Discussion included a set of questions generated by K. Bennett aimed at the youth element and the manner in which the Commission wishes to generate the information from the Community Stakeholders. It was decided that the Commission will ask certain community members to a meeting to share their knowledge. At the next meeting, the group will discuss with whom they wish to meet (the folks out in the community that deal with youth and their needs) and when (the goal is September and Page 2 of 8 DRAFT October meetings). S. Meyer mentioned that the Commission may want to meet with the Community Stakeholders at a time separate from the normal meeting. Time might be too limited if the Commission tried to work in the interviews during the meeting time. K. Bennett agreed to talk with Sharon Todd (SUNY instructor and former Commission member) about how her class is doing with the parent part of the Needs Assessment. 7. New Business: A. Community Grant Recommendations: The group discussed the reasons for their choices in terms of who to fund. There was a question regarding the required reports that the Town desires when the program that the Town is funding has been completed. Since two of the potential award recipients have not turned in their end of program reports from the past year’s funding, the money being given to those programs was moved to fund other programs. The Commission determined the following to be the best use of the funds: Applicant Purpose Award Dryden Community Center Café Music 1,481.00 Dryden Farmer Market Advertising 500.00 Dryden United Methodist Church Community dinners 500.00 Dryden Veteran's Memorial Home Roof 4,500.00 Ellis Hollow Community Center Poolside Lighting 814.00 Friends of Dryden Wrestling Singlets 700.00 Neptune Fire Company Jr Fire Academy 1,615.00 Neptune Fire Company Jr Fire Academy 1,390.00 Southworth library Teen Programming 1,300.00 Dryden Historical Society Festival 1,500.00 Varna Community Center Programming 700.00 $15,000 B. Property Rights Discussion – The Commission was unable to accomplish this goal due to time constraints. C. Assign program liaison and program monitoring K. Bennett handed out an evaluation sheet that will help members as they visit programs. She also pointed out that we don’t have to go to every event. She is hoping each member will visit one or two programs: out of the offerings provided by Dave Hall, Nikki Nease, and the Community Grant recipients. The OURS/YOURS program season end festival program will be held on May 5th. T. Kurtz volunteered to visit the Community Helpers. S. Meyer volunteered to visit with the Neptune firefighters program S. Mulinos volunteered to visit the youth camps. Page 3 of 8 DRAFT Linda Schoffel is retiring and her farewell party will be at Americana. Most of the members of the former Youth Commission had more contact and will be more likely to attend. V. Wilkins at moved to adjourn at 8:55PM. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk Page 4 of 8 DRAFT Dryden OURS Program Report: April 2014 Nikki Nease, OURS Youth Program Manager Summary: OURS End of the Semester Celebration!!! May 5th, OURS and YOURS will conclude their 2013-2014 program year together with refreshments, an awards ceremony, slide show of memories, and fun activities. Families and members of the Dryden Youth Commission are invited to attend: Monday, May 5th, @ 4H Acres, 4:45-6:30 pm. Since elections over the past few weeks, Y.O.U.R.S. e-board is transitioning new members into Leadership/Coordinator positions. We are continuing to integrate the Tech Wizards project into OURS regular programming, including the development of a series of Tech-Wizard, Mentor- Trainings, set to include self-guided "tracks", for mentors to follow based on their personal strengths and areas for improvement. The semester is speeding by and we are making plans and connections with volunteers for late-spring and summer programming. 2014, Spring, Monday Mentoring (37 Participants, 36 returning, 1 new) 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! 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. 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. Each year, a new group of volunteer, program coordinators get to experience the joys of bringing mentors-and mentees together, gaining critical leadership experiences while organizing this time-honored program that is quintessential to the OURS vision. 2014, Spring, MITs (Mentors-In-Training) (13 Participants, 6 Returning, 7 New) Given the choice between two categories: Leading Group Activities, or, Shaping Program Through Rules and Structure, youth set goals and request the materials necessary to plan and present their projects to the YOURS E-board, and with approval and guidance, they are provided the opportunity to co-creatively reshape program. On Mondays, each MIT has developed unique projects this semester, designed to improve OURS programming, along with the presentation of their self-directed activities that they lead for their younger peers during the second half of each Thursday program. Two of our eldest OURS participants are now one on one with younger peers. Another new MIT, with the guidance of her own Mentor, is serving as "Substitute-Mentor", when absences entail. Young mentees are actually requesting MITs to "shadow" them and their mentors, and they are very inquisitive about the program; asking when they will be old enough to become an MIT! MITs will be rewarded for their valiant dedication with an overnight adventure to Camp Oswegatchie in the Adirondack Mountains, May 3-4. We can hardly wait! Page 5 of 8 DRAFT 2014, Spring, Tuesday Leadership Council (16 Partipcants, 13 returning, 3 new) The Teen/'Tween Leadership Council is for highly motivated O.U.R.S. youth, willing to 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. When distractions from the task at hand intensify, participants left to their own devices often resolve to regain focus, thus strengthening the structure of the group and allowing their self-motivation to flourish. The opportunity for participants to fully-experience their leadership abilities by seeing projects through without constant prodding is an important piece of this program. Volunteer mentors for this program are often "cherry-picked" and are of the highest levels of motivation and mentoring abilities themselves; they will doubtlessly attest to their rewarding experiences. Each week, participants receive prompts for journal entries such as: "goals for the future", and "interview a mentor about their upbringing, work-experiences, and goals for their future". Before the end of the semester, the Leadership Council will bury a TIME-CAPSULE to which, each week, participants have been adding contents about their most memorable OURS experiences, and their hopes and dreams for their futures. Last month, the Council splatter painted a hand crafted 'suggestion box'. Two Council members presented the box to all of the mentees during a Monday Program. Tuesday's Leadership Council will serve as the first "filter" for the contents of the box, every two weeks at the beginning of Tuesday programs. Chris Kirby of Ithaca Hummus led a presentation about entrepreneurship. He fielded questions about starting his own business and shared stories about the road blocks to his path to success. Youth visited Serviente Glass last week. Tony Serviente continued the conversation about entrepreneurship and led participants in the creation of unique stained glass projects that they cannot wait to get back after they are fired in Tony’s kiln! 2014, Spring, Nitty Gritty Thursdays (22 Particpants, All New) 7, 8, and 9 year aged participants will each be paired with a Cornell Student Mentor to develop literacy skills during the first half of program, while MITs prepare activities to lead for their younger peers, during the second half of each session. The Mentor's In Training are proud to have the privilege to reshape program and have their opinions as long-term participants validated and expressed through projects and activities that they are leading on Thursdays. For the first two weeks of the new program, MITs led three different craft stations in small groups. Each MIT group then chose from more academic-related themes and are leading the following activities in the upcoming weeks: Science; Volcanoes, Music; reading music/creating percussion instruments and following beats, Spanish; Vocabulary Flashcards/ Pronunciation of conversational words. OURS is receiving substantial, voluntary assistance and training from Cornell Undergrad, Jillian Strayhorn, a long-time literacy tutor and advocate for a unique literacy program developed by her father, Joseph M. Strayhorn, Jr., M.D. Funding for a dozen new instructional books, and story books, was provided by the Student Assembly Funding Committee of Cornell's PSC. 2014, Spring, Fridays: The second half of semester (11 Participants, All New) Last month we wrapped up the super successful, Cooking Matters Program for which OURS partnered with the Nutrition Department at CCETC. We are in our second session of a multitude of Friday events this second half of the semester. Last week a volunteer from the Cornell Drama club led OURS through a series of acting exercises and improvisational activities that were a Page 6 of 8 DRAFT hoot! Definitely an experience that added to our bag of tricks for repeatable, engaging activities! This Friday, youth will participate in a team building relay race and we look forward to joining forces with other Cornellians from a dance troupe and an a cappella group in the upcoming weeks. 2014 Dryden Youth Employment Next week, I will meet with Dryden High School Students once again, during their lunch periods, to provide those who expressed interest during my last visit, with a list of participating job-sites that is still growing, but presently includes: The Dryden Southworth Library, Dryden Community Center Café, Clark's Shurfine Foods, Dave Hall's Summer Youth Development Program, OURS Youth Development Program, Primitive Pursuits Summer Camps, Summer Recreation Programs in both Dryden and Freeville, and Ithaca Organics of Jerry Dell Farms. I am waiting on permission/ time-space details from H.S. Principal, Brett Fingland about two upcoming trainings for the month of May: Interview skills-training and Q & A session with volunteer teachers about their first job/interview experiences (hopefully some fun stories and good advice from them!), and a presentation about utilizing pubic transportation by TCAT the following week. Stay tuned for quick progress with Youth Employment! Dryden Youth Programs Youth Report 4/23/2014 David Hall Finished Programs 1) Primitive Pursuits – Winter Session A: Participants: 12 B: Our winter session of Primitive Pursuits finished up well. We made it to the spring having many enriching experiences. Our long and drawn out weather provide many opportunities to create and try methods to get out of the snow and wind and stay warm. I was impressed by the level of self-responsibility that my students gained over the weeks. Their outfits improved as well as their level of self-maintenance. 2) Bird Brains A: Participants: 11 B: Bird Brains gives Dryden Students the opportunity to become birders. This is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone that enriches lives and helps connect people to the cycles of nature. By encouraging students to look closer and ask basic questions about the wildlife they see students skill level and abilities quickly improve. One of the highlights of this round of Bird Brains was having a student in my group who was arguably a better birder than me. This young man taught me things about what we were seeing and was enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with the rest of the group. Ongoing Programs 1) Monday Makers A: Participants: 12 Page 7 of 8 DRAFT 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. I brought a cooking project to our first meeting. I have a nice mix of veterans as well as new kids who have found out about our cool little program. My group is up for new adventures and has been asking to go on field trips, go stream hiking as well as to the Sciencenter. I love how this program encourages sharing, logistics, trying new things as well as spontaneity. 2) Primitive Pursuits – Session 1 A: Participants: 17 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. Our first meeting of our spring session was one of those epic days where everything clicked just right and we found ourselves doing so many amazing things. Sam, my co-instructor, taught stone tool making, using an obsidian core. Flakes knapped off of this core were used to make simple blades which were used to help skin a raccoon (rubber gloves were used by all). New students worked on cordage, friction fires, maple sap collection as well as awareness games. I was so pleased to see everyone engaged as they tried new skills and pushed the edges of their abilities. I am also happy to report how willing seasoned participants are to guide and help the newcomers. This youth teaching youth is such a vital and important aspect of not only Primitive Pursuits but of many of the programs that I run. 3) Get Lost A: Participants: 13 B: Get lost teaches participants confidence and mastery by learning to stay found and travel safely when “lost” in wilderness settings. By using tried and true traditional means we navigate the landscape and practice the skills that I present. Our first meeting was spent at Hammond Hill State Forest where we accomplished an amazing amount. Using the art of questioning I started the afternoon by simply asking “what would you do if you were lost in the woods and wanted to find your way out?” and perhaps more importantly “How do you not get lost in the first place?” We practiced straight line sighting, following waterways as well as the story trail. Our bushwhacking led us to some fun discoveries while we practiced the skills at hand. Two of my participants found an old homestead site where we enjoyed sampling water from a spring. This program encourages critical thinking, creative problem solving, teamwork as well as healthy choices. 4) Iron Chef –Session 1 A: Participants: 12 B: Iron Chef begins today. I’ll include a full report for next month’s meeting. Iron Chef is design to encourage healthy eating habits, teamwork, creativity and fun. This program has become a staple of mine that kids ask for. Through the challenge of working with food items that are revealed to each team at the same time, groups work together to create a Page 8 of 8 DRAFT dish that is not only pleasing to the eye but tasty. Each group is graded by me on not only these aspects but on cooperation, cleanup and dish name. 5) Lunch Bunch A: Participants: 41 B: Lunch Bunch provides a positive outlet for students during their lunch period. I transitioned out of my Teen Challenges program which ended several weeks ago and provided a new permission form for the spring. I did this because of the popularity of my in-school programming. Groups became too large and a bit of a crowd control issue. With my new, smaller groups it is easier to focus on teambuilding activities and really get to know my participants. This program provides an outlet for students to try new things in a safe setting. It encourages teamwork, creative thinking and getting active. I’m hopeful that the weather will lend itself to getting outdoors after the April break. Note: I took a week of vacation April 14-18 so did not hold programming during the break. Upcoming Programs Primitive Pursuits – Session 2, Iron Chef – Session 2, Fun with Frisbees, and Community Helpers. The following wed address will get you to our all permission form. http://ccetompkins.org/4h/rural-youth-services/dryden