HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-07-19Dryden Youth Commission
n 7 It July 19, 2005
Minutes
Present: Eric McConnell, Tracy Kurtz; Kris Bennett; guests Deb Peterson -Moore (Brooktondale Summer
Camp); Emily Cramer (Coddington Road Community Center CIT /Jr. Counselor Program); Kylee Potter (V.
Dryden Summer Camp)
Excused: Nita Baldwin, InShik Lee, Kristen Blackman Absent: Alan Macomber
Tracy called the meeting to order at 6:40, introductions were made. No quorum was present so approval of
June minutes was tabled until September.
Program Reports from funded summer programs —
Brooktondale Summer Day Camp — DYC funds campers at this program. Camp director Deb Peterson.
Moore said enrollment is down a little this year, approx. 36 kids attend per week (14 are Dryden residents)
but some weeks are lower and she is somewhat concerned about her budget, The bridge construction in
Brooktondale has negatively affected enrollment; some youth from past years who walk or bike to camp are
unable to attend this year. Counselor to camper ratio is 1:7. Camp meets from 8:30 am to noon. This
year, to increase enrollment, they raised the maximum age from 12 to 13 but have discovered that these
campers are harder to satisfy. The boys most enjoy sports, the girls enjoy crafts. The Ithaca Journal is
coming this week and there will be a story in a future newspaper about the camp. Two of her staff are
Dryden youth, One staff position was cut this year in order to raise salaries of other staff (minimum wage
increase + need to keep other higher level positions comparable.) Deb invited all to visit this program.
® Coddington Road Community Center CIT /Jr. Counselor Program — DYC funds CIT /Jr. Counselors at this
program, Emily Cramer directs the CIT /Advanced CIT /Jr. Counselor program. This year there are 7 CIT's,
all are boys who will enter 8th grade in the fall. There are 6 advanced CIT's, 4 girls, 2 boys, all entering 9th
grade in the fall and all participated as CIT's last summer. There are approx. 10 jr. counselors, all entering
10th grade and all alumni of the program. The advanced CIT's and Jr. Counselors receive a stipend at the
end of the summer. She works with all groups, planning lessons for each to enhance their skills of wonting
with younger children and communicating with their peers. There is more programming for the CIT's; the
other groups are increasingly more self - directed. Each week has a theme (example: communication). The
CIT's had to come up with a project for the campers and are creating a golf course. Emily knows at least
one youth is from Dryden but since she does not handle the enrollment paperwork she was not sure how
many of the youth are Dryden residents.
Village of Dryden Summer Camp — DYC funds youth counselor jobs at this program. Camp director Kylee
Potter was interested to hear about the Coddington CIT program since she hopes to add something similar
next summer. She also hopes to add a lunch component next year. Camp is meeting for 5 weeks at the
Dryden High School this summer because of renovations to the elementary school, Kylee likes the site
especially because of access to the pool, but other groups use the site, too, requiring sharing and
coordination, Enrollment is much higher than in past years (anticipated because the Freeville camp could
not be held due to construction); 76 are enrolled and approx. 60 attend each week (last year it was about
35). Approx. half of the campers have Freeville mailing addresses but she's not sure how many attended
the Freeville camp last year and plan to return there next year. All 7 staff are from Dryden. In addition,
parents often stay to volunteer, especially for field -trips on Fridays (Hangar Theatre, Museum of the Earth,
bowling). The increase in minimum wage has bumped up salaries for her staff and she was surprised to
® learn from Kris that min. wage rises again in 2006 and 2007. It will make fora tougher budget.
Other program updates — Kris had been to the Jr. Police Academy the previous week and shared her
written monitoring report.
. Kris passed out copies of Tom's program report which she didn't have when she mailed the other
materials for this meeting.
Tom has been hired as the half -time program manager for Danby and will coordinate the two half -time
positions. He may offer programs at other times (weekends, in school) to fit everything in,
Tracy and Alan have not been able to connect to draft a letter to the Village expressing the concerns of
the DYC re, the in- school component of the Police & Community program. Kris suggested that, at this
point, we arrange a meeting with Reba Taylor to suggest that the Village adjust their 2006 funding
requests (which Kris sent on Tracy's behalf last week and are due in early Sept.), requesting a larger
portion to the Dryden camp /youth jobs and a lesser amount to the Police & Community. Tracy will call
to set this up.
Kris contacted Megan -Mack from Youth Conservation Corps to suggest trying to get some Ithaca
Journal coverage this summer. This could help with visibility and understanding of this program by the
community.
Membership updates — No one had success with people they had contacted. Kris will send a PSA to the
Ithaca Journal.
Recreation updates — Jenn Staton got married last weekend, her new name will be Dube. Concerts in the
park are going very well.
Updates from County Youth Services — Kris reported that the county budget again looks like a tight year.
No word yet on how funding for municipal youth services will fare. Kris reminded all of the upcoming
meeting on July 27 on the municipal youth service system; InShik is signed up to attend and Tracy said she
will check her schedule and also ask Steve Stelick whether he can attend.
Kris also reported that a new summer youth employment project is underway in 4 sites in the County, one
is in Dryden, This is a youth mapping project, using summer TANF funds (youth's family must meet income
guidelines). The mother of one youth contacted both Tracy and Kris; evidently he was hired before anyone
checked the family income and he is not eligible. The mother was hoping there might be some DYC
funding for his salary. Unfortunately, both Tracy and Kris told her there is not. Some youth for the program
were recruited through Cooperative Extension, but not through Rural Youth Services (and Linda Schoffel).
There will be no August meeting. Next meeting will be Sept. 20 to review requests for funding for 2006.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
DYC Minutes Page 2 July 19, 2005