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Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Members Present: Vicki Wilkins (Chair), Steve Meyer, Tracy Kurtz, and Stephanie
Mulinos.
Members Absent: JoEllen Baily, Jeff Humphrey, and Sharon Todd
Town Recreation Staff: Melissa Bianconi
Town Board Liaisons: Linda Lavine and Steve Stelick (not present)
DCDS Liaison: position open
County Youth Services Representative: Kris Bennett
Guests: none
1. Reading of Commission Meeting Minutes:
The minutes from the last regular meeting of May 22, 2013 were tabled until the next
meeting.
2. Introduction of Guests – no guests
3. Report from the Town Board Liaisons
Town Board liaisons were not present
4. Dryden Youth Report
Attached
5. Dryden OURS Program Report
Attached
6. DYC Funding applications
The money provided in the past has decreased drastically. The Towns have been able
to maintain their contribution but the State and County have cut their funding
drastically. See attached charts.
Last year, the Youth Commission invited the programs that had received funding the
year before to reapply and they kept the funding to those groups. The group agreed
that they would do the same this year and after the group has conducted the Youth
Needs Assessment, they can open it up for more applications.
S. Mulinos asked if there was a way to avoid all the paperwork since the funding that
we anticipate receiving barely covers the programs through Cooperative Extension.
Is there any requirement that the Youth Commission funding be advertised? No, not
necessarily.
M. Bianconi asked if having a contract set up with Cooperative Extension
“guaranteeing” a certain amount of money every year would be feasible. The
members of the group all agreed that the Cooperative Extension programs are well
run and beneficial. The discussion revolved around whether or not to open the
Youth Commission funding to a broader spectrum or should they keep it to the
programs that they already know are good and in need.
M. Bianconi suggested that instead of having the folks apply knowing how much they
got last year, maybe they could be encouraged to request the amount of money that
they need to actually function. It will provide more information to the DRYC
members and the Town Board. (The Town pays a large chunk of the funding).
K. Bennett suggested that after the Youth Needs Assessment has been completed,
the areas that need help might not be the same as last years. It might be a better
time to open up the funding more.
S. Meyer suggested that the groups once again receiving funds should be given a
heads up about the fact the funding will be changing; next year the net will be
thrown wider to generate more interest, projects, ideas, etc.
It was suggested that the DRYC separate youth jobs from the youth funding and
young folks go through the Town Recreation Department for employment. That
idea led to the question of does or will the money allocated for youth jobs be part of
the general pot of money or would it be a separate amount? If the youth
employment was through the Recreation Department, they could potentially offer
more jobs with a greater variety of positions. Employers could be encouraged to let
the Recreation Dept know when they have a position available.
S. Mulinos questioned whether or not to even send the applications to the Villages if
the DRYC is going to change the youth employment? She also wanted to know
whether the money for youth employment would be separate from the overall funds
that are being granted? She suggested a separate line in the budget. M. Bianconi
said that even if the Town Board doesn’t let them increase the budget, she might
be able to pull money from other areas of her budget. She is going to ask the Town
to increase funding for youth employment. Currently, to fund the youth
employment positions that exist in Freeville, Dryden and through Cornell
Cooperative Extension, a total of $3,770 is required. The DRYC is hoping to move
increase that amount of money so more young folks can benefit from the first hand
experience.
T. Kurtz asked if this program is the type that could be used to employ youths for
elderly or small, odd jobs? M. Bianconi said it is not something that we want to get
into since there could be insurance issues. The Ithaca Youth Bureau does that
kind of program.
Deadline for applications for Youth Commission money is August 10th so the DRYC
can discuss them on the 28th.
7. Old Business:
a. Subcommittee Assignments
Youth Commission Grants
DRYC Operating Guidelines
DCS Relations Committee
b. Dryden Lake Festival Kidzone
Chairwoman Wilkins asked if any members want to meet with her separately to
brainstorm ideas for the Kidzone. She said that the dunking booth is a definite. V.
Wilkins said she is going to send around an email with ideas of what they did last year
and see if any members have ideas to add.
c. DRYC letter to Dryden School Board
The members had a discussion regarding whether J. Humphrey should be the member
to read the letter to the School Board. Based on the fact that he will be assuming a
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position on the School Board on July 1, having him read the letter may create the
appearance of a conflict of interests. The DRYC members agreed that it will be better
to have Chairwoman Wilkins read the letter. (The final copy of the letter is attached)
The DRYC members generated a list of other organization that might be interested in
being present at the Town Board meeting.
It has come to the attention the Commission members that one of the summer jobs
offered through Youth Employment in Freeville was not filled according to the
expectations. The young lady is from Binghamton and is staying with her father in
Dryden over the summer. The money supporting the youth employment is a
compilation of funds from several places including the State, the County and the Town
of Dryden and aimed at giving a young person from the Town of Dryden their first
experience with applying, interviewing, etc.
The DRYC members discussed what, if any, action should be taken. The group agreed
that it was enough that they are aware of the situation and are going to take measures
to prevent it in the future.
The next DRYC meeting is the 17th of July. The potential agenda includes a
presentation on the youth survey by Kris Bennett, a discussion with Andrew Pierce
(Recreation Coordinator) regarding the local football program and start working on the
Youth Needs Assessment.
At the September meeting, the Recreation Partnership representatives will be here.
M. Bianconi will send out an email with the dates that the groups receiving funding
are holding their programs. She is hoping everyone can choose what program they
would like to monitor.
There being no further business, S. Mulinos made a motion to end the meeting, J.
Bailey seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin A. Bieber
Deputy Town Clerk
Dryden OURS Program Report: May-June 2013
Nikki Nease, Youth Program Manager
Summary
May/June Programming is rich with reconnections, new connections, expansions of
knowledge gained form past Summer Programming, community, creativity, expression, and
many new seeds planted!
Funding was gratefully accepted from the Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund for two of our
May-June Programs, and one of our wonderful, long-term Cornell volunteers graciously
accepted a FOCUS Grant at a United Way Awards Ceremon y last month, to be used for a project
this coming Fall.
Hopefully everyone got a chance to read Kathy Morris's article in Ithaca Child about the
CCHY and our recent proud and spirited promenade in the Ithaca Festival Parade. Thank you
Kris for pointing out the importance for adults to set good examples and thank you to everyone
who helped the Above the Influence Campaign in its meaningful opportunity for youth to share
with the public their true feelings about all the things that can bring them down, and to support
each other by rising above!
Summer Programs will begin in July. Please stay tuned for a flyer describing our plans to
dance, garden, participate in the 4H Youth and State fairs, make scientific discoveries on the
Floating Classroom, camp out, and much more!
Program Descriptions:
Seeds of Life: (Monday evenings @ 4H Acres, 7 sessions, 11 Participants)
An incredible flow of donations have helped OURS Seeds grow successfully; from volunteer
Rota tillers, compost, seed, and mulch contributions, and the wonderful volunteer commitment of
plant science extraordinaire and long-term 4Her, Pamela Marcum. Pamela joins us for a second
summer with supplies and all her energy that makes gardening with youth such a fun and
meaningful experience. Participants learned the fundamentals of nurturing plants from seeds,
taking home small pots and bringing back sprouts to transplant in our garden at 4-H Acres.
Pamela has also supplied each youth with hanging pots, full of lettuce and nasturtium seeds that
they will care for at home and enter into this year’s 4H Youth Fair. After a discussion of garden
safety, plant-science, and various gardening techniques and principles, next week’s goal is the
completion of educational posters that youth may also enter in the Youth Fair. After all of our
cooperation and hard, playful work, we look forward to harvest time; a family feast with
pumpkin pies, salads, and home-made pickles!
4H is Sew Fun II: (Tuesday evenings @ 4H Acres, 6 Sessions, 11 Participants)
Sew Fun participants joined forces once again with their favorite volunteers. The Sew Fun crew
of volunteer instructors is the same bunch that is devoted to us in the winter for cooking
programs. We have cultivated strong bonds between these folks and OURS youth. Participants
can depend on a very comfortable and supportive environment to create successes for
themselves. Youth were guided in the self-sufficient art of needle and thread. This season, OURS
fabric-artists chose from plentiful patterns to create unique clothing embellishments, purses,
pillows, scarves, blankets, and some learned to mend clothes and stuffed animals that they
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brought from home. Although June 11th culminated this program, participants will reunite for 4H
Youth Fair, with the opportunity to highlight their learning experience by displaying their
projects and verbally guiding others through their creative processes.
Dryden OURS Program Report: May-June 2013
Nikki Nease, Youth Program Manager
Continued
Girl's Circle: (Friday Evenings @ 4H Acres & CCETC, 6 sessions, 11 Participants)
Lyn Staack from the Advocacy Center, and Jen Mainville of Planned Parenthood are cherishing
every moment with the OURS Girl’s Circle. This national curriculum has guided our weekly
activities intended to celebrate our similarities and distinctions, discover our identities, and
engage in supportive discussions about female topics that may be uncomfortable to discuss
amongst mixed groups. Our Girl’s Circle has created rituals for opening and closing our weekly
circle, we remained intensely captivated during a guided meditation that brought us to a place of
complete acceptance of our own originalities, and shared powerful poetry about ourselves; we
have improvised plays to understand and challenge stereo types, created art work to express our
values and materialize everything that keeps us strong and proud. This Friday we will celebrate
our final week with a scavenger hunt, tea ceremony, birthday celebration for one of our
participants, and farewells until later in the season when Lyn and Jen will visit us again for a
fieldtrip to the Women’s Rights Museum in Seneca Falls.
Dryden Youth Report
May 22, 2013
David Hall
Finished
*Please note that all programs for this spring are full. Most programs have waiting lists.
1. Primitive Pursuits Session 2
A. Participants: 18
B. Primitive Pursuits teaches youth about the environment through the exploration of
native living skills and nature awareness. Self-confidence is gained through the mastery of
critical survival skills such as matchless fire making and shelter building. We work on
teambuilding through group challenges while honoring individual talents as gifts that help
strengthen the group.
Session 2 of spring 2013 Primitive Pursuits has come to an end. These students
gained excellent experience with fundamental earth living skills. As our second session
progressed we learned more and more edible plants. We learned to use the atlatl, a
primitive spear throwing device. We made bark basics, practiced camouflaging and gained
experience making fire with the primitive cord drill.
My hope is that we have laid out some important foundational skills and have
inspired our students to keep working and exploring on their own until we see them the
next time they sign up.
Primitive Pursuits continues to have an excellent attendance record with almost no
unexcused absences.
2. Teen Challenge Groups
A. Participants: 71
B. Teen Challenge Groups, which meet during the lunch periods (M-Th), allow
students to get out of the cafeteria and join peers in active games and challenges. This
program is designed to get kids moving, to create a place for positive social skills to happen
and of course to have fun.
I continue to be in regular communication with school staff who work with and
council the students in my groups who have special needs. Several of my participants have
autism and are working on skills that help them to be in a large and sometimes energetic
group. This has been a very positive and important part of the work that I do. Not only
have school specialists given me excellent advice but I am able to report to them how their
students are doing in a more informal setting.
My Teen Challenge Groups have become so important in the work that I do. I am
making great connections with so many wonderful kids. One of the most exciting parts of
this program is seeing a young person who was hesitant to join this program come out of
their shell, have fun and make new friends.
3. Youth Employment
A. Participants: 4
B. We have placed 4 students with summer employment. We have 2 placements at
the Dryden Cafe and 2 at the public library. Each student will work approximately 80hrs.
Students will gain excellent first time employment experience. Library Employees will help
in all aspects of day to day activities, including helping out with youth programs.
Cafe employees will learn how to use a cash register, learn about food and health
safety as well how to prepare food.
4. Adventure Club
A. Participants: 8
B. The goal of Adventure club is get students involved in all aspects of planning a
high adventure trip. My group decided to implement a canoe trip. This required some
math to figure out mileage costs. In addition to looking at maps we worked on a food list,
gear and safety issues. We decided to venture up to Stillwater Reservoir in the Adirondacks
for a canoe camping outing. Our trip will happen from June 27th - 30th.
This kind of program encourages leadership skills, group decision making and
healthy habits. For a number of participants this will be a new kind of camping experience.
I have touched base with all of my participants and they are all already laying out gear and
preparing for the adventure.
7. Stream Seekers
A. Participants: 12
B. Stream seekers is designed to get youth familiar with the local waterways that are
part of their community. By getting our feet wet and becoming familiar with the creeks and
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wetlands that our part of the local watershed students not only have fun but literally get
their hands into the environment.
My students loved each week’s adventure. We found turtles, a goose nest, tracked
coyotes in the shallows of Virgil Creek and caught fish with our hands. The highlight of our
program was the field trip to Flat Rock, a section of Fall Creek near Cornell. It was at Flat
Rock where we learned to look more deeply and understand the micro habitats that are
part of all environments. After looking and asking we successfully caught dozens of small
dace, a small bait fish that makes its home in clear running water.
8. Fun with Frisbees ,
A. Participants: 11
B. Fun with Frisbees is a program that is designed to encourage healthy habits,
encourage mastery as well as teamwork. Learning to throwing the frisbee can be a
frustrating thing to a newcomer. Paying attention to the details can really help as well as
just plain old practicing.
We played many games including frisbee, bocce, 500, “The Game That Hurts” (it
doesn’t really) and Ultimate. On our final get together we traveled to TC3 to play frisbee
golf at their excellent course. We played 9 holes, which was more than enough.
My students did so well and had some much fun. Everyone improved and really
started to enjoy the variety of activities that the frisbee can offer.
10. Summer Skies - Summer Skies officially begins on July 1st. Registration forms are
coming in with a few programs at or near the limit. Registration forms can be found at :
http://ccetompkins.org/sites/all/files/68/2013-dryden-summer-skies.pdf
I happy to announce that Alex LaLonde will be volunteering for the whole summer with
me. Alex is a recreation student at TC3. He has great enthusiasm and is looking forward to
having fun, sharing and learning.
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
V. Freeville Youth
Jobs
$700 $750 $2,185 $5,400 $6,000 $6,000
V. Dryden Youth
Jobs
$750 $750 $1,873 $4,300 $5,509 $5,110
CCE - RYS $40,976 $40,466 $40,466 $55,204 $58,393 $57,160
CCE - OURS $15,842 $15,633 $15,633 $12,937 $12,937 $11,487
CCE - Youth Jobs $2,328 $1,151 $2,102 $2,012 $3,165 $2,525
CCE - Van for OURS $1,000 $1,000 $1,016 $0 $0 $0
Brooktondale Camp $0 $0 $500 $750 $1,500 $1,000
Youth Horticulture
~ I Apprentice Program $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,000 $0
V. Dryden Police &
Community $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $4,000
Notes:
2011 - CCE RYS reduced staffing to 1 FTE (had been 1.5 FTE) due to
funding reduction
2008,2009,2010 - Town (apart from DYe) provided $5,000 to support
CCE OURS van.
2008 - First year of funding for CCE OURS program
2007 - Last year of funding for IYB Youth Conservation Corps
_.----
Dryden Youth Commission Funding History
County State Town Total Notes
2013 $16,661 $1,718 $43,217 $61,596
2012 $16,222 $1,718 $42,039 $59,979 Incl. $738 in county one time $
2011 $16,459 $2,974 $44,252 $63,685 MYSS $ cut by 50; incl. $975 in county one
time $
2010 $33,264 $2,887 $44,252 $80,403 First year of no county MJP $
2009 $40,946 $3,306 $44,252 $88,504
2008 $39,513 $4,128 $43,641 $87,282