Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-24Page 1 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission September 24, 2014 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), Steve Meyer, Kathy Gehring till 7:20PM, Tom Fuchs and Vicki Wilkins at 7:20PM, Tracy Kurtz at 8:05PM Town Hall Representative: Jennifer Jones, Recreation Director Youth Services Coordinator: Kris Bennett Guests Present: Valerie Salerno, Matthew Philips, David Bravo-Cullen Introduction of Guests: Valerie Salerno and Matthew Philips attended this meeting to discuss the problems that the independent baseball leagues are having with the High School softball fields. Mr. Philips is the President of the Adult Softball Slow Pitch League. He said the main concern is safety. The fields are not being maintained other than mowing. The outfields are part of the soccer fields which is why they are maintained. The infields are unsafe due to rocks, holes, etc. The fields were not built properly but the school is unwilling to rebuild them at this time. When it rains, the infield turns to mud due to a lack of drainage and the potholes retain the water. The fields were constructed almost 20 years ago when the addition was built. The School has made overtures that they would permit the Town to make improvements but based on the fact that the School has not been willing to work with the Town in the past, that isn’t an option. They have looked at other options but so far they haven’t found a place that meets their needs. The fields are either in poor condition or too small or they charge too much. Unfortunately, there isn’t much the DRYC can do for them. Reports: Town Board: Joe Solomon Not present Recreation Director: Jennifer Jones See attached. 2015 Funding: Shelley Lester has applied for three youth services grants for 2015. Her experience using the Common Grant Program was frustrating since much of the information she had to provide was redundant. Commission members shared their experiences with the program which indicate a program that is difficult to navigate with few options for personalization. K. Bennett reminded the Commission that part of the reason for using the program was to create an atmosphere of accountability. County Liaison: Kris Bennett K. Bennett shared an invitation to the Tompkins County Municipal Youth Services dinner/gathering. Program Reports: See Attached. Page 2 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 Bob Slocum joined the group to express his concern regarding the lack of options for older youth and adults. Right now most of the programs offered are feeder programs for the school. He would like to see a session with programs aimed at the 13-18 year old age group. Even if it is only one day a week, (preferably a day that the other sports are not played) a slow pitch softball game might generate some participation. Instead of having leagues and teams, he recommended a pick up league which will lower the commitment demand and perhaps encourage more participation. Slow pitch softball is a low impact, social activity with a low level of expertise necessary. Discussion of the community stakeholder meeting: The Commission discussed the question and answer strategy for the meeting. They decided to start with person #1 and question #1 and then ask the others if they have any further input. Person #2 will answer question #2 followed by an opportunity for the other stakeholders to add their input. The group reviewed the questions for the stakeholders – see attached. K. Bennett approached the subject of the youth survey. How to get the survey to a broad range of students was discussed. The consensus was to ask Todd Kwaitkowski, Health teacher, if he could give the survey to his students. Sharon Todd’s class is still working on the parent survey and what questions they want to ask. Review and approval of minutes from April 2014 (the last time the DRYC had a quorum): T. Kurtz moved to approve the minutes, S. Meyer seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. Budget update: K. Bennett presented the 2015 Youth Services projected budget and revenues. See attached. This year the youth services budget is slightly less than last year. J. Jones has already turned in the budget requests based on last year’s budget so the Commission determined to move the “extra” money to the OURS program for van usage (The OURS program has to rent the van from Cornell Coop Extension). T. Kurtz moved to recommend to the Town Board that they allocate $44,051 for Rural Youth Services, $24,357 for the OURS programs and $19,942 for the Youth Employment program for a total of $88,350. The motion was seconded by T. Fuchs and unanimously approved. Commission Vacancies: S. Meyer moved to recommend David Bravo-Cullen be appointed to the DRYC with a term expiring in December 2016. V. Wilkins seconded the motion which was unanimously approved. Based on the fact that the DRYC has had difficulty achieving a quorum due to a lack of members, K. Bennett, S. Mulinos and J. Jones discussed ways to achieve a quorum Page 3 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 without having to fill all of the positions on the Commission. They are recommending that the legislation be amended so the quorum be a simple majority of the appointed/fill seats. The Commission members agreed with the idea. Since the creation of the DRYC, they have not been able to fill all of the vacancies and thus they have not been able to move forward with certain business. J. Jones will talk with Supr. Sumner regarding the amendment. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk Page 4 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 Page 5 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 Dryden Youth Report Page 6 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 September 16, 2014 David Hall Finished Programming 1) Adirondack Canoe Trip (a) Participants: 7 (b) An adventurous team of Dryden Youth, joined by myself and veteran participant Megan Ludgate, went on a 4 day/3 night canoe trip into the wilds of New York State. We traveled to the Bog River Flow and paddled into Lowes Lake. Lowes Lake is a primitive wilderness area, meaning that there are no motor boats, sea planes can’t land and group size is limited to ensure a true backcountry experience. My crew did very well as they learned to navigate, handle a canoe, set up camp, keep food safe from bears and otherwise maintain themselves away from civilization. I had a mix in age ranging from two students who had just finished 6th grade up to 2students who were going into their senior year. Each day brought different challenges which included exploring the lake, bushwhacking to an open ridge as well as deciding where to go for our last night. This experience provided so many great opportunities for positive development. Everyone was involved in the decision making process. Each person got to take the map and was able to lead as we traveled. Participants learned to take care of themselves and their gear while also being responsible for group equipment. Immersion in nature away from home is a pretty big deal for anyone and can have lasting impacts. At least 2 of my participants had never been out of the great Dryden area before. 2) Animal Explorers (a) Participants: 11 (b) Animal Explorers gives youth the opportunity to get firsthand experience seeing and interacting with animals, both wild and domestic. Using Dryden Lake as our home base we were nicely positioned to use the wild space around us as well as embark on field trips. Beyond birding and learning about the wildlife at the lake we traveled to the Syracuse Zoo, visited the Lama Mama as well as to my place to see working horses and our modest flock of birds. My kids loved this program. It seemed as though the whole week was a highlight. The Syracuse Zoo was especially interesting as we explored. The tigers gave us a close up opportunity to check out tracks and paws. In addition to enjoying all of the captive animals we challenged ourselves to find wildlife that made their home within the zoo. We saw woodchucks, many different species of birds, squirrels and other variety of rodents. Page 7 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 One of my main goals with animal based programming is to give students the tools to become effective and sensible observers of nature. I encourage them to observe and interpret animal and bird behavior. We learned to look for field marks to help us become better at identifying birds. We also learned how to move slowly and deliberately through the landscape. Programs such as Animal Explorers helps connect youth to the environment and can help foster healthy habits as well as encourage budding interests. During our trip to see Gail Folkerson we learned how she uses her lamas as therapy animals. Gail does what she does simply out of love for working with people and animals. While visiting, we helped Gail with several tasks including gathering lama hair, which was too spun into yarn, as well as to feed her animals fresh hey. After our chores Gail made us all elderberry fritters which were truly amazing. 3) Nature Arts (a) Participants: 6 (b) For this craft program I brought in all of my “stuff” and let my students have at it. Provided with leather, soapstone, wood and fiber my students made an array of really impressive items. Many stone containers were made with the help of self-made hand drills. Leather was used to make bags, wallets and a sheaths. Several students who were into painting brought their supplies from home and painted the landscape with their watercolors. Nature Arts took place during one of the hotter spells of our relatively cool summer. Being conveniently near Flat Rock we were able to hike through Cornell Plantations and get our feet wet in Fall Creek. I love craft programs, especially with an open ended nature. Kids’ creativity can really get going and all I have to do is provide a little guidance or help with the simple tools that I bring along. 4) Primitive Pursuits (a) Participants: 12 (b) My summers Primitive Pursuits was held at Hammond Hill State Forest. On our first day, once everyone arrived, I set out my intentions for the day. Simply put I wanted to pretend that we were embarking on a true survival situation. Each day would build on the previous, helping to create a more comfortable camp which would include valuable crafts and skills. Our first day was spent building a basic camp which was strategically positioned near a spring which my kids discovered. As a group, we built a debris hut which would provide Page 8 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 a warm and dry space. Fire was made with a 2-person friction device. We worked on coal burned containers and sampled wild edibles. As the days passed we learned to track animals, learned some basics about trapping, struggled with making fire in the rain and continued to learn about plants. We learned to move in our vast landscape by paying attention to landmarks. We tracked each other through the forest, paying attention to the subtle disturbances left in the leaf litter. Everyone was so excited during this program. All of my students were comfortable and engaged as they worked on crafts or the challenges at hand. Learning to survive in the woods forces people to think and be creative. Along with critical thinking these skills connect students to nature in a unique and powerful way. These skills are very empowering and truly help youth develop in positive ways. 5) Outdoor Cooking (a) Participants: 12 (b) Outdoor Cooking is such a fun and exciting program. This week we had the added challenge of plenty of rain which forced us undercover a few days. We learned to use Dutch Ovens as we made chocolate dessert and mountain man breakfast. Each day we learned to make fire in a new way using everything from matches and lighters to more primitive means such as sparking tools and friction devices. As with each summers outdoor cooking we prepped and got everything ready for a steam pit. This involved lots of teamwork and elbow grease as we constructed grass mats, dug a pit, collected stones and firewood. This year’s feast included corn, potatoes and hand caught crayfish. Cooking programs get everyone involved and encourage participants to try new foods. We work on teamwork while we meet new people and have fun. 6) Environmental Explorers (a) Participants: 10 (b) Each day of Environmental Explorers brought us to a new location. This filed trip focused program brought students to the Labrador Hollow Unique Area, Finger Lakes Land Trust property and to interesting places in Ithaca including the Sciencenter on one very rainy day. I selected each location to visit based on its unique qualities. As we explored boardwalks, forests and meadows I encouraged students to look for signs of life and asked them questions designed to make them think such as “what went on here?” or “how many toes do you see in that track? Labrador Hollow was particularly interesting and scenic as we gathered blueberries along the boardwalk, tried to catch fish with our hands and Page 9 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 tracked geese. This property has a wonderful overlook that lends itself nicely to a discussion about glaciation. 7) Finger Lakes National Forest Hiking Trip (a) Participants: 8 (b) I joined forces with Youth Program Manager Lauren Salzman and her crew from Enfield for a 3 day/2 night hiking trip in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Each student, along with a partner, was asked to take the map and the lead to gain experience. This was a fun and sometimes frustrating experience for some as they learned to figure out where we were and where we needed to go. Our basic goals for the trip were to learn to hike safely and respectfully while learning all of the important fundamentals. The 2 groups integrated as well as I’ve ever seen 2 groups get along. Genuine friendships were made as we hiked, played games and just talked. This trip was such a fun and exciting way to finish out the summer. I was particularly proud of one student, who hadn’t camped without her parents before. She took her tasks seriously, did a fantastic job leading and despite straining (slight sprain) her ankle a half mile from our last camp, was a true trooper. Dear Dryden OURS Monday Mentee, Please fill out this interest survey and return it to Nikki with your completed permission forms. The Cornell Mentors are taking the same survey. You will be matched with your Monday Mentor based on your interests! My name is ___________________ , and I enjoy: (PLEASE CIRCLE THE THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY) BEING INDOORS CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEDITATION OUTDOORS MOVING AROUND A LOT QUIET SPACES RESEARCH PROJECTS COMEDY ANIMALS YOUTH BEING A LEADER WORKING HARD ACADEMICS SPORTS GAMES CIVIL RIGHTS POETRY Page 10 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 BEING AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE MUSIC READING FIXING THINGS COMIC BOOKS ORGANIZING LEADING ACTIVITIES INSECTS LEARNING NEW SKILLS HIKING PSYCHOLOGY COOKING BEING ON A TEAM ART FAMILY CLEANING PLANTS LEARNING ABOUT OTHER CULTURES GARDENING COMPUTERS ADVENTURES SCIENCE TEACHING FASHION TALKING PROJECTILES WEB-DESIGN PLAYING FARMING HELPING PEOPLE MAKE BELIEVE CAMPING HUNTING DEBATING SINGING BOOKS DREAM INTERPRETATION SOLVING PUZZLES CRAFTS COLLECTING OUTER SPACE AUTO MECHANICS BUILDING TECHNOLOGY NATURE MACHINES CURRENT EVENTS WRITING SEWING/KNITTING TYPING Additional Interest(s):______________________________________________________________________ Would you prefer a male mentor_________, female_________, doesn’t matter________ If you are a seasoned Monday Mentee... Please name your previous mentor(s)______________________________________________________ If possible, would you like to be paired with the same mentor again? _____________________ Please read the following with your youth: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - Please keep in mind that we need to respect each others personal boundaries. Remember that a lot of people have a "bubble" that they don't like to be invaded! All participants are expected to respect the personal belongings of mentors and peers. Please keep track of your own belongings for the entire program - people sometimes lose stuff at program and it's a real bummer! Absolutely no violence, neither physical nor merely threatened, will be tolerated. Violence of any kind Page 11 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 may very well result in NON-participation in the OURS Program. THE ABILITY TO LISTEN (GOOD LISTENING SKILLS), MAY BE THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU CAN DEVELOP. THANK YOU FOR JOINING PROGRAM WITH US!!! Please contact Nikki with questions, concerns, or comments: (585)808-3402 njn35@hotmail.com Dear Parents and Guardians of OURS Participants, Thank you for granting your young person permission to spend another season with us at 4H Acres! Your trust and faith that we will have a positive influence on your youth is genuinely heart-warming, and it is a responsibility that we respect and look forward to every week! Here are a few tips and reminders to make sure we are all on the same path to another successful semester: Youth MUST ATTEND SCHOOL in order to come to program. If your young person stayed home from school, for any reason (such as illness, missed the bus, dentist apt., etc.) they CANNOT COME TO PROGRAM THAT DAY. It is our goal to help increase every student's success at school by promoting their school-attendance, and helping them with their homework and projects. This rule is in part to prevent the spread of colds, because we believe that if folks are not feeling great, they should rest at home rather than coming to program, and this rule is meant to give extra incentive for those who love program to GO TO SCHOOL  Please be aware that van space is limited. Completed permission forms will not guarantee permission to attend. You will be contacted with a phone call, if your youth is unable to attend a program that you have signed up for. Priority is given to past participants with excellent attendance. If you are a new family, signing up for program for the first time, we will try our best to fit your youth into at least one program day! And you will be on top of the waiting-list, should anyone take a break or move away from program. CELL PHONES, IPODS, AND OTHER TECHONOLOGY: Everyone will be asked to keep their personal technology out of sight (in pockets or at home), during program. If there is a reason that your youth should be "on call", please let us know and we will make exceptions. We are incorporating more technology into program activities in consideration for its appeal. You may look forward to computer use, GPS units, and more advances this semester! Page 12 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 While 4H Acres is an awesome place with plenty of room, it does get a little cramped sometimes, especially in the van! During program, there are so many unique personalities on board, we understand that not everyone "gets along" all the time. Please keep in mind that program space is limited, and it is nearly impossible for folks to keep from interacting at some point during the duration of any given program day. Simply put, we cannot be responsible for keeping people separate from one another during program. If your young person is not getting along well with another participant, please spend time resolving the conflict at home. Conflict resolution is one of the many life-skills that we spend significant program time building. We try to help peer groups from the Mobile Home Parks resolve conflicts by encouraging conversation about their issues. We aim to minimize and prevent conflicts so that we can focus our time having fun while learning. If you think that a conflict could become a real problem during program, please communicate the issue to Nikki and consider keeping your young person home from program to work on solutions. MONDAYS: Mondays are for all ages! Everyone must bring their home work! If your young person doesn’t have homework, they are still expected to spend the first half of Monday programs focused on an academic topic - and there are many options at program: books, flash cards, trivia, and many learning games. Please remind them of this expectation. Please ask your young person about their mentor. You are welcome to arrange a day to chaperone program if you are interested in meeting your youth's mentor! If you ever want to relay any messages regarding your youth's mentor, please contact Nikki! TUESDAYS: Tuesdays are for 12+ Aged participants only! In the past, we have been flexible on the age requirement for this program. However, this season, we have chosen to limit the age requirement strictly to 12+. The leadership experience gained on Tuesdays is valuable resume -material that will help your teen when they apply for jobs, schools, and community positions! There are high expectations for the Tuesday Leadership Participants! Everyone at th is program is expected to listen to instruction carefully and respectfully, and to carry out designed program activities during the entire Tuesday Program. This is being explained because of our past experiences with disruptive behaviors and a lack of follow-through during program; in other words, sometimes people will participate for a few minutes, and then go try to just hang out over to the side. As our Tuesday program coordinators make great effort to design activities that will appeal to teens, we are looking for a lot respect for their efforts. Tuesday Leadership Participants will actually be able to design their own projects this semester! We hope to do awesome things in our community, help make 4H Acres a better program site, make t-shirts, and much more. Please know that it is ok to take a break from these high expectations, and youth should only sign up if they plan to participate and make their best effort to follow through with specific Tuesday activities. Page 13 of 13 Draft 9/24/2014 THURSDAYS: Thursdays are for 7, 8, and 9 year-aged participants + those who are enrolled in the Mentor-In-Training Program. Please ask your young person about their experiences during Thursday programs (and all other programs, too ). This is only the second semester for this new program, and any feedback from parents about Thursdays is extremely valuable! Please note that the leadership experience gained as an MIT is valuable resume- material that will help your teen when they apply for jobs, schools, and community positions! FRIDAYS: Fridays are for 10 and 11 year-aged participants only! Our goal is to provide a pathway for OURS Youth in order to graduate from one program to the next. We hope to keep program fresh and new for long term participants, which many of you are! As youth "come of age", they get to join in on new experiences that will hopefully keep them excited to join us every year!