CYFAR 2008 Pre-Conference Events
A Pre-Conference to CYFAR 2008 will be held Tuesday, May 6 at the Hyatt Regency On the River Walk, San Antonio, Texas. The emphasis of the CYFAR 2008 Pre-conference is on addressing issues of critical importance to CYFAR programming through in-depth half-day or full-day trainings. There is NO additional charge for the pre-conference.
Pre-registration is required for all sessions; make your choices known when you register for the conference. Please note there are both full-day and half-day sessions. If you register for more than one session, please make sure that they do not conflict. Capacity is limited, and registration for individual sessions will close when capacity is reached.
CYFAR 2008 Pre-Conferences: Full-day Sessions
CYFAR/KaBOOM! Playground Build: El Carmen Society for Community Advancement in San Antonio
(18555 Leal Road, San Antonio)
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Playground Build Coordinators:
Lupe Landeros, Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Bexar County
Kelli Lehman, Texas AgriLife Extension 4-H Program Specialist
Eddy Mentzer and Sherri Wright, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES/USDA
The 2008 CYFAR Conference is proud to announce the third "Playground In-A-Day" pre-conference event. Under the direction of the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, CYFAR Conference participants will join forces with Texas AgriLife Extension Service staff and faculty, local 4-H youth and volunteers, and San Antonio community members to build a playground in a day. This playground will provide a place for children to play and families to gather for years to come. In just one day, our combined forces will transform an empty lot at El Carmen Society for Community Advancement (18555 Leal Road) in San Antonio into an exciting playground for children of varying ages. The playground will be designed based on ideas and drawings from local children.
No construction or building skills are required. A variety of roles need to be filled including putting playground equipment together, gardening, painting and food service. There will be opportunities for everyone to fill a role during the playground build. No tools or equipment are needed, but the organizers suggest a pair of work gloves.
Bus transportation will be provided from the CYFAR conference hotel (Hyatt Regency on the River Walk) at 8 a.m. and will return at approximately 4 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided throughout the day.
Join your fellow CYFAR participants and community volunteers in this exciting and worthwhile activity as we leave a symbol of CYFAR 2008 in San Antonio. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Eddy Mentzer at ementzer@csrees.usda.gov.
Note: Participants under the age of 18 must present a signed parental approval letter at the build site the morning of the build. While regulations do not allow youth under the age of 18 to actually work on the playground equipment, there will be plenty of side projects to keep the under-18s busy. For a copy of the parental permission, please contact Eddy Mentzer by e-mail at ementzer@csrees.usda.gov.
Maximum number of participants: 75
TerraPod: Using Film to Teach Science Literacy in Out-of-School Programs
(CYFERnet Technology Computer Lab 1)
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Note: Participants will be in the computer lab from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
Between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., participants will be filming around the city (and taking a lunch break). Be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Patricia Bean, Katy Garton and Katie Gilbertson, Montana State University
Tap into children’s interest in "broadcasting themselves" and teach science literacy via "TerraPod"-- melding art and science to actively engage youth in exploring science content through the art of film-making. Hands-on, experiential learning process produces an original 3-5 minute movie on a science or nature topic. Digital movie equipment and production assistance provided. Take home a DVD of your team’s final video.
Maximum number of participants: 30
An In-depth Look at Some Web 2.0 Technologies
(CYFERnet Technology Computer Lab 2)
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Trudy Dunham, University of Minnesota
Ray Kimsey, North Carolina State University
Roger Terry and Vishal Singh, University of Nebraska
Teens' use of the Internet is social, creative, participatory, and immediate. It's time you got up to speed! From Facebook to YouTube, explore the tools today's youth use for expression, engagement, and development of social skills. Participants will experience these applications, learn about the barriers for at-risk youth, and learn the benefits and risks involved in the use of the tools.
Maximum number of participants: 50
CYFAR 2008 Half-Day Pre-Conferences
Morning Sessions
Giving Them Our Best (National 4-H Headquarters)
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cathann A. Kress, Director/Youth Development, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES/USDA
Barbara Stone, National Program Leader, Professional Development, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES/USDA
A good deal of attention is paid to assuring that the critical needs of youth are met. But what about the staff and volunteers that work closely with our youth every day? We want to give young people our best, and that requires that we be intentional about creating high-quality experiences and environments. Participants will better understand how the foundations and frameworks of youth development intersect with the training, professional development and support that new and experienced staff need to continue to be productive and make a positive impact on young people. Participants will increase their knowledge of trends, research and issues related to the youth development professional and determine priorities and strategies for making the greatest impact.
Maximum number of participants: 50
Reaching the Reservation: A Road Map For Understanding The Complexities Of Tribal Histories And Culture
(CYFERnet Program 1)
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Laura Laumatia, Extension Reservation Program, University of Idaho
Cheyanne Erickson, Extension Indian Reservation Program, North Dakota State University
Yolanda Bone, CYFAR Afterschool Site Coordinator, Coeur d’Alene reservation, University of Idaho
Maureen Toomey, CYFERnet School Age Editor, University of Idaho
This pre-conference will explain the unique "nation-within-a-nation" status of the 562 federally recognized tribes across the United States, and the unique legal, jurisdictional and cultural challenges this presents to educators. Presenters will discuss how culturally appropriate education can be enhanced by understanding the complexities of tribal sovereignty, and how reinforcing tribal sovereignty can help develop children's understanding of their identities. The workshop will provide cultural activities, factual information regarding Indian policy and law, and strategies for sustaining positive and mutually beneficial relationships—including models that can transfer to other underserved communities.
Laura Laumatia has four years’ experience with the federally recognized Tribal Extension Program on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, eight years working in Extension and youth development in the Samoan islands as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and through the American Samoa Community College. Cheyanne Erickson has four years’ experience with the 1994 Tribal College, Fort Berthold Community College and currently works with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations through the Fort Berthhold Extension Reservation program. Yolanda Bone is the CYFAR afterschool site coordinator on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.
Maximum number of participants: 50
Sustaining Community Programs: Why and How?
(CYFERnet Evaluation 1)
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lydia I. Marek, Virginia Tech and Jay A. Mancini, Virginia Tech
This pre-conference will focus on the seven sustainability factors (leadership competence, effective collaboration, understanding the community, demonstrating program results, strategic funding, staff involvement and integration, and program responsivity) and an interactive process that will allow participants to begin developing their own program sustainability plan.
Maximum number of participants: 35
Afternoon Sessions
If You Could Only Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Poverty Simulation
(CYFERnet Program 2)
1 - 4 p.m.
Diana Broshar, Iowa State University
Kerri Ashurst, University of Kentucky
Community Staffers TBA
More than 35 million people face poverty every day. Even if you have never experienced poverty, it touches you and impacts your community. For some, the wear and tear of poverty is obvious; for others, it is a silent struggle. You are invited to “walk a mile in the shoes” of someone living in poverty through this pre-conference training. Gain a realistic sense of what it would be like to struggle from month to month and learn how the simulation can raise awareness and sensitivity in your community or organization.
Maximum number of participants: 85
The Tools of the Trade: How to Find or Create the Evaluation Tools You Need
(CYFERnet Evaluation 2)
1 - 4 p.m.
Dan A. McDonald, Donna J. Peterson, and Tamara Jones, University of Arizona
Description: In evaluation, selecting the best tools for the job is often the biggest hurdle. This pre-conference will introduce strategies to locate and critique evaluation instruments on CYFERnet and elsewhere. We'll also explore exciting technologies for creating and distributing surveys on the web. Please join us and find out what the right tool can do for your program!
Maximum number of participants: 50
Using Technology To Bring The Space Program To Your Youth Program
(CYFERnet Technology Computer Lab 3)
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Bill Pabst, Missouri 4-H
Tony Cook, Alabama 4-H
Kathleen Frank, Challenger Learning Center
Features hands-on aerospace activities and resources for local youth programs including computer software, web games, rocket equipment, and the innovative E-Mission program. E-Missions are a series of hands-on science activities. The capstone activity is a simulated space mission. Through video and Internet connections to "Mission Control", the youth work as a team to help NASA rescue astronauts.
Maximum number of participants: 50
