2013 USA Canada Lions
Leadership Forum
Michelle M. Anderson
Educational Program Specialist
Lions Quest
Introductions
Why Lions Quest?
It is easier to build strong children than to repair
broken men. —Frederick Douglass
Seminar Goals
• Learn about Lions Quest program and how it is
implemented
• Learn how Lions fit in.
• Know how to combat misconceptions.
• Share experiences/best practices.
• Discuss opportunities for Lions to become
involved.
• Build relationships with one another.
• Leave feeling informed, reenergized, and
committed
Common Misconceptions and Half Truths about
Lions Quest by Lions
• “Lions go into schools to teach Lions Quest to children.”
• “Lions Quest sounds like something we should give to
our Leos to handle.”
• “LCIF handles getting Lions Quest into schools.”
• “The ultimate goal of Lions Quest is to get as many
workshops scheduled and teachers trained as possible.”
• If Lions Quest isn’t on my club’s list of initiatives to
support, I can’t support it alone.
Lions Quest Program
•
Life skills program of Lions Clubs International
Foundation (LCIF)
•
For students from kindergarten to grade 12
•
Classroom curriculum that may be integrated into
existing courses or taught on its own
•
Connects school, home and community
•
Adapted for culture concerns in each country
What is Lions Quest?
Lions Quest is a research-based, K-12 positive youth
development program.
• Responsible decision making
• Goal setting and accountability
• Positive relationships
• Effective communication
• Service learning
What is Social Emotional Learning?
A process through which young people and
adults develop the fundamental social and
emotional competencies of:
•
•
•
•
•
self-awareness
self-management
social awareness
relationship skills
responsible decision making
What We’ve Learned About SEL?
According to a 2011 CASEL meta-study:
• Students can be taught social & emotional skills.
• Social & emotional learning does not detract from
academics, it enhances them.
• It is possible to identify effective programs.
• Results were consistent regardless of gender,
race, geography or socioeconomics.
Lions Quest and Service Learning
“Teachers must help their students understand
our global interdependence, give them the
experience of community, encourage them to
develop basic social skills, provide them with
the opportunities to make contributiona
toothers, strengthen their group problemsolving and organizational skills, and
encourage them to explore the real political
world.”
-Sheldon Berman, Educational Leadership
Benefits of Lions Quest
Benefits to Youth
• Increasing academic achievement
• Building social and emotional skills
• Developing good character
• Learning to manage conflict constructively
• Learning to avoid harmful substance use
• Feeling valued as members of classroom
and community
• Understanding responsible decision
making
• Developing school-to-work competencies
• Experiencing service to others
12
Results with Lions Quest?
• 47% increase in problem solving skills
• 14% increase in grade point average
• 57% decline in student absences
• 20-37% decrease in bullying/mobbing
• 72% decline in out of school suspensions
• 100% increase in connectedness to school
Implementation
• Certified trainers conduct workshops
• Teachers, social workers, and community
members are trained
• Staff members receive curriculum materials
• Implementation is ongoing through the year
• New staff can be trained each year
Lions Quest Curricula
Skills for Growing (K-5)
 Grade specific curriculum
 Building community, valuing self and others,
building confidence, growing up drug-free
Skills for Adolescence (6-8)
 Three-year middle school curriculum
 Managing emotions, relationships, better
Communication and decision-making
Skills for Action (9-12)
 Four-year high school curriculum
 21st Century workforce skills
 Service-learning
How is Lions Quest implemented?
Implementation Cycle:
Training of
teachers and staff
Staff receives
materials
Progress is monitored
and tracked
Program is implemented
in schools & community
organizations
Where do Lions fit in?
Training of
teachers and staff
Staff receives
materials
Progress is monitored
and tracked
Program is implemented
in schools & community
organizations
Benefits to Lions
Lions are the Natural Partners of Lions Quest
• Lions Quest is a practical extension of the service ethic of Lionism
• Lions Quest is fully owned and managed by Lions
• Local Lion participation is critical to introducing the program to
schools and raising funds
• Educate the next generation about the value of service
and goals of Lionism
• Increase visibility of Lionism and youth programs
LCIF Support For Lions
Three different levels of grant funding
1. Promotional Grants ($1,000 US)
2. Community Partnership Grants ($10,000 US)
3. Core 4 Grants (up to $100,000 US)
Program Education Support
• Implementation and curriculum information
• Lions Quest videos and brochures
• LCIF staff support
LCIF Support For Lions
August, 2013 – LCIF approved 26 Lions Quest Grants
for a total of $1.4 million. The largest total amount ever
awarded for Lions Quest programs.
Two Lions Quest Core 4 grant awards went to programs
in the United States:
District 22-A, Maryland - $25,000
Districts 20-S and 20-K2, New York - $100,000
Resources for Lions
 How-To Guides
 Lions Quest Videos
 LCIF Lions Quest grant funds
 New Lions Toolkit
 Staff support
Lions Quest Toolkit
Toolkit to be organized into 3 parts:
ACTION
LEARN
Outreach
Learning/Discovering
Process details
Implementation
CONTINUED
ACTION
Ongoing
support
22
Promoting Success
What You Can Do
•
Contact LCIF and your District/MD Lions Quest Chair.
•
Encourage Lions in your district/club to learn more about Lions Quest.
•
Think about who you know and who you work with that can be connected to a
program like this.
•
Reach out to schools, organizations, after-school programs, businesses.
•
Volunteer at a future teacher training workshop or help organize one in your
community.
•
Reach out to teachers that have been trained to gather success stories from the
schools implementing the program. Publicize those stories.
•
Plan a recognition event for teachers, students, and Lions that are involved with
Lions Quest implementation.
•
Set a date for club members to visit the schools to do a joint service project.
•
Invite a teacher that received Lions Quest training to a club meeting to present
how it’s been going.
It Starts With One
• Get one club to sponsor one school
• Organize one workshop to train teachers
• Donate materials to one classroom
• Start one “Lions Quest Lions Club” with teachers and parents
• Conduct one Lions Quest awareness workshop
Voices from the field
Al Brandel
Past International President
Lions Quest Advisory Committee Member
Long Island Lions Quest Initiative
Voices from the field
1.
How did you initially get involved with Lions Quest?
2.
What has been the biggest SUCCESS with Lions Quest in your area.
3.
What has been the biggest CHALLENGE with Lions Quest in your
area and how did the Lions overcome it?
4.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to approach
schools/school districts?
Voices from the field
DeAnne Heersche
Past Council Chair
Lions Quest Multiple District Co-Chair
Lions Quest Affiliate Trainer
Lions Quest Kansas
Voices from the field
1.
How did you initially get involved with Lions Quest?
2.
What has been the biggest SUCCESS with Lions Quest in your area.
3.
What has been the biggest CHALLENGE with Lions Quest in your
area and how did the Lions overcome it?
4.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to approach
schools/school districts?
Voices from the field
Dick Bloomquist
Past District Governor
Lions Quest District 22-A Co-Chair
Baltimore Lions Quest Initiative
Voices from the field
1.
How did you initially get involved with Lions Quest?
2.
What has been the biggest SUCCESS with Lions Quest in your area.
3.
What has been the biggest CHALLENGE with Lions Quest in your
area and how did the Lions overcome it?
4.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to approach
schools/school districts?
Voices from the field
Michelle Anderson
Chicago Windy City Lions Club
Lions Quest Club Committee Member
Voices from the field
1.
How did you initially get involved with Lions Quest?
2.
What has been the biggest SUCCESS with Lions Quest in your area.
3.
What has been the biggest CHALLENGE with Lions Quest in your
area and how did the Lions overcome it?
4.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to approach
schools/school districts?
Common Misconceptions and Half Truths about
Lions Quest by Lions
1. “Lions go into schools to teach Lions Quest to
children.”
2. “Lions Quest sounds like something we should give to
our Leos to handle.”
3. “LCIF handles getting Lions Quest into schools.”
4. “The ultimate goal of Lions Quest is to get as many
workshops scheduled and teachers trained as
possible.”
5. If Lions Quest isn’t on my club’s list of initiatives to
support, I can’t support it alone.
Seminar Goals
• Learn about Lions Quest program and how it is
implemented
• Learn how Lions fit in.
• Know how to combat misconceptions.
• Share experiences/best practices.
• Discuss opportunities for Lions to become
involved.
• Build relationships with one another.
• Leave feeling informed, reenergized, and
committed
Are You Ready?
 If you believe that education is not just during the school hours…
 If you believe that education must involve the entire community…
 If you believe that children need new skills for a changing world…
 If you believe that Lions have a unique role to play in helping youth…
Then you can support Lions Quest!
Contact Us
LCIF/Lions Quest Department
Michelle M. Anderson, U.S. Programs (630) 468-6778
E-mail: Michelle.Anderson@lionsclubs.org
Matthew Kiefer, Lions Quest Program Manager
E-mail: Matthew.Kiefer@lionsclubs.org
To schedule a workshop or order materials in the
United States call: 1-800-446-2700
Lions Quest Web site: www.lions-quest.org
Joanne McQuiggan, Executive Director
Lions Quest Canada, The Center for Positive Youth Development:
Contact: joanne@lionsquest.ca, 800.265.2680 ext. 107
http://www.lionsquest.ca/