Georgia 4-H Newswire
November / December 2005, Edition
Online news from Georgia 4-H
Georgia 4-H is the youth program of the
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service,
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
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IN THIS ISSUE
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UPCOMING 4-H EVENTS
4-H HIGHLIGHTS
MARKETING TIP
ON THE ISSUES
NEWS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
IDEAS AND INSPIRATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA 4-H STAFF
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UPCOMING 4-H EVENTS
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November
November 25 - 29 - National 4-H Congress - Atlanta
December
December 3 - Northeast Cloverleaf DPA - Rock Eagle
December 3-4 - State Junior 4-H Conference - Rock Eagle
December 3 - SEC Championship Game - Atlanta
December 10 -11 - State 4-H Fall Forum - Rock Eagle
December 10 - State 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Jamboree Contest - Rock Eagle
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4-H HIGHLIGHTS
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NATIONAL AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC CADET HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Three Decatur County 4-H'ers were recently recognized nationally through JROTC for helping a
family in Miller County cleanup after a devastating tornado in April. They spent their entire spring
break cleaning up and helping the Albritton family from Colquitt, GA. 4-H'er and Cadet, Chris
Good was the leader of the project. Also honored were 4-H members Richard Cook and Julie
Good.
They are the first cadets in the history of the Bainbridge High School to receive this honor.
Congratulations!
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NATIONAL WILDLIFE JUDGING WINNERS
Congratulations to Crawford County for taking first place in the National Wildlife Judging
Contest! This is a great way to cap off all of their hard work and dedication this past year! The
contest was held recently in Arkansas and the team consisted of Byron Collins, Sammy Hodges,
Anna Collins and Andrew Davidson. Coaches were David and Sandra Williams and Ed
Tomberlin. CONGRATULATIONS!
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NATIONAL POULTRY JUDGING WINNERS
The Tift County Poultry Judging Team recently won first place in the National Poultry Judging
Contest. Proud team members are: Laura Leidner, Samantha Tankersley, Sally Smith, and Austin
Suggs. Laura was also the Overall High Individual at the contest. Team coaches were Brian
Tankersley, George Lee and Andrea Milton. CONGRATULATIONS!
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KEEP GEORGIA BEAUTIFUL STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Phillip Nowicki, a Georgia 4-H'er from Heard County was recently named the "Keep Georgia
Beautiful" Student of the year. The Student of the Year Award honors a student who has
demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication in raising awareness about solid waste
issues, litter prevention, and/or the need for their peers to participate in activities that preserve
and enhance natural resources and public lands. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation
provides a $1,000 award to the recipient. Phillip also recently received Honorable Mention in the
National Young Eco Hero Award competition. Congratulations, Phillip!
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EGG PREPARATION DEMONSTRATION CONTEST
The State 4-H Egg Preparation Contest was held recently. Kasey Bozeman from Pike County
was the winner in the Senior Division and represented Georgia 4-H at the National Contest next
month. Second place honors went to Ashley Nicole Hampton of Wheeler County and third went to
Leah Lawson of Dade County.
Congratulations to all these 4-H'ers and their counties!
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CHICKEN BARBECUE
The State Chicken Barbecue Contest was held recently. Top honors were won by Christine
Odom of Oconee County. Christine represented Georgia 4-H in the National Contest in Louisville,
Kentucky in November. Congratulations to Christine and her coach / Dad, Keith Odom! Second
place honors were won by Dale Bernard II of Tattnall County and thirda place honors went to
Cam Yearty of Bleckley County. Way to go!
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YOUNG ARCHER WINS NATIONAL CONTEST
Samantha Pruitte of Columbia County recently won the 60th annual National Field Archery
Association's Outdoor National Championship. Samantha won the Youth Female Freestyle class
by 56 points and set a national record. Earlier this year, Samantha won the National Archery
Association's Indoor Nationals and the Internationsl Field Archery Association's World indoor
Championship. Samantha is a ninth-grade student at Harlem High School and competes with the
Columbia County 4-H Archery Team. Her parents, Michelle and Jimmy Pruitte, coach the 4-H
team. AWESOME, Samantha!
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4-H USA WEB CREW MEMBER
Pulaski County 4-H'er, Alan Moore, has been selected as a member of the 4-H USA Web Crew.
Alan has been a member of the Georgia 4-H Youth Technology Leadership Team for two years
and has also served as a 4-H USA State Representative. CONGRATULATIONS, Alan!
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4-H MARKETING TIP
Prepare 4-H Holiday greetings for all club sponsors, school principals and community leaders.
Have 4-H'ers hand-deliver them and wish them a happy holiday season.
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ON THE ISSUES
Healthy Lifestyles Plan
The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) recently released Georgia 's Nutrition and
Physical Activity Plan, Take Charge of Your Health , Georgia ! (TCYHG!), to prevent obesity and
other related chronic diseases. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension , College of
Family and Consumer Sciences is a contributing partner as a member of the statewide TCYHG
Task Force. Several of our FACS Agents, along with myself, have participated, as either a
member of the Task Force Steering Committee or on one of the Task Force Work Groups, to
assist in the development of the state plan. The strategic plan focuses on improving nutrition and
physical activity to prevent obesity and other related chronic diseases. FACS Extension is also an
active partner in the state plan to implement the strategic plan though local programming in the
community. To see the TCYHG state plan (full plan and executive summary), please visit the
Georgia Division of Public Health website, http://health.state.ga.us. Or, for the full plan visit
http://health.state.ga.us/pdfs/familyhealth/nutrition/NutritionandPhysicalActivityPlanFINAL.pdf
.Executive Summary
http://health.state.ga.us/pdfs/familyhealth/nutrition/TCYHG%20_ExecSum%20pages.pdf
Healthy Lifestyles Update
The USDA recently released the MyPyramid for Kids . This version of MyPyramid is for children 6
to 11 years old. It helps kids make smart eating choices , including the recommended 3 servings
of dairy daily, and smart physical activity choices.
Financial Literacy Contest
Why not compete in the LIFESMARTS contest this year? It's fun and it's free! LifeSmarts is a
national event, styled as a college-bowl competition testing consumer and financial management
knowledge for high school students. Georgia teams can compete ONLINE from now until
February 24. To sign up and get started, visit: www.lifesmarts.org . Let's send a Georgia 4-H
team to the National Contest!
Financial Literacy Game
The Lemonade Stand Game- This game is a lesson on entrepreneurship. As a team of business
owners your group is to make as much money for the lemonade stand as possible. You will play
for 6 days and record your progress on the daily business stat sheet. Good Luck. To play this
game go to www.coolmath.com and click on The Lemonade Stand
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NEWS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
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4-H DAY AT UGA BASKETBALL GAME
Save the date! The 4-H Day at UGA Basketball Game is set for Saturday, January 21 - 7:00 PM Georgia vs Ole Miss.. Tickets will be $7.00 each. T-shirts and Chick-Fil-A® meals will be
available for the event. Pre-ordered Meals will be available at Hoke Smith Annex one hour prior to
the game. Questions? Contact the volunteer event coordinator - Bill Edwards - at
waepat4@yahoo.com .
For more details visit: http://www.georgia4h.org/staffonly/edops/4hdayuga/default.htm
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4-H NIGHT AT UGA GYMNASTICS MEET
Hold this date and start planning now for 4-H Night at the UGA Gymnastics Meet on Sunday,
February 12 - 2: 30 PM - Georgia vs. Oklahoma. Tickets will cost $7.00 each. T-shirts and Pizza
meals will be available for the event. Pre-ordered Meals will be available at Hoke Smith Annex
one hour prior to the game. possible! Questions? Contact the volunteer event coordinator - Bill
Edwards - at waepat4@yahoo.com . For more details visit:
http://www.georgia4h.org/staffonly/edops/4hdayuga/default.htm
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4-H EVENT WITH THE ATLANTA HAWKS AND ATLANTA THRASHERS
4-H events with the Atlanta Hawsk and the Atlanta Thrashers have been scheduled as follows:
Friday January 13, 2006; Atlanta Thrashers vs. St. Louis Blues (Ice Hockey);7:00 PM at Philips
Arena in Atlanta. Seats are $15.00 each. Sunday, March 19, 2006; Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando
Magic (Basketball); 2:00 PM at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Seats are $15.00 each. Questions?
Contact Bill Edwards at waepat4@yahoo.com . For More detailson the Hawks game visit:
http://www.georgia4h.org/staffonly/edops/4hdayhawks/hawksthrashersinfo.doc . For more
information on the Thrashers game visit:
http://www.georgia4h.org/staffonly/edops/4hdaythrashers/hawksthrashersinfo.doc .
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4-H DAY AT UGA FOOTBALL GAME SET
Save the Date! The next 4-H Day at Georgia Football will be September 16, 2006 . The ticket
price should be the same as this year. Please feel free to share this with everyone! More details
will be posted on the website soon.
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4-H PROGRAMS OF DISTINCTION
It is important to share 4-H programs that are truly making a difference in the lives of youth and
adults working with those youth. We learn from others, but others can learn from us as well. The
National 4-H Council has a website that provides all information concerning general guidelines
and the application process. The website may be found at
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm . Please give serious consideration to
submitting your program or programs for inclusion. Programs of Distinction is a collection of
program descriptions that reflect the high quality of 4-H youth development programs that are
occurring in communities across the United States. It is supported by the 4-H system partners
and coordinated through National 4-H Headquarters and the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Acceptance to the Programs of Distinction is a
requirement to apply for the Family Strengthening Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Annie
E. Casey Foundation through National 4-H Council, reward innovative, exemplary and effective 4H youth development programs that improve outcomes for rural, disadvantaged families.
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NEED-A-COMPUTER DEADLINE NEAR
Once again, the Georgia 4-H Youth Technology Leadership Team will be giving away computers
to needy 4-H'ers for Christmas. Applications, information, and promotional materials are available
at: http://www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/techteam/Need-A-Computer/default.htm . The
Application deadline is December 1, 2005 . The project is partially sponsored by StorageMart of
Athens. Again this year, we have included a check-list on the application to help 4-H'ers insure
that their application is complete. We are still working on refurbishing computers, so we don't
have an exact number that we will give away at this time. It will be at least 10 however. Get your
applications in today!
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NEW DPA MUFFIN RECIPE
The new Cran-Orange Muffin recipe is now posted on the Georgia 4-H website at:
http://www.georgia4h.org/public/more/facsprojectsissues/ . It is also posted at:
http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/efnep/recipes.php.
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MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOUNG PEOPE "DO SOMETHING" ABOUT SMOKING
DoSomething.org has created a program to help young people lead the fight against secondhand
smoke and cigarette use. The materials for Second Hand This! along with other engaging
activities are available on the DoSomething.org Web site. DoSomething.org inspires, supports,
and celebrates young people changing their world.
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CHRISTOPER COLUMBUS AWARDS PROGRAM
The Christopher Columbus Awards program is a cutting-edge, national competition that combines
science and technology with community problem-solving in a real-world setting. With the help of
an adult coach, middle school students (grades 6th-8th) work in teams of three or four to identify
an issue they care about and use science and technology to develop an innovative solution. They
work with experts, conduct research and put their ideas to the test, just like adult scientists. This
is science and community involvement at its best, with real rewards.Every team that enters
receives certificates of participation and judges' comments on their entry. 30 Semifinalist teams
receive a competition T-shirt and a certificate of participation for every team member along with
judges' comments. 8 Finalist teams and their coaches will receive and all-expense-paid trip to
Walt Disney World® to attend National Championship Week, plus a $200 grant to further develop
their ideas.
Two Teams will receive a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a plaque for each team member along
with a plaque for their school. One team will receive the $25,000 grant as seed money to help
bring its idea to life in the community. The grant winners will receive guidance from the
Christopher Columbus Awards staff and continued support from their coach and community
leaders to show what middle school kids can do! Participating in this awards program is a crosscurricular activity that meets science standards. And best of all, it's FREE to all U.S. students and
can be used in any setting — public or private schools, home schools and youth organizations.
For more details visit : http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/
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RAISING GUIDE DOG PUPPIES
Do you have 4-H'ers who might be interested in raising Guide Dog Puppies? Visit their web site
at www.guidedog.org . Also contact Field Representative, Deana Izzo at buttondog3@netzero.net
“Puppy Walkers" receive a pup at about seven weeks of age and care for it until it is 11-16
months old. Puppies are specially bred Labrador and Golden Retrievers. Why not give this project
a try?
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EDUCATION RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Education GO Get It offers scholarship opportunities, career options, and other resources to help
all students reach their potential through education.
http://www.gafcp.org/emag/resources112105.htm#0
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SUITCASES FOR KIDS
This organization donates suitcases to foster children who move from home to home and usually
carry their belongings in plastic garbage bags. They seek donations of suitcases, but will also
accept large duffel bags and backpacks. http://www.suitcasesforkids.org/
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GEORGIA YOUTH BIRDING COMPETITION FOR GRADES 3-12 ~ Register A Team Now
Plans are underway for Georgia's first youth birding competition! The competition will take place
on April 23, 2006 and is open to 3rd – 12th grade Georgia students. Consider sponsoring a team
and working with Partners in Flight to start preparing students for this event now.
http://eeingeorgia.org/net/content/item.aspx?s=34782.0.68.4863
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RIVER OF WORDS K-12 ART AND POETRY CONTEST ~ Enter by Feb. 15
River of Words is an international environmental poetry and art project designed to nurture
respect and understanding of the natural world. Students learn their "ecological address" by
honing their observation skills and describing through poetry and art, their "place in space." A
Georgia teacher's guide is also available. State winners are recognized at an awards ceremony
coordinated by the Georgia Center for the Book and Georgia Project WET (Water Education for
Teachers). Eight students are chosen as National Grand Prize Winners and receive a trip to
Washington, DC. The contest is open to youth ages 5-19. U.S. entries must be postmarked by
February 15, 2006. For more details visit: http://www.riverofwords.org/ . To receive a FREE
Teacher's Guide, send your name, organization, complete mailing address, phone number, fax,
and e-mail to Petey Giroux at: Petey_Giroux@dnr.state.ga.us
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THE 2005 GREAT AMERICAN BAKE SALE TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER IN AMERICA
In 2003 and 2004, 1 million people baked, bought, or sold cookies, cakes, and brownies, raising
$2.7 million to help feed the nation's hungriest children. This year's Great American Bake Sale
kicked off on October 16 , 2005 with an article in Parade Magazine and runs through January 29,
2006, but you can still hold a Bake Sale and donate outside of program dates. To register, get
more information, and tips on holding a bake sale, please visit the official site at
http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org
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NATIONAL & GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY
Save the date! National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006 , the largest service event
in the world, mobilizes youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through
service, supports youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement, and educates the
public about the role of youth as leaders and assets. National & Global Youth Service Day
Planning Tool Kits, Service-Learning Curriculum Guides, classroom posters, grants, and more
are available for youth, parents, teachers, and organizations. http://www.YSA.org/nysd
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HELP SANTA FIND THE PERFECT REAL CHRISTMAS TREE
The National Christmas Tree Association is holding its second annual scholarship competition,
"Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree." Participants will submit essays describing
why their tree is the perfect real Christmas tree for Santa. There are four age groups: 6-9; 10-12;
13-16; 16-18. Each participant must submit a photo along with an essay of 300 words or less. In
each age group a winner will be chosen and given a $5,000 college scholarship. Of the winners
from the four age groups, one grand prize winner will be chosen for an additional prize of $5,000
scholarship money. Details can be found at: www.realchristmastrees.org . (There is no gender,
religious, military, location or GPA requirement.) Deadline for entry is December 31, 2005. (
Clover Corner News)
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GEORGIA 4-H FOUNDATION - EBAY PROJECT MISSION FISH
The Georgia 4-H Foundation is now a member of eBay's Project Mission Fish! EBay, the “World's
Online Marketplace,” offers a wide variety of items for sale, and now the profit on those items can
benefit non-profit organizations such as The Georgia 4-H Foundation. But, the best part is that
everyone can participate! Selling items on eBay to benefit 4-H is a simple and easy process:
Register an account with eBay: http://www.ebay.ca/
Put an item up for sale and select that the profit will benefit The Georgia 4-H Foundation. (post
digital photos, these are a great tool to showcase the item)
After the item is sold, the proceeds will be sent to the 4-H Foundation
This project will be a great way for 4-H members, County Extension Offices, and 4-H Alumni to
sell any appropriate item that could be returned for profit. Remember, one person's trash is
another person's treasure! If you have any questions or want to post an item on eBay to benefit
the Georgia 4-H Foundation please contact Mary Ann Parsons.
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ATHENA MEDIA LAUNCHES 'GET WITH IT'
A parents' guide to new media: understanding and sharing the new media technologies with your
children. URL: http://www.athenamedia.ie/get_with_It.pdf . Referred by: Young People's Media
Network
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ESSAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GEORGIA 4-H'ERS
Tthere are still many other opportunities for Georgia 4-H’ers to write essays and several contests
that Georgia 4-H’ers can compete in. Please publicize these excellent opportunities to your
4-H’ers! If your 4-H’ers choose to enter any of these contests, please submit their names to
Cheryl Varnadoe at the State 4-H Office. A State award card or certificate will be sent to you to
present to them for participating. We hope that many 4-H’ers will choose to take advantage of
these excellent opportunities! Check out the contests at:
http://www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/essaycontest/2005/EssayOpportunitiesForGeorgia4ers.pd
f
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GOOD KNIGHT FOUNDATION OFFERS FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The Good Knight Child Empowerment Network is offering a variety of educational resources for
parents and teachers to keep children safe. The ABCs of Safety video teaches the 10 deceptions
criminals use to lure victims into dangerous situations. The E-rated (for Everyone) film walks the
viewer through the 10 basic deceptions that individuals use to abduct and victimize kids. The
mentoring kit also includes an audio tape, activity book, curriculum guide and presenter's script to
help implement this life saving program. http://www.goodknight.org/Prepurchase.htm
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DIGITAL MEDIA EDUCATION HANDBOOK
The National PTA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Girl Scouts of the USA have aligned to
launch a technology and digital media education program for families nationwide. The new
program--the Digital Living Project--includes an introductory, downloadable handbook about the
importance of digital safety and ethics for children. The guide includes topics for family discussion
about various technologies used by kids, and how to create a plan to protect and keep children
safe from inappropriate online material. According to the guide, the time kids spend on video
games and computers has doubled since 1999, and 9 out of 10 children ages 8-16 have viewed
pornography on the Internet. Also, according to the Girl Scout Research Institute, 30% of girls
ages 13-18 report having been sexually harassed in a chat room.
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GARDEN CLUB OF GEORGIA EE CONTESTS FOR PRESCHOOL – GRADE 12 ~ Apply by
Dec. 1
The Garden Club of Georgia promotes youth environmental education by sponsoring contests for
all ages. Check out the poster, poetry, essay, and speech contests below. Deadline for all entries
is December 1, 2005.
>Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest
(The 2005 theme is "Help Us Stop the Invaders." Open to 1st - 5th graders.)
>Junior Gardeners Poster Contest
(The 2005 theme is "Create a Beautiful Tapestry." Open to Preschoolers and K-6th Graders.)
>"Create a Beautiful Tapestry" Poetry Contest (Open to K-9th Graders.)
>"Embrace the Earth, Our Garden" Essay Contest (Open to 9th-12th Graders.)
>"A Patriotic Garden" High School Speech Contest (Open to 9th-12th Graders.)
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GEORGIA KEY AWARD
As you are planning for your 4-H awards program this fall, don't forget about the Georgia Key
Award! Applications can be found at:
http://www.georgia4h.org/staffonly/more/leadership/keyaward/default.htm .
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YOUTH NUTRITION & FITNESS GRANT PROGRAM
General Mills Foundation Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness grant program to encourage
communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young
people, ages 2-20. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and agencies working with
communities that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of sustainable impact on young
people’s nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs. Maximum Award: $10,000.
Eligibility: community-based groups. Deadline: February 1, 2006.
http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx
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NICKELODEON ANNOUNCES GIVEAWAY PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY PLAY
Children's television network Nickelodeon will distribute more than $1 million from September
2005 to June 2006. The "Let's Just Play" Giveaway offers kids around the United States the
opportunity to take action and enter for a chance to improve their school or community program's
fitness resources. Maximum Award: $5000. Eligibility: Kids (6-15 years of age), partnering with
teachers and other community-based leaders. Deadline: rolling, until May 31, 2006.
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/
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CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION
Captain Planet Foundation awards encourage children, worldwide to solve environmental
problems in their communities. Awards are between $250 and $2,500 for schools and nonprofit
organizations that develop innovative environmental projects for youth that promote cooperation,
planning, and problem-solving skills. Deadline: December 31 http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/
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YOUTH VENTURE Youth Venture provides seed money grants of up to $1,000 for new youthcreated, youth-led, sustainable ventures that benefit the community. Youth ages 12-20 who want
to start a new ongoing environmental club or organization can get guidance on how to plan,
organize, and launch their venture, along with funds for start-up expenses.
http://www.youthventure.org/ Deadline: December 31
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ACTION FOR NATURE YOUNG ECO-HERO AWARDS Action for Nature (AFN) is seeking
applications from students 8-16 for its 2006 Young Eco-Hero Awards program. The Young EcoHero Awards Program recognizes the individual accomplishments of young people who have
carried out environmental action projects. Projects must concern environmental advocacy &
health, protection, or research. Winners will receive a cash award. Deadline: February 28, 2006
http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/
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IN GOOD HANDS / ONLINE SAFETY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
The Allstate Foundation supports youth safety programs including fire safety, gang and
delinquency prevention, drunken driving prevention, auto passenger safety and child safety
advocacy. The grants are from $1,000 and up with no specific deadline. For more information,
visit http://www.allstate.com/foundation/funding.html .
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FREE FOOD FOR THOUGHT TOOL KIT
The Action Coalition for Media Education continues its 2005-2006 "Monthly Media Education"
resource offerings with their "ACME Food For Thought Tool Kit," a FREE downloadable resource
detailing a wide variety of ways health, language arts, history, civics, social studies and
journalism educators can use media education to focus on a host of food-related matters:
obesity, nutrition, health, corporate power, agriculture - of vital importance to all of the globe's
citizens today. http://www.acmecoalition.org
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ADVICE ABOUT COLLEGE FROM FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS
How do students put college within their reach, if their families have not gone before them? How
do they defy stereotypes and low expectations about their future? How do they advocate for
themselves academically, find the information they need, keep their emotional and social
balance? This first-person advice book written by Kathleen Cushman emerged from intensive
interviews with diverse college students around the country who were the first in their families to
successfully go on to college. The book -- free copies of which can be downloaded or obtained by
following the link below -- intertwines straightforward suggestions about finding help and
information with descriptions of the mosaic of struggle, aspiration, and fierce determination it
takes to succeed. The students profiled ended up at institutions ranging from community colleges
to elite universities, but they met the same obstacles along the way: stereotypes and low
expectations, limited information and opportunities, and the social and emotional trials of breaking
new ground. In this book, they confront those challenges squarely and transform them into wellorganized counsel and point-by-point checklists tailored for students without privilege.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/NGP/firstinthefamily.html
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USER FRIENDLY TOOL KITS
Two user-friendly tool kits help community organizations work with young people and conduct
successful evaluations of community-change work. Developed by the Innovation Center for
Community and Youth Development, the tool kits are REFLECT AND IMPROVE: A TOOL KIT
FOR ENGAGING YOUTH AND ADULTS AS PARTNERS IN PROGRAM EVALUATION and
LEARNING AND LEADING: A TOOL KIT FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ACTIVISM.
They build on the Innovation Center's experience working with local groups to involve youth, build
community and strengthen organizations. For more information and to view excerpts, visit the
Innovation Center's website at www.theinnovationcenter.org
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SMASHED: TOXIC TALES OF TEENS AND ALCOHOL - A TOOLKIT
To fight underage drinking and impaired driving, student groups and others created this
educational toolkit for use in your community. Its centerpiece is a hard-hitting HBO documentary
called “Smashed: Toxic Tales of Teens and Alcohol.” Call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol
and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686 and request DVD190 or VHS198. There is no cost for
the kit -- even shipping is free!http://www.saddonline.com/campaign/smashed.htm
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GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE
What's the best way to burn calories, beat stress and add variety to your exercise routine? Try
winterizing your workout by using the holidays to branch out and try new cold weather sports, or
simply turning time-of-year activities like snow-shoveling or tree-trimming into opportunities to get
a rosy glow. Did you know, for example, that the average person engaged in the following
activities for one hour can burn:
Winter walking -- 270 calories
Downhill skiing -- 400 calories
Cross country skiing -- 612 calories
Snow shoveling -- 405 calories
Holiday dancing -- 600 calories
Building a snowman -- 250 calories
For more activities and an individualized calorie expenditure calculator click here.
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FREE ENVIRONMENTAL JEOPARDY GAME FOR K-8 EDUCATORS
Earth Day Network (EDN) has created the first two in a series of three interactive games on
environmental issues. Designed like the game show, each edition of Environmental Jeopardy
focuses on a specific environmental theme with in-depth answers and supplementary lesson
plans. Both available editions (Sustainability and Organic Food) can now be downloaded for free
by registering on the Teachers Corner of the EDN website, www.earthday.net . In addition, all
new members will receive a hard copy of the original edition along with the official game board
while supplies last. You'll also be able to download future editions of Environmental Jeopardy to
use with the same game board.
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REAL GAME
Real Game is a role play and simulation game over the course of several weeks, about 22-25
hours, that has kids take on a new character and go through the process of independent living,
going to post secondary training or college or not, getting a job, losing a job, changing careers,
etc. Its awesome and kids love it. It's flexible so that you can intersperse parts of the game with
other lessons. www.realgame.org
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HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL MENTORING PROGRAM
MENTOR has just released a comprehensive tool kit that offers step-by-step instructions that
programs can follow to implement key four components of effective mentoring practice: Program
Design and Planning; Program Management; Program Operations; and Program Evaluation. It
also contains a CD with more than 160 tools and templates that mentoring programs can
customize to suit their individual program needs. Programs can use these checklists to see how
well they are progressing in implementing the components. Organizations can download the tool
kit for free at: http://www.mentoring.org/program_staff/eeptoolkit/index.php
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DIGITAL LIVING PROJECT
A new resource can help parents and youth workers keep kids safe in cyberspace. The National
PTA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Girls Scouts of the USA have published the "Digital
Living Project," featuring specific recommendations for protecting youth online. The free
handbook is available at http://www.digitallivingproject.com/pdf/DLP_Handbook.pdf .
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CALLING ALL HEROES
Do you know a hero? If you do, consider nominating your hero for the Volvo for Life Awards, the
nation's largest annual search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with more than $1 million
in financial contributions. Now in its fourth year, the Volvo for life Awards honors individuals
making outstanding contributions in the area of safety, environment or quality of life. Think you
know someone who fits this description? If so, go to www.volvoforlifeawards.com to nominate a
hero. Nominations are due January 15, 2006. Volvo will select 100 semi-finalists in March, who
will receive a Certificate of Merit to honor their accomplishments. From those 100 semi-finalists,
Volvo will select the top three finalists in three categories: safety, quality of life and environment.
From these finalists, celebrity judges –– including Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy,
Maya Lin and Paul Newman –– will name one winner for each of the three categories. Winners
will each receive $50,000 to be donated to the charities of their choice. The remaining six finalists
will each receive a $25,000 charitable donation. The three category winners will be flown to New
York to be honored at the Volvo for life Awards Ceremony, where an overall winner will be
unveiled and presented with a Volvo car for life. To learn more and to nominate a hero, visit
www.volvoforlifeawards.com . (Clover Corner News)
~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
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SEARCH INSTITUE"S 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS, THE ASSETS LIST
Whether you're familiar with these resources or not, they're good to keep in mind if you're
involved in youth and/or child development programs. And, the Search Institute published a
couple new lists last year: The 40 Developmental Assets for adolescents. The two newest asset
lists: 40 Developmental Assets for early childhood (ages 0-5); 40 Developmental Assets for
middle childhood (grades 4-6). The original lists of age-specific assets: 40 Developmental Assets
for infants; 40 Developmental Assets for toddlers; 40 Developmental Assets for preschoolers; 40
Developmental Assets for elementary-age children. Elementos fundamentales del desarrollo :
The 40 assets for adolescents in Spanish. http://www.search-institute.org/downloads/#40assets
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WILL DRINKING MORE WATER IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING?
One unusual theory of school improvement holds that schools hinder learning because they
frequently lack natural light and sufficient access to water. One Baltimore principal has installed
numerous water coolers in his middle school classrooms, although he now is struggling to pay for
them. According to Laurence Martel, "One of the liabilities the modern child is facing is chronic
dehydration." And contributing to the problem, he said, are sugary breakfasts, fluorescent lighting
and sodas filled with sugar and caffeine. He said a school in Idaho that put water in classrooms
saw a substantial reduction in special education referrals.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/balar.watercure16oct16,1,3343810.story?track=rss
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KIDS WITH A HOME COMPUTER ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE
Access to a home computer increases the likelihood that children will graduate from high school,
but blacks and Latinos are much less likely to have a computer at home than are whites,
according to a new study that also found the digital divide is even more pronounced among
children than adults. The findings document the persistence of the digital divide and the impact on
educational outcomes, even when factors like income and parental education are taken into
consideration. "We are clearly not all a 'nation online'," said researcher Robert Fairlie. "Twenty
million children in the United States, or 26 percent of children, have no computer access at home,
and race is a key part of who's online and who isn't."
http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/press_releases/text.asp?pid=767
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DO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED THE SUPPORT OF THEIR PARENTS TO ACHIEVE? To
the 3,883 Lexington, KY Public School teens polled by the Youth News Team -- an intrepid group
of local students and parents seeking to amplify the voices of young people in education policy
discussions -- the answer is obvious: 69 percent of them said they believe that most high school
students do not need their parents to help them do well in school. But although it may not be
readily apparent to the students themselves, a large body of evidence suggests that parent
involvement can improve high school achievement and behavior and directly influence a student’s
grades. So what’s to explain this disconnect between high school students’ perceptions and the
research? Consider some survey highlights: 69% of students with a grade point average (GPA) of
3.5 or higher (equivalent to a B-plus) report having parents who regularly help them select
classes; Students with GPAs of at least 3.5 are nearly twice as likely to report having parents who
sometimes or frequently attend school events as students with GPAs below 2.0 (equivalent to a
C); and 61% of students with GPAs over 3.5 report sitting down with their families three or more
times per week for dinner. The sense that there is an important, though difficult-to-define place for
parents in high schools was underscored poignantly by the comment that students want parents
to be involved, not too involved. One senior offered encouraging advice for parents navigating
their relationships with adolescents, "Be a little nosey...Don't feel bad for asking questions,
because it feels good to know someone cares. http://www.youthnewsteam.com/
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JUST SEND A CARD
A study commissioned by Stored Value Systems Inc.,® reveals that 93 percent of American highschoolers have received at least one gift card in the last year. When these teens get a gift card,
59 percent of them use it up in the first month, in the first visit. When it comes to giving gifts, a
majority of teens spend up to 10 percent of their disposable income on presents and, most of the
time, those presents come in the form of a gift card. 67 percent of teens have purchased a gift
card as a present, and a majority of these respondents saw gift cards as the best choice for a gift.
77 percent said this is because they know the recipient can get what he or she wants. Birthdays
are the most popular gift-giving occasion and $25 is the most desirable value. When shopping for
gift cards, 50 percent of teens say that appearance and having a choice of card designs was
important in their decision. Music and apparel gift cards are the most popular retail categories
when it comes to teens' gift card purchases (65 percent), followed by electronics, books,
restaurants, video rentals and movie theatres. Source: Youth Learn
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BIG SPENDERS
Teens helped cash registers sing for retailers this past holiday season. According to the new
“Money Matters Holiday Survey” conducted before the holidays by the Boys & Girls Clubs of
America®, 21 percent of teens surveyed said they planned to spend more than $100 on holiday
gifts this year. Where do teens get this money? The largest percentage of respondents (31
percent) said they planned to use their allowance to purchase this year's holiday gifts, while 24
percent said they would use money earned from part-time jobs. The survey results also reveal
that teens are sure to plan ahead to save enough money to purchase holiday gifts. 32 percent of
teens surveyed said they began saving money for gifts one to three months in advance of the
holiday season. When teens are on the receiving end of holiday presents, money and portable
electronics such as cell phones topped their lists. (Source: Youth Learn)
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PEW INTERNET REPORT ON TEENS CREATING AND CONSUMING ONLINE
57% of Teen Internet Users Create, Remix or Share Content Online; Half of Online Teens
Download Music, One in Three Download Video; One in Five Have a Blog; One in Five Remix
Others' Digital Material into Their Own Creations... American teenagers today are utilizing the
interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. Fully
half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators.
They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos
online or remixed online content into their own new creations.
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/166/report_display.asp . Referred by: Pew Internet & American
Life Project List
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BULLYING
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, bullying is the most common form
of violence in our society. In a national survey of students in grades six through ten in 2001, 13%
reported bullying others, 11% reported being a victim of bullies, and another 6% said that they
both bullied others and were bullied themselves. These numbers mean that over five million
children are affected by bullying.
CYBERBULLYING
Today, young people are using the Internet more than ever, particularly at home. For these
children, the Internet isn't just a convenient way to do research or have fun after school--it is a big
part of their social life. Unfortunately, bullies have come online too. Cyberbullies use new
technology to bully through e-mail, instant messages, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying
include sending someone mean or threatening e-mails, excluding someone from an instant
messenger buddy list, tricking someone into revealing embarrassing information and sending it to
others, and creating websites to make fun of a classmate or to rate them as ugliest or least
popular. Cyberbullying can appear more threatening to victims because it occurs in a child's
home, it can be harsher and far reaching, it's anonymous, and it may seem inescapable. To help
kids deal with this new danger, the National Crime Prevention Council has introduced the online
game, Shrink the Cyberbully . As part of the game, players respond to instant messages from a
bully--correct answers shrink the bully, and incorrect answers make her grow. At the end, players
receive tips on dealing with online bullies.
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POVERTY RATE
The poverty rate for children younger than 18 in the United States is on the rise, jumping from
16.1% in 2000 to 17.8% in 2004, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data .
The U.S. Census Bureau released the data and other national poverty statistics last month,
showing poverty rose in nearly every category in the United States between 2000 and 2004: from
9.6% in 2000 to 11% for families in 2004; 7.5% to 8.6% for white, non-Hispanics; 22.1% to 24.7%
for blacks; and 21.2% to 21.9% for Hispanics. Meanwhile, the poverty rate decreased for Asian
Americans, from 10.7% to 9.8%, and for Americans 65 and older, from 10.2% to 9.8%.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BREAKFAST CEREAL HELPS FORM HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS
A recent study found eating cereal at breakfast may help teenage girls form healthy eating
patterns. The researchers found that, as the girls moved through their teen years, their cereal
consumption predicted a lower BMI regardless of their age. Another study found adult breakfast
eaters had a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity and their total diets were richer in fiber
but lower in fat. The authors noted calcium's role in weight control and that people who eat
breakfast cereal tend to consume more calcium-rich milk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARE FAMILIES EATING TOGETHER? NEW RESEARCH FINDS AGE, ETHNICITY, NATIVITY<
AND POVERTY RELATED TO FAMILY DINING
Research has found that that, like other forms of parental involvement, there is a link between
frequent family dinners and positive teen outcomes. Teens who regularly eat meals with their
family are less likely to get into fights, think about suicide, smoke, drink, use drugs, and are likely
to initiate sexual activity later and have better academic performance than teens who do not. Are
families gathering for meals together? According to a new Child Trends DataBank indicator,
Family Meals, trends show that in 2003, 42 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 ate a meal as a
family six to seven days a week. Twenty-seven (27) percent ate a meal as a family four to five
days a week and 31 percent ate meals as a family zero to three days a week. The numbers are
higher for children ages 6 to 11. Among this age group, 56 percent ate a meal as a family six to
seven days a week, 25 percent ate a meal as a family 4 to 5 days a week, and 20 percent ate a
meal as a family zero to three days a week.
http://www.childtrends.org/_mediarelease_page.cfm?LID=A2C11095-006E-45B197C9A5020F50DF41
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREEZE FRAME: A SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA'S TEENS
Produced in conjunction with Child Trends, Freeze Frame presents data on a wide variety of
topics, from teens' sexual behavior to their religious beliefs. The data are grouped into seven
areas of influence---health, family, peers and partners, school, community, media and consumer
behavior, and religious and spiritual beliefs. We hope the 112-page chart book will help correct
many common misconceptions about teens as well as provide adults and those working directly
with teens with a more textured understanding of teens. For the complete report click here .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW CROSSCURRENTS DATE BRIEF: PROGRESS ON TEEN CRASH DEATHS STALLS:
REMINAD NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENS
How often do you read a newspaper headline about another fatality due to teenage driving? Do
the facts really substantiate what is often described as an epidemic? In fact, data released by
Child Trends reveal that teen traffic death rates have declined by over a third since 1980.
However, progress has stalled in recent years and may have started to reverse. In addition, motor
vehicle crash deaths continue to be the leading cause of death among teens ages 16 to 19.
According to the latest statistics cited in the most recent Child Trends DataBank CrossCurrents
Data Brief , in 2002:
--Deaths declined from 42 per 100,000 in 1980 to 25 per 100,000 in 1999 before edging up to 28
per 100,000 in 2002.
--Motor vehicle crashes account for 40 percent of all deaths to teens ages 16 to 19, with more
than 5,000 youth losing their lives in 2002.
Information on teens and driving can be found on the Child Trends DataBank .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEALPAY MONTORS WHAT KIDS BUY FOR LUNCH
The MealPay system, which lets parents create an electronic account for their children's lunch
money, also tracks what items students have bought in the cafeteria. Health experts encourage
parents to use the purchase-history feature to discuss healthy eating habits with their kids.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2005-10-03-mealpay-schools_x.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXPERTS: TOO MUCH HEADPHONE USE HURTS HEARING
Researchers say prolonged use of headphones is causing young people to lose their ability to
hear higher frequencies, since their ears don't get the breaks needed to recover from the
constant noise. Boston Children's Hospital experts say it's safe to listen to a portable music player
with headphones at 60% of maximum volume for one hour a day.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-09-12-hearing-loss_x.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATHWAYS TO THE NEW FUTURE
It is estimated that 3.8 million youth -- roughly 15 percent of all young adults between the ages of
18 and 24 -- are neither employed nor in school. Youth service programs that empower kids to
work addressing needs in their communities have been shown to impart learning, job skills and a
sense of connection among young people. In addition to examining successful efforts, this report
on several corps in the National Association of Service and Conservatino Corps also outlines
lessons learned and provides specific recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and
funders to strengthen efforts that serve young people and communities alike.
http://www.pathwaystocollege.net/newsletter/Aug05
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HOT TOYS NOW INCLUDE TECH GEAR
For the first time ever, iPods have landed on the National Retail Federation's annual top 10 toy
list, which this year also includes video games, the soon-to-be released Xbox 360 gaming
console and traditional items like Barbie and Legos. Analysts say as younger and younger kids
embrace interactive play things and knockoffs of adult tech gear, the line between what's a toy
and what isn't is blurring. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111602233_pf.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TECH TOOLS LETS PARENTS KEEP TABS ON KIDS
From cell phones that transmit location data to devices that monitor kids' driving habits, parents
are turning to high-tech tools to help them monitor their child's behavior and whereabouts.
Experts counsel it's important parents strike the right balance between knowing what their child is
doing and giving teenagers the independence they need.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/09/05/more_parents_going_high_tech
_to_track_kids/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BETTER HEALTH THROUGH...VIDEO GAMES?
Lest you think we're no fun, here's some good news about technology's impact on kids. While
traditional video games are among the culprits behind an increasingly inactive lifestyle for
children, a new type of video game is actually helping kids become more physically active. These
"exergames" require kids to move around to win. Get Up and Move, an organization of scientists,
medical professionals, and artists, has the low-down on games that help kids get down – and
dance, run, skip, or maneuver their way into more active lifestyles. (Connect for Kids)
http://www.getupandmove.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT WE CAN'T TELL YOU
Some three dozen teens from around the country speak out about their lives, and what troubles
and cheers them about their relationships with parents, guardians, mentors and other key adults.
Connect for Kids Editor Susan Phillips says their distinctive voices are what makes this book from
What Kids Can Do worth reading. http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3521
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT'S UP WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS?
Forget "senior slack"—more than two-thirds of students who were high school seniors in 2004
expected to complete a bachelor's degree, and 35 percent planned to get a graduate or
professional degree, according to the National Center for Education Statistics' "Profile of the
American High School Senior in 2004: A First Look." The bad news is that despite their aims,
almost two-thirds had not mastered intermediate math skills, and nearly one-third were incapable
of basic problem solving. http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006348
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"STIR IT UP" TO REMOVE JUNK FOOD FROM SCHOOLS
To reach the goal of healthier, more active children—and lower rates of disease associated with
overweight and obesity—Parents' Action for Children (formerly the I Am Your Child Foundation)
has launched this campaign to involve parents, teachers, and school administrators to get soda,
candy and other unhealthy foods out of schools, and get physical activity back in.
http://www.stiritupamerica.com /
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OATMEAL BEATS CAP'N CRUNCH AT BOOSTING BRAIN SKILLS
A Tufts University study in this month's issue of Physiology and Behavior found children who ate
oatmeal for breakfast tended to have better spatial memory, listening skills and short-term
memory than did children who ate Cap'n Crunch cereal. And both groups fared better on tests
than did peers who skipped the morning meal altogether. Researchers believe oatmeal's blend of
protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates may serve as a slower, more sustained energy source
than low-fiber, high-sugar ready-to-eat cereal.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901415.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEENS GET BOOZE FROM PARENTS, NO NEED FOR FAKE ID'S
Across the nation, legislatures and law enforcement agencies have been increasingly willing to
hold adults responsible for underage drinking and the problems such drinking creates. Now a new
survey of teens and parents underscores the difficulties they face. In the study, underage drinkers
said they found it easy to obtain alcohol from an adult, particularly at parties. More than onefourth of the teens said they had attended a party where kids consumed alcohol with parents
present. And almost one-third of the teens said it was easy to get alcohol from their parents with
their parents' knowledge. Far fewer teens reported getting alcohol using riskier methods, such as
trying to buy it themselves or using a fake ID. Teen girls were found to be more effective than
teen boys at obtaining alcohol, possibly because girls often date or socialize with older males who
have access to alcohol. The results confirm how easy it is for teens to obtain alcohol from adults,
either with their permission or surreptitiously. Many of the adults displayed a nonchalant attitude
about teen drinking, reports Shari Roan. About one-fourth of the parents polled in the study said
they have allowed their teens to drink alcohol in the last six months.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-drinking8aug08,0,2657312.story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE REVEAL AMERICAN DREAM GAP
America's Promise recently undertook a nationwide survey of America's young people, ages 10
through 17. With the help of one of the nation's leading research firms specializing in children, we
sought insights directly from young people about their needs and their dreams - insights that will
be valuable in helping Americans set priorities for meeting the needs of children and youth.
Overall, many of America's young people are doing well. They believe in the American Dream.
They want for themselves the things adults want for them: to be healthy, productive citizens who
give back to society. But there is a big gap between this dream and the expectations of too many
of our young people. More than 40% say they doubt whether they can realize the American
Dream for themselves. These findings cut across lines of race, geography and economic status.
Even those young people who seem to be doing well are asking for help in specific areas.
http://www.americaspromise.org/media/speakout.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEARLY 60% OF COUNTIES REPORT METH AS LARGEST DRUG PROBLEM
Two new surveys have been released by the National Association of Counties on, The Criminal
Effect of Meth on Communities," and "The Impact of Meth on Children." The report can be
downloaded from NACo's website,
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Publications&template=/
ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=16935
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AMERICA’S CHILDREN: KEY NATIONAL INDICATORS OF WELL-BEING 2005
A new report presents a comprehensive look at critical areas of child well-being, including
statistical indicators of trends in education, health status, behavior and social environment, and
economic security. The composite picture presented by the report notes recent improvements in
child well-being as well as continuing challenges. Among the educational data in the report
provided by the National Center for Education Statistics are the fact that 4th- and 8th-graders are
scoring better in mathematics and that reading scores of 12th-graders have declined slightly. In
addition, the adolescent birth rate has reached a record low, the death rate for children between
ages 1 and 4 is the lowest ever, and young children are more likely to receive their recommended
immunizations. At the same time, children are also more likely to live in poverty and infants are
more likely to be of low birthweight. This year’s report includes special features on lead in the
blood of children, asthma, parental reports of emotional and behavioral difficulties and a special
section on family structure and children’s well-being. http://childstats.gov/americaschildren
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEENS SPURN E-MAIL FOR MESSAGING
US teenagers prefer instant messaging rather than e-mail to stay in touch with each other,
research shows. A Pew Internet and American Life Project study found online teens are
increasingly tech-savvy. Nearly nine out of 10 teenagers say they use the net, up from 74 percent
in 2000, according to the Pew study. While e-mail is seen as a tool for communicating with adults,
instant messaging was proving the most popular way to chat with friends.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4719083.stm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STUDY: SLEEP LINKED TO SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
In a Brown Medical College study of sleep deprivation, teachers reported that children aged 6 to
12 who had eight hours or less of rest a night forgot more, had more problems learning new
material and found it harder to pay attention than did peers who got adequate sleep. Experts say
young elementary-aged students need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night, while teenagers need 8.5
hours. http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/11/11/sleepy.students.ap/index.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEX ON TV: MORE SEX, LESS SAFETY SINCE 1998
About 70 percent of all network television shows contain some sexual content, showing an
average of five sexual scenes per hour, and the number of scenes containing such content has
increased 96 percent since 1998. The rate of references to safer sex issues is down slightly from
2002, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Connect for Kids)
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/7398.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMMIGRANT PARENTS: WORKING HARD BUT EARNING LITTLE
While nearly 4 million immigrant families in the United States are low income, virtually all of them
have working parents, and 72 percent have a parent who works full-time, year round. A new
National Center for Children in Poverty series shows these children have scant access to
important government supports. When these families do have the same access to benefits as
their non-foreign-born counterparts, they are more likely to be stable and
secure.http://www.nccp.org/
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HIGH DROPOUT RATE SEEN FOR FOREIGN-BORN TEENAGERS IN THE U.S.
Foreign-born youths who were already behind in school before arriving in the United States make
up a large proportion of the nation's teenage high school dropouts, according to a study by the
Pew Hispanic Center. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/11/01/10report_web7.h25.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IDEAS AND INSPIRATIONS
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WEB SITES TO CHECK OUT:
Online dictionary helps define good research
With more than 100 million visitors to its site since 2003, TheFreeDictionary.com has developed a
reputation as a multifaceted, virtual research hub for students and teachers. Not only can visitors
use this free web site to look up words--it features more than 1 million entries for words in general
use--but they also can access a virtual encyclopedia, thesaurus, and reference guide, among
other tools. Students and teachers can use the site's flagship interactive dictionary feature to look
up definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples from classic literature, as well as
audio/phonetic pronunciation guides and word etymologies. The site also includes repositories for
more obscure terms, including those specific to the medical, legal, and computer professions, as
well as thousands of photos and diagrams. All information is either assembled by the site's
editorial staff or obtained from other recognized, premier reference sources, developers said.
"Most dictionary sites just 'dump' information onto a page. We decided to make our web site not
only the most comprehensive, but also the most organized and intuitive of all the dictionary sites,"
said Nick Simonov, president of Farlex Inc., the parent company of TheFreeDictionary.com. The
idea, according to Simonov, is to provide every student and teacher who visits the site with "an
array of information that paints a rich, complete picture of the entry in question."
http://thefreedictionary.com
Helping Hands Project
A new website is helping children connect with peers around the world who are less fortunate.
Project Concern International, a nonprofit health and development organization, has partnered
with ePALS Classroom Exchange to create the Helping Hands project . By becoming a member
of Helping Hands, children under 18 can start a virtual group, with an adult, comprising friends
and family. They receive monitored e-mail accounts to participate in worldwide discussion forums,
learning projects, and pen pal programs with kids in 191 countries. Participants can choose from
among four projects to support: KidSAFE , which helps get children off the streets of Zambia and
India; Brighter Futures , which ensures nutritious breakfasts and more for needy students in
Nicaragua; Gifts of Life , which provides life-saving vaccination campaigns against deadly
diseases; and After the Tsunami: Rebuilding Lives and Communities , a program helping
survivors of the deadly Asian tsunami. All postings to Helping Hands discussion forums are
accessible to members only and are monitored by Project Concern and ePALS staff.
Packetville
Visit 'Packetville' to foster an appreciation for science and technology . Cisco Systems has
unveiled an online village for students ages 8 to 14, called Packetville, that uses interactive video
games and other activities to encourage students' interest in math, science, and information
technology (IT). The site's interactive games demonstrate some of the many ways that
technology serves useful functions worldwide, while preparing students for higher education and
careers in IT. Helping to navigate users through Packetville are Peter and Penny Packet,
animated characters who take on the role of heroes to help clean the environment, spread
education, and promote good health, among other activities. Packetville also includes resources
for parents and educators, including teaching aids and lesson plans that are mapped to
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. "This is a great opportunity
for younger students to get involved in technology early," said Gene Longo, senior manager of
the U.S. Cisco Networking Academy Program. "[Through] fun activities, friendly characters, and
games, students are given the opportunity to develop a positive perspective toward math,
science, and IT. In addition, students gain a broader outlook on technology-related careers, while
developing important life skills that will support them regardless of which education or career path
they eventually choose to pursue."
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/packetville/index.html
New weather game from Cable in the Classroom
"Cable in the Classroom has just launched a free online weather simulation/ game entitled
'WINDWARD: Outsmart the Weather in a Race around the World'. WINDWARD was created in
cooperation with Discovery Education, The Weather Channel and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration to target middle school science students, as well as for adults and children
to play together, at school, at home, or in other learning environments." URL:
http://www.ciconline.org/windward
Stop Bullying Now
Take a stand. Lend a hand. Stop bullying now!" SBN (a production of the U.S. Health Resources
and Services Administration) is a great educational website because of the twelve animated
webisodes. "Watch how bullying affects different characters, and how they learn to deal with it.
Maybe they can help you too!" Other goodies are eleven interactive games, and a handful of
downloadable PDF guides for teachers, parents and organizations wanting to mount a local antibullying campaign.http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/
The Fun Works
The Career Resources Network project is pleased to announce the launch of "The FunWorks" - a
career exploration digital library for middle school youth (ages 11-14 yrs). Designed to capture
imaginations and direct youth toward careers in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM), the FunWorks is part of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National
Science Digital Library - the Nation's premiere online resource for STEM education and research.
The Funworks has been funded by NSF and developed by the Gender, Diversities & Technology
Institute at Education Development Center, Inc., in collaboration with a youth design team. It
places particular emphasis on engaging youth from populations currently underrepresented in
STEM. To ensure that the site 'speaks' to a youth audience, middle school students have been
involved in every aspect of the project - initial conceptualization, design and site development,
content selection and pilot testing. Over 300 young people have participated in the design and
launch of this one-of-a-kind collection. Please visit our site at: http://www.thefunworks.org.
Fit Source
The HHS Child Care Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of Fit Source --an interactive
Web site for child care and afterschool providers looking for resources to help address the
nation's childhood obesity epidemic. The site allows providers to easily search for a variety of
physical activity and nutrition resources by age, topic, and keywords. Providers will find: games
and activities, lesson plans, healthy recipes, information for parents, fitness campaigns, funding
strategies, informational resources, and Spanish language Web sites. The site links to existing
federal resources, and was developed after receiving input from over 100 child care providers
about their needs. Fit Source is found on the National Child Care Information Center 's Web site
at http://nccic.org/fitsource .
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY:
"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by
pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life."
-Greg Anderson
"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes,
and having fun."
-Mary Lou Cook
"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."
-Og Mandino
"Believing in yourself, is an endless destination. Believing you have failed, is the end of your
journey."
-Sarah Meredith
"The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will
build your life by, and this you will become."
- James Lane Allen
"There's lots of opportunities out there in life, but if you never put yourself out on a limb and take
chances you'll never dare to be great at anything."Brian Griese
"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and
every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal."
- Elbert Hubbard
People don't win because they're physically stronger. It's because they're stronger between the
ears."
--Alexandra Shaffer
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Written by Cheryl R. Varnadoe
Extension 4-H Specialist
Marketing and Public Relations and Recruitment
with contributions from the Georgia 4-H Staff
cv4h@uga.edu
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life
skills.
University of Georgia 4-H Staff
Roger C. (Bo)Ryles, State 4-H Leader / Unit Head, boryles@uga.edu
Arch Smith, Associate State 4-H Leader, asmith@uga.edu
Kim Anderson, Fanning Leadership and Georgia 4-H, kanderson@fanning.uga.edu
Jeff Buckley, 4-H Educational Program Specialist, jbuckley@uga.edu
Brittany Ivey, 4-H Program Assistant, britni@uga.edu
Tino Johnson, 4-H Program Assistant, tno@uga.edu
Jenny Jordan, Extension 4-H Specialist, jwj4h@uga.edu
Lauren Ledbetter, Program Coordinator, lauren1@uga.edu
Mandy Marable, Extension 4-H Specialist, mmarable@uga.edu
Mary Ann Parsons, Development Coordinator, Georgia 4-H Foundation, parsonsm@uga.edu
Heather Shultz, 4-H Educational Program Specialist, hkalino@uga.edu
Erik Thompson, Extension 4-H Specialist, erikt@uga.edu
Cheryl Varnadoe, Extension 4-H Specialist, cv4h@uga.edu
Steve Walker, 4-H Technology Specialist, stevew@uga.edu
Marilyn Poole, Northeast District 4-H PDC, marpoole@uga.edu
Lori Purcell, Northwest District 4-H PDC, lpurcell@uga.edu
Teresa Harvey, Southeast District 4-H PDC, tharvey@uga.edu
Laura Perry Johnson, Southwest District 4-H PDC, lpj4h@uga.edu
CONTACT GEORGIA 4-H AT 706-542-4H4H or www.georgia4h.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State College, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
counties of the state cooperating.The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational
programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin,
age, sex, or disability.An equal opportunity / affirmative action organization committed to a
diverse workforce.