tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47125951922560119002024-03-13T03:20:15.220-07:00Giving Youth the Edge They Need to Succeed - THE ASSET EDGEBased on research in the Developmental Assets, we empower youth and adults to live authentic lives of character, service and leadership. We hope our ideas will inspire and equip you to nurture the youth around you. And we hope you will share your best practices with us! You can find out more about our workshops, books, and consulting at www.TheAssetEdge.net.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comBlogger375125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-71269689544414171642012-01-06T08:43:00.000-08:002012-01-06T08:43:48.716-08:00We've Moved!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are still blogging - actually more than ever! But we've moved to a new address. Visit us at </span><a href="http://theassetedge.net/blog/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://theassetedge.net/blog/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can also see our workshops, resources and educational articles at www.TheAssetEdge.net.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And twitter with us @TheAssetEdge</span> </div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-12062157446674543072010-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-21T09:00:01.893-07:00Fusion Arts & Service Camp - Journals for Girls in the Hospital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEIL6qPhd0I/AAAAAAAABSA/AmzimhspF1c/s1600/journals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEIL6qPhd0I/AAAAAAAABSA/AmzimhspF1c/s320/journals.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On day three of the Fusion Arts & Service Camp we visited the Ronald McDonald House, where we learned about this wonderful home-away-from-home for families with critically ill children in the hospital. After touring the facility, we started decorating our handmade journals for teen girls in the hospital. We used spray glue and glue sticks to cover a composition book with decorative scrapbook paper. Then the girls wrote encouraging quotes on random pages throughout the journal. Some girls added embellishments – a butterfly, a pinwheel, or a heart on the cover or throughout the book. The final step was modge-podging the covers, then we presented our gifts to the volunteer coordinator. We loved this project!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEIKkYf81yI/AAAAAAAABRw/M16aYkU19XE/s1600/making+journals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEIKkYf81yI/AAAAAAAABRw/M16aYkU19XE/s320/making+journals.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEILFPI87II/AAAAAAAABR4/74UEGkOTaBs/s1600/making+journals2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEILFPI87II/AAAAAAAABR4/74UEGkOTaBs/s320/making+journals2.JPG" /></a></div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-72396376600379987872010-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-20T09:00:04.173-07:00Fusion Arts & Service Camp - Recycled Paper Bracelets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEDCc7i3wyI/AAAAAAAABRo/EUBSON3Tiq8/s1600/bead+bracelets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEDCc7i3wyI/AAAAAAAABRo/EUBSON3Tiq8/s320/bead+bracelets.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After touring <a href="http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/home.php">Ten Thousand Villages</a>, and hearing stories about the wonderful recycled products made by women & children around the world, the Fusion Camp Volunteers set off to make our own recycled jewelry. These are <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-RECYCLED-PAPER-BEAD-Bracelet/">recycled paper bracelets</a>. You cut strips from old magazines, cover one side with modge podge, and roll them up around a coffee stirring stick. The girls were proud of their creations, and each left with plans to give their bracelet to someone as a gesture of encouragement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We used these activities to talk about cultural competence, as well as equality and social justice - 2 of the <a href="http://www.search-institute.org/content/what-are-developmental-assets">40 Developmental Assets</a>.</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-71418883433299019872010-07-19T13:05:00.000-07:002010-07-19T13:05:00.197-07:00Letter to Nashville Youth Workers - Mayor Dean's Quest to help Nashville be a Great City for Young PeopleDear Colleagues,<br />
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As you likely know by now, Mayor Dean appointed a Task Force five months ago to study, to strategize, and to develop a visionary and guiding document to help Nashville be a great city for young people; a safe, supportive, inclusive, engaging, and healthy city for young people.<br />
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<div> </div>On July 28 at 10am at the Youth Opportunity Center, MayTask Force will formally present this plan to the Mayor. <br />
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<div> </div>I am asking if you will join in supporting these efforts, but more importantly, if you can help us rally some young people to demonstrate their support for this work. While the specifics of the plan will not be launched until that day, I have put a brief description below if you would like to share it with your youth to explain the nature of the process and the event. Young people have been involved in every phase of this work, from the Mayor's Youth Council and the youth summit, to youth-led focus groups, to a youth-led survey of over 1200 students, to youth members of the task force and even a youth chair of the task force. Youth also submitted artwork, poetry, and even an original song! The commitment to youth has been practiced in the process.<br />
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<div> </div>This is not "just another task force." This is a huge step forward for our city in our coordination, commitment to and investment in youth, and it is a step that is already drawing national attention for both its scope and specificity. Please help us support these effort and celebrate on July 28. <br />
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<div> </div>I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you will be attending and if you will be bringing young people. <br />
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<div> </div>Thanks so much!<br />
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<div> </div>Description:<br />
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<div> </div>About 5 months ago, Mayor Karl Dean organized a Task Force of more than 50 Nashville leaders from all sectors of the community to come together and help develop a Child and Youth Master Plan. The purpose of such a plan is to set a vision and organize and prioritize strategies for the city to ensure that its young people grow up healthy, safe, educated and prepared for life. <br />
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<div> </div>The Task Force is divided into four committees whose focus is described briefly below and spans a variety of ages: 0-5, 6-10, 11-13, 14-18, and 19-21 years old. <br />
<ul><li>Education Lifecycle: What supports and opportunities do we need to focus on in terms of education in the life of a child/young person from 0 to 21 years of age? What is in place and working? What do we need to improve? What does success look like for a young person in regard to education?</li>
<li>Health and Safety: What does it mean for our young people to be healthy? What does safety mean in regard to our young people? What are we doing that is working? What are the biggest health and safety concerns for children/youth? What do we need to improve on? What does success look like?</li>
<li>Out of School Time: What opportunities do our young people have for out of school time activities? What does this look like across different ages? What opportunities do we want for our young people? What are we already doing well? What do we need to improve on?</li>
<li>Youth Mobility and Stability: What are the key issues in regard to child/youth and family mobility and stability? What sorts of things cause instability (housing, jobs, etc.)? What can we improve to create more stability? How can we ensure access to positive mobility (like transportation)? </li>
</ul><br />
<div> </div>Anderson Williams<br />
Director of Consulting<br />
Oasis Center<br />
615.983.6858Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-43659264613184274752010-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-19T09:00:03.980-07:00Fusion Arts & Service Camp - Murals<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEC_Q1Hw8lI/AAAAAAAABRg/SToEUfCdKJ8/s1600/murals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C56z5TZbI20/TEC_Q1Hw8lI/AAAAAAAABRg/SToEUfCdKJ8/s320/murals.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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We led an awesome camp for middle school girls last week as part of the <a href="https://www.harpethhall.org/podium/default.aspx?t=36644&rid=848&rc=1">Harpeth Hall School Summer Program</a>. Each day we went to a different place to volunteer utilizing the girl's passion for arts & crafts.<br />
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Here's a picture of some of the murals we painted for the <a href="http://www.ymcamidtn.org/outreach">YMCA's preschool camp</a>. 100+ children speaking 8+ languages will be coming to the YMCA to learn reading skills and get ready for school.<br />
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Corey Burton, a very artistic Y staff person, drew the images, and the girls painted the silhouette posters. We were thrilled with the way the 11 posters turned out!<br />
The activity led to conversations about the assets of creative activities and support.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-29513159222164070032010-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-16T09:00:04.588-07:00Youth as Leaders<em>There is virtually no limit to what young people can do, no social need they cannot at least do something about. With a broad enough perspective, it’s hard to think of a positive social role teenagers have not at some time filled: from leading crusades, commanding armies, advising kings – being kings – to making scientific discoveries, composing symphonies, and exposing injustices. What youth can do is limited more by social and political convention than by capacity, energy or willingness.</em><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">– Dan Conrad and Diane Hedlin</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-29434159400755677752010-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-15T09:00:01.667-07:00The Rebelution Do Hard Things TourThis powerful conference is coming to major cities across the USA over the next few months. Each conference is a challenging one-day event for teens by teens who believe that our generation is ready for a change. I hope you'll consider sending your teens to this event - I believe it will be a life-changing experience. I think it's $30 to attend the full day event. Click <a href="http://www.therebelution.com/conference/">here</a> to find out more.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-90168751185743396912010-07-14T10:22:00.000-07:002010-07-14T10:22:00.664-07:00Kids and Screen TimeJolene at Parent Further just posted an interesting <a href="http://www.parentfurther.com/blog/screen-time">conversation starter about Kids and Screen time</a> - tv, movies, video games... With the prevalence of media in homes, schools and afterschool centers, it's an important conversation to have!Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-25839473369274678562010-07-12T08:47:00.000-07:002010-07-12T08:47:00.323-07:00Summer Reading - Favorites from 2nd GradeMy son's 2nd grade class compiled a list of their favorite books read during the year. Their compiliation makes a great list for summer reading!<br />
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Judy Moody*<br />
Robert Munsch*<br />
Miss Nelson<br />
Ready Freddy<br />
Eric Carle<br />
Nate the Great<br />
Hardy Boys<br />
39 Clues<br />
The seeks*<br />
Very Hungry Caterpillar<br />
Diary of A Wimpy Kid*<br />
Funny Lunch*<br />
Rainbow Magic: Shannon the Ocean Fairy*<br />
Pet Fairies*<br />
Jewel Fairies*<br />
Horribly Harry<br />
Tinkerbell*<br />
American Girl<br />
Sophie the Awesome*<br />
Berenstain Bears<br />
Babysitter's Club*<br />
Magic Treehouse<br />
Junie B Jones*<br />
Magic School Bus<br />
Nancy Drew<br />
Books about animals<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I put an asterik beside the books that we have not yet read, or don't totally love for this age group.</span><br />
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Happy Reading!Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-70753508131761628282010-07-09T07:29:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:29:00.056-07:00teens help disabled neighbors build gardensHere is a news story from the Chattanooga Y-CAP program's new service-learning program. They are one of our partners in a statewide service-learning training program for after-school organizations. It's exciting to see the impact they are making with multiple generations in their city!<br />
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<a href="http://www.wrcbtv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipId1=4841273&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=At-risk%20teens%20help%20disabled%20neighbors%20build%20gardens&d1=191166&redirUrl=&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv">At-risk teens help disabled neighbors build gardens</a> <br />
Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-39311783732213954532010-07-07T18:42:00.000-07:002010-07-07T18:42:00.640-07:00Creative Writing Story StartersIf you have children that need practice with creative writing, check out this <a href="http://schoolathome.blogspot.com/2010/05/creative-writing-story-starters.html">link</a> with pictures and captions to kick off a writing adventure. <br />
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Depending on the task, creative writing can build many assets, including Commitment to Learning, Boundaries & Expectations, Positive Values, and Social Competencies.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-80856462581270553082010-07-05T13:12:00.000-07:002010-07-05T13:12:00.560-07:00Sample Pages from "Building Character from the Start"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.bmiestore.com/estore/product/SIP9781574822694/files/covers/SIP/sip9781574822694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://www.bmiestore.com/estore/product/SIP9781574822694/files/covers/SIP/sip9781574822694.jpg" /></a>If you haven't seen our latest book, you can get a 13-page sneak peek <a href="http://www.bmiestore.com/estore/files/samples/BMI_estore/SIP/sip9781574822694s.pdf">here</a> at the BMI Educational Services website. You can also buy the book in <a href="http://www.bmiestore.com/estore/product/SIP9781574822694">e-book</a> format at their site, or you can go to your favorite online bookseller to purchase a paperback copy of the book/CD-rom.</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-56040738569213289982010-07-05T12:38:00.000-07:002010-07-05T12:38:00.050-07:00Great Project Ideas!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.dadcando.com/images/DCD-website-ADVERT-180x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://www.dadcando.com/images/DCD-website-ADVERT-180x350.jpg" width="164" /></a>I just found the coolest website called <a href="http://www.dadcando.com/default.asp">Dad Can Do</a>. Chris Barnardo's concept is to share projects that Dads can do with their kids, but these are great project ideas for after-school groups and summer camps too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He has ideas for making trains, drawing dragons, decorating boxes to be telephone booths, Batman's spotlight, a floating submarine, glue gun bugs, shadow box frames, and so many more cool things! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you like the site, check out his book too.</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-68753813026296226282010-07-02T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-02T09:00:03.066-07:00Nurturing Sparks - June Newsletter<a href="https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:18324.8404806629/rid:64c207bd77a11677e03cb00d75b4ac15">June's Asset Messenger</a> is now online. If you want to sign up for this free monthly newsletter, send your name, agency, and email address to ann@TheAssetEdge.net .<br />
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Happy Independence Weekend!<br />
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ann & susanAnn @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-60419760071321661942010-07-01T09:30:00.000-07:002010-07-01T09:30:00.352-07:00Preview of "Great Group Games for Kids"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://www.searchinstitutestore.org/v/vspfiles/photos/0786-W-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://www.searchinstitutestore.org/v/vspfiles/photos/0786-W-2T.jpg" /></a>Our next book should be released within a few days, and we're waiting with anticipation. We are excited to announce sneak peeks of the book at our publisher's website. You can see them <a href="http://www.search-institute.org/great-group-games-for-kids">here</a>. :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">150 fun-filled games - all connecting to real life lessons in making friendships, getting along with others, respect, and other social skills that children need to thrive in relationships.</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-90263547701377737372010-06-30T12:48:00.000-07:002010-06-30T12:48:00.455-07:00Kids Off the Couch - Creative Learning AdventuresThis <a href="http://www.kidsoffthecouch.com/archives/index.php?nLocationID=8">whimsical website </a>connects media (movies/books) with super cool educational adventures. For example, they watch <em>Charlie & the Chocolate Factory</em>, then go visit a chocolate store to sample/judge chocolate flavors. After watching <em>Bug's Life</em>, they went to visit an insect zoo. After watching <em>Field of Dreams</em>, attend a baseball game. Read/watch Chronicles of Narnia, then plant a tree together.<br />
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They have paired together some very fun activities with classic and new films and books. My media savvy husband is going to love these ideas!<br />
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Wouldn't this be a super cool way to celebrate a great week of learning? Fantastical Fridays could be afternoons of learning and adventure all over town. How fun!Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-64952691130532469292010-06-28T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-28T09:00:01.645-07:00Sneak Some Math into Summer VacationLooking for sneaky ways to weave math into your children's brains? Read these simple ideas from <a href="http://www.preteenagerstoday.com/articles/holiday-springsummer/sneak-some-math-into-summer-vacation-4885/">Preteenagers Today</a>. From money-making ventures to baseball stats to maps, these will get your child's math gears churning without realizing their doing math!Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-82642588230153929252010-06-25T05:50:00.000-07:002010-06-25T05:50:00.589-07:00The Earth Book<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://charactercounts.org/chron/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-04_Earth_Book_cover-291x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://charactercounts.org/chron/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-04_Earth_Book_cover-291x300.jpg" /></a></div>We haven't read this book yet, but I enjoyed reading Character Counts' review of the resource:<br />
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<em>The Earth Book by Todd Parr is a powerful tool for kids intent on “going green.” With its colorful array of primary pictures, this hardcover offers 10 suggestions, complemented by explanations to validate the tips, about how kids can help the earth. Read their full review </em><a href="http://charactercounts.org/chron/2010/05/18/the-earth-book-by-todd-parr/"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em><br />
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Responsibility is one of the 40 Assets, and environmental responsibility is a great way to start conversations with children.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-52240798062495794292010-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:58:27.528-07:00Disney Friends for Change Grants (Deadline: July 15)Disney's Friends for Change grants encourage kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. YSA will award 75 $500 grants to youth-led service initiatives around the world that demonstrate youth leadership and the commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. Eligible applicants will be asked to implement their projects between September and November and to connect their projects to International Coastal Cleanup Day, National Public Lands Day (both September 25), or other environmentally-focused days of service.. Disney Friends for Change Grants are open to schools, organizations, and individuals planning service projects. Applications submitted by younger children aged 5-14 are especially welcome. The goal of the grant is to inspire children to join their friends and families, schools, and communities to address critical environmental needs as "friends for change" at the local, national, and/or global levels. Grant applications are due Thursday, July 15, 2010. Learn more at: <a href="http://www.ysa.org/grants/announcements/friendsforchange2010">www.ysa.org/grants/announcements/friendsforchange2010</a><br />
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Thanks to the Portage County Alliance for Youth for sharing this announcement!Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-81196287472578336112010-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-21T09:00:00.430-07:00Tips to Help Your Child Avoid Summer Brain DrainThis article from <a href="http://www.childrentoday.com/articles/your-children/summer-brain-drain-4945/">Children Today</a> shares creative ideas for integrating academic skills into summer life - at the pool, on vacation, in the kitchen, playing games...Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-30586093464500396492010-06-18T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-18T09:00:02.032-07:00Exploring Space without Leaving Home<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://quest.nasa.gov/images0605/quest_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://quest.nasa.gov/images0605/quest_logo.gif" /></a>If you know kids that are fascinated with space, go explore <a href="http://quest.nasa.gov/">NASA's interactive website</a> with games, worksheets, and lesson plans - all free!</div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-26139114702959655552010-06-17T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-17T09:00:02.018-07:00Great Group Games for Kids - Review from the Godfather of Games<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NtQ4v1iNL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NtQ4v1iNL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a>We just heard some great news about our book that will be released later this month - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574822845/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&cloe_id=3e6b9726-73f9-419d-b43f-f409e6b6c352&attrMsgId=LPWidget-A2&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1574821962&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BZDB7E3EYEMCV76A0BE">Great Group Games for Kids</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.karlrohnke.com/">Karl Rohnke</a> is the author of Silver Bullets and 14 other books relateed to adventure education. He is the man we revere as the 'Godfather of Games', and he just gave our new book a glowing review:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><em>Ragsdale and Saylor have done it again . . .and just in time. As children today tend to drift father from humanistic play, the experiential, hands-on content of Great Group Games for Kids entices them back from the brink of button pushing isolation. Purposeful play once again trumps electronic recreation; well done ladies.</em>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-30459728325288510692010-06-16T12:30:00.000-07:002010-06-16T12:30:00.211-07:00Kids Zoom Into Action Helping Others<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">PBS has a great website called <a href="http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/action/ways.html">Zoom</a> that helps kids find meaningful ways that they can help others. They have a good variety of categories where kids can find volunteer projects to help animals, the environment, kids, people with disabilities, people who are sick... It's very creative and kid-friendly - I can't wait to show it to my son!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/action/images/hych_hdr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="85" src="http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/action/images/hych_hdr.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-17263363953362773502010-06-15T09:30:00.000-07:002010-06-15T09:30:01.105-07:00If you are a child or youth in Nashville, we need your help and your vision!The Mayor’s Office and the Task Force of the Child and Youth Master Plan are seeking the input and<br />
creative vision of Nashville’s children and youth to help Nashville become the best city in the United States<br />
for children and youth.<br />
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We are seeking all forms of creative writing, essays, poetry, and two-dimensional artwork (drawing, painting,<br />
photography, etc.) to help answer the following question:<br />
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If Nashville were the perfect place for you to grow up, what would it look like?<br />
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As you consider your answer, think about what kinds of opportunities you might have, what kind of people<br />
would be around you, what kind of support you would have, what role you would play in the community and<br />
anything else that would be part of your ideal Nashville.<br />
<br />
Think BIG and DREAM BIG and share your vision for Nashville with us!<br />
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Submissions will be included in the Mayor’s Child and Youth Master Plan.<br />
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Guidelines*<br />
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Writing: all essays, poetry or other creative writing must be limited to a maximum of 500 words.<br />
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Artwork: all artwork should be two-dimensional and must be original. This can include original painting, drawing, photography,<br />
digital images etc.<br />
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SUBMISSION: Please email all writing and digital artwork or photography submissions to Anderson Williams at <a href="mailto:awilliams@oasiscenter.org">awilliams@oasiscenter.org</a>. Writing and artwork can also be dropped off at the Youth Opportunity Center at 1704 Charlotte Ave, Suite 200 with attention to Anderson Williams. If you have questions, email Anderson or call him at 983-6858.<br />
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***ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, YOUR AGE, YOUR EMAIL AND/OR PHONE NUMBER***<br />
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DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2010<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Anderson Williams for sharing this post!</span>Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712595192256011900.post-71391645682296513022010-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:00:04.587-07:00Reading Helps Plug the Summer Brain DrainSummer brain drain. It's what happens during the long, hot summer months when kids who are out of school, forget a lot of what they learned in class.<br />
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What's a parent to do? Experts agree: Reading helps to plug that summer brain drain. And parents – who serve as role models for lots of different behaviors – can help their kids develop a love for reading, as well.<br />
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Read the rest of this article from <em>Connect with Kids</em> <a href="http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2010/490_may19/thisweek/100519_plug.shtml">here</a>.Ann @TheAssetEdgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00198438219767685976noreply@blogger.com