AFTERZONE   

Late Summer 2013  

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Funding Opportunities
(Updated!)
All OregonASK trainings are linked to the Oregon Registry!
Upcoming Trainings

We're filling out our training calendar again - check out what we've got planned!

Supervisor Academy
October 14, 2013 - November 29, 2013

Kick off webinar 10/14 @10am 
 This 20 hour professional development session  focuses on preparing new supervisors for understanding the role of a supervisor and how to effectively supervisor other staff. Participants will explore the role of the supervisor, examine behavior and coaching techniques, practice setting clear performance expectations, effective communication skills along with motivation and teamwork. 

 

Format: Online and Webinar   

Cost: $200 member

$250 non-member  

 

Register Now! 


Issues Briefs & Blogs


Topic: Afterschool Policy | by Erik Peterson | Date: Jul 12, 2013

 

Topic: Afterschool Policy | by Sarah Keller | Date: Jul 12, 2013

 

Winners of the Project:Connect Summer Youth Programming Competition announced!

  OAC Logo 2013
 2013: Health, Safety & Nutrition in Afterschool

November 8 & 9, 2013  

  

Chemeketa Community College

4000 Lancaster Dr. NE
Salem, Oregon 97309


Oregon Afterschool for Kids and 350 educators, afterschool and summer learning leaders are gathering to inspire, connect and learn from each other.

 

We Have a Brand New Format!

Friday, November 8th - 1:00pm - 5:00pm

This year we're kicking things off on Friday afternoon! Four incredible sessions will offer a deep dive into some of our most sought after topics - VIP reception to follow.

 
Increasing STEM Engagement for Girls: Strategies & Resources
Presented by: Nimisha Ghosh Roy, EdLab Group  

Who Wants to Give You Money?
Presented by: Susan Howlett , National Girls Collaborative

Bringing the OEIB Equity Lens into Practical Application
Helen Visarraga, Oregon Network for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness and Tammy Marino, Phoenix Solutions

Accommodations for Children and Youth with Autism & Behavior Support Techniques
Presented by Dr. Mary Shea, Kids Included Together

(click here to preview sessions!)

 

Saturday, November 9th - 8:30pm-4:30pm

The Saturday conference includes a wide range of break-out sessions/workshops with practical tools and best practices for afterschool and summer programming including:  
  • Curriculum ideas - health, safety and nutrition, positive behaviors in youth, parent engagement, homework help, STEM, college and career readiness, and other topics.

  • Leadership - building effective teams, promoting your program, innovative programming and leadership.
  • Sustainability - public and private funding for afterschool and summer programs. grant writing.
  • Evaluation & best practices - strategies to maximize quality and impact programs.  

(click here to preview sessions!)


Registration Now Open!
 

 
Help us get the word out! Email the above link or forward this newsletter to others you know who'd like to join afterschool program staff and directors from around the state to share best practices and innovations in afterschool and summer programming.
Do You Work in a Licensed Child Care Facility?

You may be eligible for a Betty Gray Early Childhood Development Endowment Fund to attend this year's Oregon Afterschool Conference!

Click here to find out more about the Oregon Statewide Scholarship Program and to see if you quality for this scholarship. 
Faces and Places: All Access Pass to Technology

By Mary Masla and Bethany Ard

 

When you think of the words "gamer" or "computer science," what sorts of images pop into your head? Chances are it is one of a few stereotypes, possibly someone who is out of touch and socially awkward, living in their own bespectacled, often alternate, reality. With the influx of new and creative ways of engaging youth in computer science, this image of the computer scientist or gamer, is poised to change, and recently, we spent time with two different summer programs invested in doing just that.

This month, OregonASK AmeriCorps VISTA Bethany Ard, and Field Correspondent Mary Masla, spent time in two different programs focused on gaming and computer science. On the fourth weekend in July, Portlanders ages 9-17 spent two days creating characters, commanding "turtles," and building worlds and challenges full of sea creature-robots. Two hours south, down the I-5 corridor, middle school students spent two weeks coding their initials into magnets, programming fellow 'robots' to stack cups, dissecting electric tea lights and orchestrating music with the click of a button.

In this day and age, technology is everywhere - at work, at home, at play - we depend on technology. Technology increasingly permeates every aspect of society, and provides the foundation for most modern innovation. Girls, women and under-represented populations, are avid users of technology, but these groups are significantly underrepresented in its creation. According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), women hold a mere 18% of all undergraduate computer and information science degrees, despite the fact that women hold 40% of undergraduate physical sciences degrees. There are not only consequences for those populations being excluded, but for the innovation of the field and its users as a whole. Barriers to participation and engagement may include a lack of access, a lack of relevant curriculum and instructional approaches, or inaccurate perceptions about computing careers and environments. This month, OregonASK got to hang out with innovative individuals working to break down these barriers.

Kiki Prottsman of THINKERSMiTH, and Jeffrey Sens and Will Lewis of PDX Game Education and Pixel Arts are working hard to make computer science accessible for all. Lead by student interest, student choice and student creativity, these two organizations are cultivating young computer scientists, game designers, and STEM professionals by starting at the beginning, with approachable, easy to understand concepts that inspire growth and discovery.

 

Click here to read the rest of the story! 

Resources & Opportunities
Remember Your Time at Summer Camp?
You'd make new friends, learn new skills, and play in the sun and under the stars...

 

We're taking advantage of this year's camp-like setting at The Resort at The Mountain to offer "Camp ORPA" - a parks and recreation camp for professionals! Also known as ORPA's 2013 annual conference, Camp ORPA offers an outstanding educational and networking opportunity. We're upgrading our tents for four walls and plush mattresses, but you'll learn lots and make great connections to support your work and your career. 
 
About Camp ORPA
This three-day camp is perfect for park and recreation professionals of all ages and abilities. Camp ORPA features 47 educational sessions to expand campers' knowledge and professional skills in all aspects of parks and recreation. Campers will sharpen their skills in planning, programming, aquatics, natural resources, and administration and will be inspired by this year's keynote address delivered by sportscaster Ann Schatz.  Plentiful networking opportunities will yield friends and professional contacts.  Campers may access on-site recreational equipment, including golf, swimming, croquet, volleyball, spa treatments, and more. (Additional fees may apply.)  Merit beads and CEUs optional.

For complete information on Camp ORPA
, including session descriptions and speaker listing, lodging info, event descriptions, and registration policies,download the Conference Program .
 
To register for Camp ORPA, click here, or point your browser to www.orpa.org and click on the Camp ORPA logo.  Register by Friday, August 16 to save $50 per registrant!  Regular Registration closes Friday, August 30.
Oregon Dairy Council Mini-Grants

Valuable resources and grant funding
are available to support your work to provide healthy. Start small by applying for a monthly mini-grant to promote healthy eating, or outline a more comprehensive plan and apply for Fuel Up to Play 60 Funds. Oregon Dairy Council Monthly Mini Grants provide funding or equipment to support student nutrition by promoting and increasing accessibility of nutrient-rich dairy foods.

Click here to visit the Oregon Dairy Council website for more information!