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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2003)
The INDEPENDENT, November 6 2003 Page 15 Nine local teens successfully complete leadership program “This was a life changing and worthwhile experience, thank you.” Sounds like a quote from a white collar professional that just completed a three-day self-improvement seminar doesn’t it? It’s not - it’s a quote from a teenager who just com pleted the weeklong residential youth leadership camp, known as the Survivors Youth Leader ship Experience (SYLE). Nine teens from Columbia and Clatsop Counties were able to attend and complete the award-winning program this summer. Representing Colum bia and Clatsop Counties were: Jessica DuPuis, Wayde Ewan, Michael Good, Nick Harries, Madalyn Lippert, Kimberly Nel son, Robert Rojas, Curtis Smith, and Brittney West. These awesome teens had similar feed back. When the youth were asked what they liked the most about the experience, comments ranged from “the challenge course”, “everything”, and “the open minds and acceptance of all involved” to “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” These teens join the ranks of over 150 other SYLE Alumni from across Oregon who have completed this unique program and they aren’t the only ones Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron DELO 400™ PLUS MOTOR OIL The name you trust for: sonal growth and development, in order to assist them to be even greater assets to their communities, families and em ployers. The SYLE is held at Oregon State University and includes more than 60 hours of curricu lum targeted at developing in ternal strengths, leadership traits and the skills necessary to communicate and cope in home, work and school envi ronments. Campers learn about specific themes such as integrity, loyalty, compassion, respect and the importance of setting and achieving goals. The proof of a great program is not found only through com ments from participants, it’s demonstrated through the re sults achieved - In follow up with alumni from the first two years of camp, staff have learned that roughly 90% of Sur vivors stay on track with an edu cational plan, and many achieve huge grade gains, with little or no recidivism into the juvenile system, and that many are working either full or part time. The program is made possi ble through a unique partner ship, which is led by The Ore gon Consortium and Oregon Workforce Alliance Youth Council, together with Manage ment & Training Corporation, the Oregon National Guard, Oregon State University, OSU Extension and the Tongue Point and Wolf Creek Job Corps Centers. For additional information on this unique opportunity for our youth, please contact Kris La timer, Project Coordinator at 541-928-0241, ext. 219 or write to <kris@tocowa.org>. Addi tional information is also avail able via the web at <http://www.tocowa.org> or by calling Diana Riggs Nish at Management & Training Corpo ration at 503-397-6495 or writ ing to <driggs@mtctps.com>. Odyssey of the Mind Competition for 2004 begins Who says learning can't be tions where they will put their fun? With Odyssey of the Mind, skills and creativity to the test. creativity and productivity are The problems range from joined to create an exciting and very technical to very artistic. enjoyable competition for Because of the differences in kindergarten through college these categories there is some students worldwide. This pro thing for all students to enjoy. For the competition in Spring gram teaches kids to think cre atively and to work effectively 2004, one of the problems is to and efficiently as a team in or design and build two devices der to solve mind-bending that propel balls through a cir cular hoop and to create a de problems. Teams consist of 7 students vice to retrieve the balls after from the same age group or they have been launched. grade level. The teams are giv Through Odyssey of the en long-term, open-ended Mind the creative thinking problems weeks or months in process is nurtured and devel advance to prepare the solu oped. The teams are judged by tion. The teams then bring there solution to the long-term these solutions to the competi- problem, the style in which it is • Gasoline • Diesel Fuel • Oils • Solvents • Additives • Greases Winter is here...see us for A nti F reeze H eating O il gevwi with good things to say. The National Association of Coun ties (NACo) has announced that the Survivors Youth Lead ership Experience and its spon soring organization, The Ore gon Consortium and Oregon Workforce Alliance (TOC/OWA) have been selected to receive the 2003 Joe Cooney Award for Excellence - in recognition of the development of an excep tional program to serve youth. The National Association of Workforce Boards and the Workforce Excellence Network have also recognized the SYLE as a “Best Practice in Service to Teens.” Viewing youth as the single greatest asset of our rural com munities, the TOC/OWA Youth Council, the SYLE’s advisory body and their staff, have worked for the last three years to develop a program that would provide teens with an outstanding opportunity for per- CALL V ernonia M ercantile Now F eaturing E spresso C offee & S pecialty D rinks CFN 55 (503) 429-6606 ^1 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia H eritage B akery P astries , C a k e s , M uffins and C ookies M onday 6 am - 1 pm Tue - Fri 6 am - 6 pm S aturday 7 am - 7 pm 831 B ridge S treet ,V ernonia 503 - 429 - 0214 solved, and how the team scores in solving a 'pop-quiz' problem they are given at the competition. Through this com petition students gain skills useful to them in the school and work environment, such as: team building, decision making, problem solving and self-confidence. During the competition students are en couraged to freely express their ideas and suggestions. In order for the teams to succeed, everyone needs to offer their own skills, ideas and experi ence. Competitions start at the re gional level, and then go to the state/province/country level and from there are eligible to attend the annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. This in ternational competition will be held at the University of Mary land. To be included in these competitions you must first be come be a member. A member can be any school, recognized community group, or college/university. The mem bership fee is $135. All of Oregon's talented stu dents are encouraged to go out and discover how much fun these competitions can be. The state competition for Oregon will be in Mill City in the spring of 2004. For any further infor mation contact Chris Sherren at < m ailto:chris_sherren@ santi- am.k12.or.us>.
