Kennedy Heights Community Center blog

Paddle Boats on Lake Wingra

Summer is coming to a close here at Kennedy Heights Community Center.  It has been great so far.  We have launched water-propelled rockets at Warner Park, swam at Goodman pool and Governor Nelson State Park, fished at Vilas Zoo, Tenney Park and Lake Wingra.  We went bowling, watched 3D movies, hit balls at the batting cages, learned how to play basketball and dance step from Stephanie, gymnastics and drawing from Johnny, how to participate in the community and be a leader from Annika, we helped cook with Lisa, and learned about fishing and water balloon slingshots from Patrick. 

One evening we went to Lake Wingra to rent paddle boats and fish.  Deronde, Xaoly, and Shuefeng took out a yellow four-seater and Patrick and Johnny went out in the swan boat.  We were catching lots of fish, sunfish, crappie and one very big perch, but soon it was time to start paddling in and we decided to make it a race to the launching dock.  It was heated at the beginning but we soon learned that the swan boat couldn’t turn to the left and the swan’s giant neck and head were catching a lot of wind.  Patrick and Johnny had to end up paddling the boat backwards all the way in to the dock.  Just before reaching the dock one of our life jackets fell into the lake.  We had a hard time turning in the wind to get it, and after struggling for a while realized that we needed to catch it with one of our fishing poles.  After a few casts we hooked it and reeled it in.  Everybody on the dock was watching the show and laughing. 

On August 12^th we are heading to Mt. Olympus in Wisconsin Dells.  If you would like to learn more about the youth programs offered at Kennedy Heights come into the Community Center and ask for some information.  We’ll be glad to answer any of your questions! 

 

Farewell, Kennedy Heights

By Annika Jones

I can’t believe it’s near the end of my year here at Kennedy Heights as a PASS AmeriCorps member. The time has flown by incredibly fast! I’ve met so many wonderful people here and I think the biggest reason that Kennedy Heights is a special place to me is because of the people who make it great.

The youth I’ve had the privilege of knowing through the After-School Program, Girls Inc and Summer Program have this infectious energy that’s impossible to forget, and I will be missing their jokes, laughter and energy when I leave. It’s been quite a year sharing the ups and downs of life with the youth here at our programs and they have taught me quite a bit about youth work, education and how to relate to one another. We’ve done all kinds of things together this past year: reading, debating, swimming, boating, playing games, cooking, gardening, volunteering, and of course studying during the school months. After all this, it will be hard to part ways with the youth I’ve gotten to know.

Luckily, I will not be going far away this fall and hope to still be able to visit the center and stay in touch. I’ll be continuing my studies here in Madison to become a certified secondary science teacher and working towards my Master’s in Education over the next year. Thank you to the whole community for opening up your lives and letting AmeriCorps members like myself become a small part of this great community at Kennedy Heights.

 

The Dog Days of Summer

By Annika Jones

For the past several weeks, youth from our Summer Program’s Leadership Club have been finding out what it means to be a leader and how to get involved in their community through service. They toured the state capitol and Madison College, and volunteered their time collecting native plant seeds at Lake View Woods Park, caring for dogs at Shelter from the Storm Animal Rescue, and leading children’s games at KinderCare.

 A favorite destination was Shelter from the Storm, where youth made peanut butter and cereal dog treats and helped to socialize and groom the animals. According to 5^th grader Destiny Madge, she “liked it because we got to meet different kinds of dogs and cats and learn about how they were treated before they got here. They need good homes.” 5^th grader Samiya Gulley says that the animals at the shelter “wanted to be treated well and loved the way they’re supposed to be”.

 So how does volunteering time at an animal shelter, a park, or a daycare relate to leadership? Youth began to see how service to the community is a great way to show leadership. Being in leadership club means “we get to meet people with different jobs and talk to them about what they do and then help them out”, Samiya explains. Members of this club also thought about what leadership means to them. For Destiny, “leadership means you do good things and people want to follow what you do because you’re doing good things”. All the youth involved in the club this summer found that there are lots of ways to step up and do good things in their community.  

 

Girls Inc. Enjoying All Summer Has To Offer

If your daughter is a part of Girls Inc., you know that she has had an incredibly busy summer, full of new experiences.   We started summer with the Madison Mallards baseball team, cheering them on as they beat Eau Claire, and even catching a fly ball!  With a visit to JenEhr Farm, we picked (and ate) fresh, delicious strawberries.  We’ve been swimming at Goodman pool, visited the Splash Park in Middleton, canoed and pedal-boated, and spent two weeks learning to row with the Mendota Rowing Club.    We have also tackled many projects at the center, making our own lip gloss and soap, sewing pillows, decorating T-shirts, building a circuit to power a personal fan and painting pots to plant herbs in. 

There is a lot of summer left and we have much more to do.  Still to come is hosting a food stand with the vegetables that we harvest from the UW-Extension Youth Garden, a trip to Mount Olympus, and a visit to see the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show.  We have had a great summer, but we are also looking forward to the school year!

 

Girls Inc. Becomes a ‘Crew’

With the help of Mendota Rowing Club (MRC), Girls Inc. had the opportunity to participate in a sport not easily accessible to youth and especially women, rowing!  The girls spent two weeks learning the basics of rowing both on and off the water.  Week one included a visit to our center by an MRC member.  She shared some of her pictures and medals with the girls and taught them the rowing series.  Then each girl had the opportunity to try out series on the ergometer (erg) machines.  On week two, we visited the boat house, took a tour, played a few games on the erg machines to review the rowing series, and viewed the various boats the club uses.  Then the ‘real’ work began.  The girls would have to work together to carry an 8-person skull out of the boathouse and into the water.  This task challenged the girls’ strength, their listening skills, and their ability to communicate and work as a team, but we did it!  Once the skull was safely in the water, the girls took turns rowing together in teams.  Although this was an experience that tested their strength and required serious cooperation, the girls embraced it and had a great time (even with the sore shoulders)!  We owe a special thank you to Mendota Rowing Club with their time and enthusiasm for involving youth in a sport they love.  Girls Inc. is always excited to partner with organizations to provide girls with new opportunities and experiences. 

 

Kyler Finds Physics

Earlier in the summer the science and technology club took a field trip to the UW physics and geology museums.  We saw ancient fossils like the Tyrannosaurus rex skull and woolly mammoth skeleton, and rocks and minerals from all over the world.  In the L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum we saw exhibits on electricity and magnetism, wave and sound, light and optics, and mechanical physics.  Kyler really took interest in the physics exhibits.  He went from exhibit to exhibit, reading the descriptions and trying to make the described actions occur.  I couldn’t get more than ten steps away without him calling me over to ask a new question.  He was on the spinning platform measuring rotation and angular momentum for so long that he had trouble walking when he got off of it.  Soon it was time to leave and it took everything I had in me to get him out of that museum.  He kept asking me questions about the experiments and telling me what he saw during the ride home.  Throughout the summer he has continued to show interest in physical sciences not only asking what we will be doing during the next science club meeting but also giving me ideas and recommendations as to what experiments we could try next.  It is these new experiences that really help youth shape their interests and develop interest in education.  If Kyler maintains this passion with science through school there is no telling where he could end up.  Here at Kennedy Heights we strive to give our kids new experiences like these every week, and if even a few youth find new interests as part of our program I consider it a success.      

Kennedy Heights Adult Resources Program

The new Kennedy Heights adult resources program is beginning to take shape, with help from everyone who attended the Adult Resources Fair on Tuesday, July 19^th.  Participants who came that night received dinner, door prizes, and gift certificates for groceries, as well as a wealth of information about free and inexpensive resources in our community.  And they left behind something just as valuable: their ideas and visions for how the community center can become more of a gathering place and resource for adults in the neighborhood.

The Adult Resources Fair began with a delicious dinner from Benvenutos, the great Italian restaurant down the street off of Northport.  While everyone was eating, our guest presenters began to give short, five-minute presentations about their organizations and resources. The presenters were interesting and extremely helpful, and covered a wide variety of areas:

• Donna Bryant has 30 years of experience working with Medicaid and Medicare, and she made herself available to answer people’s questions about their health care benefits. 

• Cortney Doescher-Hino, from the North/Eastside Senior Coalition, described the free lunches, case management, and other programs for seniors offered by NESCO.

• Janet Dyer, supervisor of community programs with Madison School Community Recreation, told us that while MSCR adult programs are relatively inexpensive, low-income residents of Dane County can apply to take one free class each semester.  This includes exercise classes of all kinds, as well as classes in cooking, dancing, and arts and crafts.

• Lorrie Hurckes joined us from the Dane County Timebank, a free system that helps people to trade skills and resources with each other and with organizations in the area.  She described how this system helps people get their needs met, meet new people, and learn new things.  For some people it has even helped to make connections for employment.

• Torrie Larson from Metro Transit told participants how they can get the best deals and discounts when buying tickets or passes to ride the bus.

• LaDonna McReynolds spoke as a member of the Kennedy Heights Community Center Board of Directors, and she invited people to become members of the board as well—a free way to have a say in how the community center works.

• Ruth Rohlich, director of the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative, described their free programs that offer guidance and help with loans for women and men who want to start a small business.

• Katie Scharf and Madeleine Diemer came from Lakeview Library to talk about the library’s free programs and other supportive resources for adults.

• Susan Taylor told about the free classes and one-on-one mentoring offered by UW Extension to help people understand their finances and manage their money.

• Mary Watrud coordinates the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training program, which is also free.  She described how it helps workers prepare for the exams that will allow them access to well-paid apprenticeships in the trades, and invited participants to come talk with her and register for upcoming trainings.

• Finally, Lisa Wiese and Chris Moore gave an engaging presentation about the Northside Farmers Market, which takes place down the street from Kennedy Heights in the parking lot between Northport and Sherman Ave. every Sunday morning from 8:30 –12:30, May through October.  Shoppers can use their QUEST cards, WIC, and senior FMNP vouchers to buy fresh produce, dairy, meat, and delicious baked goods at the market, and they can earn timedollars (for use in the Timebank) by volunteering at the market, as well.

VamMeej and Kanglue Yang did a great job translating these presentations for the many Hmong neighbors who attended the fair.  After all of the presenters had introduced themselves we took a short break, and then there was time for participants to make the rounds and talk with the presenters individually, asking questions and learning more.  Presenters offered brochures, business cards, schedules, and even the forms that people needed to apply to various programs.

We finished the evening with a group brainstorming session about the kinds of adult programming that people would like to see at the community center in the future, as well as feedback about the Adult Resources Fair, and door prizes.  Then everyone went on their way, taking more of that great Benvenutos dinner home with them, along with all of the things they had learned.

Here are some of the things that we learned, from the people who attended the Adult Resources Fair:

Participants all said that they liked the fair, and several people noted that they especially appreciated the diversity of resources presented and the chance to talk with presenters and ask questions. Some people said that they would like us to invite employers and people from employment agencies next time, and some asked for social workers and providers of low-cost counseling.  But when we asked how we might improve the fair, the most common suggestions were to have it be longer and to do it again!

From the group brainstorming and the feedback forms we learned that participants were especially interested in seeing these kinds of adult programming happen at the center in the future:

1. A women’s group
2. Sewing classes
3. CNA training
4. A men’s group
5. Help accessing financial aid for going back to school

While we can’t offer all of these things right away, we will have two bilingual meetings (in English and Hmong) to discuss the idea of starting a women’s group and a men’s group at the center.  These planning meetings will take place on Monday August 29^th, at 6:30 for the women’s group, and 7:30 for the men’s group.

In the meantime, thank you again to all of the presenters who shared their time and expertise with us! And if you are reading this newsletter and would like to suggest yourself or someone else as a presenter for our next Adult Resources Fair, please contact Clare Norelle at adultresources@khcommunitycenter.org or 244-0767.

The Kennedy Heights Food Pantry continues to take place at the community center from 5 to 6 pm on Monday evenings.  During the summer it was open twice a month, but will return to being open every Monday, beginning in September. 

In the meantime we want to thank all of the great Kennedy Heights Pantry volunteers: Doua Chang, Kathy Almeida, Connie Forbes, Mandy Herr, LaDonna McReynolds, Khadija and Sara Mohamed, Kevin Stirgus, Karen and Monroe Odell. Also VamMeej Yang for his help and translation skills (which we will miss!), and Kazoua Moua, from UW Extension. Finally, gratitude also goes to middle school students from Blackhawk church and the generous people living in the neighborhoods around Kennedy Heights, who made the Blackhawk students’ food drive for us a success; and to Madison CROP walk, for donations made to our account with Second Harvest.  Together we have made this pantry run! 

Early Childhood Program News

What a wonderful summer we’re having! The children have been quite active indoors and out. So many of our friends are budding artists; painting and creating their own crafts, making masks, and shaping clay into coil pots and hanging art.   Worm composting was a favorite in our science area. Upon arrival in the morning, several children would examine the clear container for worms. If not seen immediately, they would ask for spoons to dig out the worms so they could hold them. The fact that the worms had composted lettuce, carrot peels, and apple peels was secondary.  It was more fun just to dig in the dirt.  Which led to many missions of digging for worms outside, that  sparked more interest in collecting ants, that led to finding cicadas (both alive and dead).

Another program highlight was attending two children’s events at The Monona Terrace. You know a field trip is a success when you see the children mimicking what they saw in their play. We witnessed several “sword dances” and “ribbon dances” by the children after seeing the Blue Willow Chinese Dance troupe. During the West African Drum & Dance group, we saw many children bopping, dancing, and singing along.  A big thank you to our families who helped chaperone our field trips to the Monona Terrace, it would not have been as successful without you! Back by popular demand: The annual field trip to Henry Villas Zoo this August. The children get so fired up when asked about their favorite animals, they can’t wait to share: “I like the giraffes because of their long necks!” “Monkeys!”  “Snakes!”  “Penguins, because of the way they walk” “I like the Polar Bears!” “The Lion!” accompanied by a loud roar.  One four year old got so excited listening to his friends shout out their favorite animals, he couldn’t contain himself: “I love DINOSAURS!!” 

Our last day of the Summer Early Childhood Program will be Friday August 12^th, 2011.

Upcoming Events:

The Early Childhood Program is Now Enrolling for the 2011-2012 school year!!!

The ECP will run 8:30am-11:30am Monday through Friday, starting September 1^st.

If you, or someone you know has a three, four, or five year old and would be interested in attending the ECP this Fall, please pick up an enrollment packet at the Community Center office.  First priority is given to families who live in Kennedy Heights, other available spaces will be given to North Side families. We ask that families who are interested in enrolling their children are able to make a 6 month or longer commitment and are able to have their children attend regularly.  All children must be potty trained.

Enrollment packets are due back at the center August 19^th, first come first served.