Rotary Club: eClub of District 5010 International Project Title: Vantastic Adventures 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? Vantastic Adventures was a series of free community field trips for youth ages 12-18 using the REC Room's 15-passenger Fort Transit van. Supervised by paid REC Room staff and accompanied by a Rotary volunteer, the teens traveled to different locations in and around Homer to experience a wide variety of activities and learn from local experts. The eight adventures took place from August 2022 to April 2023. 8/12/2022 Bee and Honey 101 with Linda Gorman Local beekeeper Linda Gorman taught the group about different bees and their ecological importance, variations and colorations of honey based on the time of season, and the basics of beekeeping. Linda then took the group on a tour of her hives, explaining how they work, how far bees travel, and the importance of electrical fences in keeping bears from getting into the hives. Teens were able to pick honeycombs, chew on wax, help load the honey extractor, and put honey into jars. Each participant was given some honey to take home. 8/26/2022 Raspberry Picking at Seaside Farm The van brought teens five miles out East End Road to Seaside Farm, an organic farm and hostel. A volunteer taught the group how to pick the berries properly - starting at the bottom and lifting up the leaves, and proceeding down each row rather than choosing bushes haphazardly - to harvest all of the ripe fruit. As they picked, the group talked about the life cycle of raspberries and all of the insects and animals that thrive with their help. Teens practiced taking their time and being thorough as they sifted through the leaves. The group then proceeded to the self-pay station to pay for the berries. Each participant put their bucket on the scale and noted the weight, then helped to add them up: about four pounds of berries! The teens collaborated to put the berries into bags so everyone had some to take home. 8/31/2022 Boat Trip and Sea Critters Tour with Captain Curt of Mako's Water Taxi Volunteer water taxi captain Curtis Jackson took teens on a boat trip around Kachemak Bay. In addition to learning about boat safety, Captain Curt taught the teens about different seabird populations, their migration patterns, varying diving depths, and other facts. The youth were able to observe puffins and jellyfish, and got up close and personal with a pack of seals. Captain Curt brought the group to a small remote beach for some beachcombing. Teens were grateful for the rainjackets and warm drinks provided. 9/20/2022 Beauty and the Beast Prop & Costume Prep with Pier One Theatre Youth helped clean and tidy the Homer High School Mariner Theater set shop in preparation for prop construction for the upcoming community musical, and participated in a group brainstorm and costume design session for the "Be Our Guest" scene. 4/7/2023 Beachcombing at Mariner Beach Teens went to Mariner Beach at the base of the Homer Spit to experience the seasonal shift from winter to spring. The group shared favorite found rocks and shells, took pictures, and discussed beach ecology. 4/27/2023 Calvin & Coyle Trail Teens hiked along the Calvin & Coyle trail and collectively told a fantasy story along the way, inspired by the trail and nature. They reached the gazebo at the end of the trail and "danced and rejoiced" because they had completed the story's quest. (This activity was partially inspired by the teens' interest in the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons.) There was much laughter and youth reported feeling rejuvenated afterward. 5/1/2023 Dungeons and Dragons Movie Night at Homer Theatre This final field trip of the Vantastic season was a crossover with the weekly Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) activity held at the REC Room every Friday. Youth created characters and backstories, interacted with one another in character, and collaborated to meet challenges they encountered in the fantasy world created by the Dungeon Master (DM). After many weeks of fantasy adventure, they concluded their quest and the story was wrapped up. to celebrate, the REC Room purchased tickets for the group to attend the movie Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The teens all applauded after the movie. 5/4/2023 Birch Tapping with Jake and Anna of Bridge Creek Birch Syrup The van brought teens to the Bridge Creek Birch Syrup property, where teens got to explore, learn about the process of tapping birch trees and making syrup, and try both the liquid extracted directly from the tree, and the syrup itself. Jake and Anna shared their expertise as small business owners and as small-batch syrup makers. 2. How many people benefited from this project? 29 youth from the Homer area 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? The youth ages 12-18 who benefited from this project are regular participants at the REC Room, a free, drop-in center offering positive youth development activities and resources. Many REC Roomers experience various risk factors to their health and wellbeing, including unstable, unsupportive, or unsafe home environments; housing instability; poverty/lack of resources; bullying; or mental health issues. For every participant, this project provided numerous opportunities for new experiences. Each of them met and connected with community members and organizations they would otherwise not have encountered; each of them learned new skills they had previously not considered; each of them traveled to corners of our community they had previously never been. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? 3 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. The Homer satellite is a tiny club so one member of the club took the lead on this project with the support of the other club members. Members worked with the REC Room to plan with the staff, determining level and nature of involvement for Rotary, REC Room staff and the kids. A skeletal project was planned with the kids determining the final “Adventuresâ€. Members helped determine the budget and materials needed to carry out the project. Rotary members contacted possible sites to visit on the Vantastic Adventures and helped make the arrangements. The project lead attended projects with the kids and staff, participating and chaperoning. She drove when needed and also met with staff to discuss the outcome of the project and thoughts for the future. 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? Although there were not official cooperating organizations in addition to the beneficiary organization, local businesses and organizations provided instruction, tours, educational materials, opportunities to participate in helping at the site or following through with specific projects. The collaborations were with numerous organizations, businesses, and individuals, including Linda Gorman, Seaside Farm, Curtis Jackson, Mako's Water Taxi, Jennifer Norton, Laura Norton, Michael McKinney, Pier One Theatre, Jake Beaudoin, Anna Meredith, and Bridge Creek Birch Syrup. 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
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