What's in the Heart - Free t-shirt for YOU

What's in the Heart is a compelling, beautiful independent film project being led by Kitty Farmer. Mac Hall and NIYLP are featured in the film as a positive solution for young Native Americans.

The film is in a competition for more funding. Kitty has been notified that the film is high up in the competition. By simply going to the site in the next few days and adding a "comment", you will increase the rating of the film.

By going to the site and donating as little as $5, you will really give the film a boost. And you will receive a free NIYLP t-shirt. After you've made your donation, simply send an email to info@niylp.org. Include your name, mailing address and t-shirt size (man or women's) and we'll send you your shirt!

Thanks for the support. This is important work!

Mac Hall

Fall Foliage, Project Venture and You! Intro to PV in Vermont!

October 4-6

The 2.5 day Intro to Project Venture programming will be offered in Brattleboro, VT at the breath-taking campus of High 5 Adventure Learning! You will be learning about NIYLP's evidence-based program, Project Venture. This positive youth development model incorporates:

• Adventure Education
• Experiential Education
• Culture and Tradition
• Service Learning
• Connection to Community, Nature and Family

Registration is through High 5! Hope to see you in Vermont!

PV Camp Implementation Training - Space limited to 20 attendees

Project Venture Camp Implementation Training

This training will happen during the 29th Annual Project Venture Leadership Camp. We are expecting over 75 youth from across the US and Canada for this life changing experience. You will learn through observation, shadowing, training sessions, reflection and feedback! Truly an experiential learning opportunity!

Prerequisites: Attendees must be either implementing a Project Venture program or planning to implement a Project Venture program within the next six months.

Participants will:

• Learn about planning, scheduling and staffing a multi-day leadership camp.
• Learn about risk management issues.
• Shadow an experienced PV Experiential Educator.
• Plan and facilitate at least one activity session with adults.
• Participate in daily reflection and debriefing sessions about what was observed.
• Participate in a question and answer session with PV Developer Mac Hall.
• Be introduced* to facilitation for: rock climbing, rapelling, challenge course, archery, hiking, mountain biking, service learning, Horse Inspired Growth and Healing and cultural programming.
• Work on a camp plan for their own community.
  
  *this does not include technical skills training.

• July 13 – 19, 2011
• Location: Sacred Mountain Camp near Mt. Taylor in New Mexico
• Limited to 20 participants
• Fee: $600 (includes meals)
• Project Venture Camp chaperones can register to attend the PV Camp Implementation training for an additional $100 ($600 combined registration fee).
• Attendees are responsible for own tent and sleeping bag.
• Attendees who prefer to stay at Sky City Casino Hotel are responsible for their own lodging and transportation to camp. To make the trip daily you must have access to a high clearance vehicle and allot at least 45 minutes travel time each way.
• Programming begins daily at sunrise and ends approximately 9:00 p.m.

Registration form!

Intro to Project Venture - on line training opportunity

NNED (www.nned.net) and NIYLP have collaborated to offer a second 8-week on-line training in Project Venture, an evidence-based substance abuse prevention program (middle and high school age target audience).

This opportunity is free to communities and agencies that will commit to 8 two hour sessions weekly, approximately one hour of reflection work between each session and an addition 6 one hour coaching sessions.

At the end of the "Community of Practice" sessions, you will:

-Understand the Project Venture program.

-Have completed a self - assessment to determine next steps.

-Begin development of a year-long plan and activity sequence.

-Connected with resources for implementation.

-Understand the components required to implement with fidelity.

If you are interested, please join the NNED (FREE) and apply to participate.

Project Venture is a sequential, year-long evidence based program that was originally developed for Native American communities by Native American people. PV is the first Native American program to be recognized as an evidence based practice by NREPP. PV combines service learning, experiential education, adventure/outdoor education, culture and tradition into a sequential, year long program where youth are empowered to become emotionally and physically healthy adults and members of their families, communities and schools.

PV is implemented in over 70 sites across the United States and Canada in a wide range of communities - both youth from all backgrounds.

Funding Opportunities for Project Venture Implementations

Wondering how to fund a Project Venture Implementation in your community? The Drug Free Communities Support Program is an opportunity where NIYLP's Evidence-Based Program, Project Venture, is a great component of a larger strategy.

Here are some details:

Grant Opportunity Summary

Funding Agency

SAMHSA

RFA No. SP-11-002

CFDA # 93.276

Requirement Deadlines (letter of intent, TA sessions, submission)

March 18, 2011.

Grant Award Amount

Up to $125,000 per year

Matching Requirements

Yes- 100% required for each year.

Allowable Project Period

Up to 5 years

Anticipated Number of Grants to be Awarded

75

Eligibility Requirements:

To apply for a DFC grant under this RFA, a coalition must fall into one of the following three categories:

--A coalition that has never received a DFC grant;

--A coalition that previously received a DFC grant, but experienced a lapse in funding; or

--A coalition that has concluded the first five-year funding cycle and is applying for a second five-year funding cycle.

The RFA contains a series of tables of the DFC eligibility requirements and the minimum documentation applicants must provide to meet the eligibility criteria. Each year, DFC grantees must demonstrate compliance with all of the eligibility criteria in this RFA to be considered for continued funding.

Grant Program Purposes

The purpose of the DFC Program is to establish and strengthen collaboration to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth to achieve two goals:

1) Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, and Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. For the purposes of this RFA, “youth” is defined as individuals 18 years of age and younger.

2) Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance abuse among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.

How can PV be implemented as a component?

This grant is intended to support community-based or tribally-based coalitions/ collaborations that work to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. NIYLP can serve as a partner in such coalitions.

If your Tribe is interested in an evidence-based, positive youth development and has some existing coalitions, NIYLP would like to help you include Project Venture in your Tribe or communities proposal.

Email us at info@niylp.org.

Agency Contacts

For questions about program issues contact:

DFC RFA Hotline Team

Division of Community Programs

(240) 276-1270

dfcnew2011@samhsa.hhs.gov

For Federal forms and budget questions contact:

Barbara Orlando

Division of Grants Management

(240) 276-1422

Barbara.orlando@samhsa.hhs.gov

Resources ! Resources ! Resources

It is the time of year to think about things like program improvement, new activities, preparing for camp, trips and treks!

Here are some resources to for Project Venture facilitators and program managers!

• There are still a few spots left at the PV National Training, Feb. 9, 10 and 11 in Albuquerque. Need tuition support to make it happen? Email us at info@niylp.org. We'll see what we can do!
• Sign up for Jen Stanchfield's blog "The Inspired Educator" . Jen offers great ideas for activities, tips for in-school programming and just some fun stuff! Jen will be attending our Feb. training in ABQ.
• Writing a grant? Looking for an evidence-based program that will allow you to incorporate outdoor ed, adventure ed, service learning? We can help you write Project Venture into your application. Email us at info@niylp.org for more info!
• Interested in bringing a Horse Inspired Growth and Healing component to your PV programming? Suzi Landolphi from Red Horse Nation will be presenting at the ABQ workshop. She will be sharing program components and how Tribes, agencies and communities have used this highly effective methodology.
• Seeking training on challenge challenge course activities? Due for your annual ropes course inspection? Our friends at High 5 Adventure Learning offer great training and technical services at great rates. Ryan McCormick from High 5 will be attending the Feb. training in ABQ to learn about NIYLP and PV. You can meet him there!
• Expand your "bag of tricks". The PV Activity Kit is a bag full of props and equipment for ice-breakers, problem-solving activities and more! Weighing in at 50 lbs. you'll have chickens, stepping stones, boffers, tossables, and lots more to use in-school, out-of-school and anywhere you do programming!
• NIYLP's 29th Annual Project Venture National Camp, July 13-19th at Sacred Mountain Learning Center on Mt. Taylor near Acoma/Laguna NM. All sites implementing Project Venture are invited to bring 4 youth and 2 adults a week of life-changing adventure, service, culture and fun! Space is limited. Register today!

We look forward to learning more about your work, progress, ideas and needs. Share them by commenting on this blog, on Facebook, or email us directly ( info@niylp.org ).

Remember the 2011 PV Implementation Guide is available on line!

Taho!

By Popular Demand - A second web based Intro To PV training

New Community of Practice: Project Venture

Due to high demand, the NNED is pleased to offer a second round of Project Venture training through another Community of Practice (CoP) - a free professional development opportunity for NNED Members to receive training on innovative promising and evidence-based practices for diverse communities. Members of the CoP will receive training on how to begin and sustain a Project Venture program in a way that meets the unique needs of the youth in their local communities. The application process will open on January 26th and will end on February 16th. The CoP will start on March 2nd. For more information visit the NNED website.

Join this webinar to learn about Project Venture, an evidence-based practice for high risk middle school and high school-aged youth. Project Venture is an outdoors experiential positive youth development program originally developed for American Indian youth but now implemented in a range of communities and cultures.

The program was designed around traditional values which help youth develop positive self-concept, effective social skills, a community service ethic, internal locus of control, and increased decision-making and problem-solving skills. This unique program has been recognized by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs & Practices (NREPP) as the first Native American model program. If you are a NNED Member, register now!

This Webinar and CoP Opportunity are only open to NNED Members,

to become a NNED Member free of charge click here.

After the webinar, interested participants can apply to join this NNED Community of Practice (CoP) to receive further training on how to implement this program in their communities (more information below).