October 10, 2007
The group had a quick meeting to give updates on the various projects and to ensure that come Friday morning, everyone would have all the equipment they would need to see their projects through.
Focalizer updates:
Sarah - will need 2 people on Friday. Tasks include weeding the existing bed, bringing strawberries down from Craig's garden and mulching the area.
Kyle - will need one other person on Friday.
Steph - will need 3 people on Friday, and someone to come check out wood with her from a pile on the runway.
Josh - will need one person on Friday.
Emma - will be setting up a blog, and taking pictures on Friday. Focalizers will be invited to write about their different projects.
One issue that came up was including the work departments more in the consultations. Sarah spoke to Christian from Park Garden about the strawberry patch, and he had been under the impression that he would be more included in the consultation, rather than simply being asked permission to go ahead with a pre-determined project.
Stacie asked all the focalizers to get her a list of what they need for Friday, so that everything will be ready in the morning!
Two days and counting!
Thursday, 11 October 2007
5 - nailing it down
October 3, 2007
After much debate and discussion, seven things were decided on for our permaculture design project.
under plants and structures we aim to have:
-a strawberry patch beside the building
-an outdoor hammock
-grafitti boards for the sides of the building
-shoe racks for inside the door
-a bench for under the overhang
and under events we aim to have:
-a games event for the younger group
-a sleepover in the CC for the older group
It was decided that while the outdoor shed was definitely needed, it wasn't something that we felt skilled enough to build. It would be pointless to build a sub-par shed, only to have it fall apart or be replaced in a short time. We decided that smaller projects felt more manageable, and the completion of past projects should take priority, especially since a desire to see them through had been expressed.
It was also expressed by many group memebrs that some kind of event between FCS and the YP would be beneficial and most certainly fall under "People Care". There are not alot of people our age in the community, and we feel that spending time with the YP members would be a positive (and fun) way to begin to bridge the gap between the YP and the older community members.
Getting down to business...
Focalizers were appointed for various areas of the project, so that when our construction day came around (October 12) we would have some planning and instruction ready.
Project Focalizers:
Sarah - strawberry patch
Josh - grafitti boards and shoe rack
Kyle - hammock
Steph - bench
Ashley and Zack - older group event
Oren - younger group event
Administrative Focalizers:
Emma - documentation/secretary
Alexa - budget/treasurer
It's off to the races!
After much debate and discussion, seven things were decided on for our permaculture design project.
under plants and structures we aim to have:
-a strawberry patch beside the building
-an outdoor hammock
-grafitti boards for the sides of the building
-shoe racks for inside the door
-a bench for under the overhang
and under events we aim to have:
-a games event for the younger group
-a sleepover in the CC for the older group
It was decided that while the outdoor shed was definitely needed, it wasn't something that we felt skilled enough to build. It would be pointless to build a sub-par shed, only to have it fall apart or be replaced in a short time. We decided that smaller projects felt more manageable, and the completion of past projects should take priority, especially since a desire to see them through had been expressed.
It was also expressed by many group memebrs that some kind of event between FCS and the YP would be beneficial and most certainly fall under "People Care". There are not alot of people our age in the community, and we feel that spending time with the YP members would be a positive (and fun) way to begin to bridge the gap between the YP and the older community members.
Getting down to business...
Focalizers were appointed for various areas of the project, so that when our construction day came around (October 12) we would have some planning and instruction ready.
Project Focalizers:
Sarah - strawberry patch
Josh - grafitti boards and shoe rack
Kyle - hammock
Steph - bench
Ashley and Zack - older group event
Oren - younger group event
Administrative Focalizers:
Emma - documentation/secretary
Alexa - budget/treasurer
It's off to the races!
4 - meeting with the youth ages 13-15
October 3, 2007
Our meeting with the older youth was shorter than our consultation with the younger group. Without much ado we split into groups for a similar brainstorming session, generating ideas around the YP space, and what would make it feel more "theirs".
Some of the silliest suggestions:
-a padded room
-a boxing pit
-a ball room
-fireman's poles
-a huge hamster wheel
-a cage with a lock
Some of the most expensive suggestions:
-an exercise gym
-a climbing wall
-a hot tub
Some of the most supported suggestions (probably because they had already been decided on but not completed)
-a strawberry patch
-a hammock
-graffitti boards
With consultations finished, it was now time to begin the design! Stay tuned for notes from our next meeting.
Our meeting with the older youth was shorter than our consultation with the younger group. Without much ado we split into groups for a similar brainstorming session, generating ideas around the YP space, and what would make it feel more "theirs".
Some of the silliest suggestions:
-a padded room
-a boxing pit
-a ball room
-fireman's poles
-a huge hamster wheel
-a cage with a lock
Some of the most expensive suggestions:
-an exercise gym
-a climbing wall
-a hot tub
Some of the most supported suggestions (probably because they had already been decided on but not completed)
-a strawberry patch
-a hammock
-graffitti boards
With consultations finished, it was now time to begin the design! Stay tuned for notes from our next meeting.
3 - meeting with the youth workers
October 3, 2007
Over lunch we met with the three YP workers - Karen, Gabrielle and Ruby. We were interested in hearing what their take on the project was, and what kind of continuity would be needed for the project (i.e. if we built a garden, who would take care of it?). They mentioned that in our consult with the older youth members, that we should be aware of what had been started by the last FCS group and what needed to be finished. This included graffiti boards for the outside of the building, a strawberry patch beside the building and an outdoor hammock.
Ruby and Karen also expressed a need for an outdoor storage space that would be accessible to the youth outside of YP building hours. There were alot of basketballs and various sports equipment that consistently went missing since there was no place to keep them. They felt that an outdoor shed of some kind, with a combination lock, would be a good exercise in responsibility and ownership for the YP kids.
Some suggestions and ideas from the group included cleaning out the bombshelter as a place for the kids to meet outside of YP building hours and including the youth in the actual execution of the project to encourage a sense of ownership. It was decided that cleaning out the bombshelter would require alot of research and community permission, as well as conversations among the community and the YP about how to keep that space safe and drug-free. It was decided in the end that it was too far off the radar for the YP this year.
Over lunch we met with the three YP workers - Karen, Gabrielle and Ruby. We were interested in hearing what their take on the project was, and what kind of continuity would be needed for the project (i.e. if we built a garden, who would take care of it?). They mentioned that in our consult with the older youth members, that we should be aware of what had been started by the last FCS group and what needed to be finished. This included graffiti boards for the outside of the building, a strawberry patch beside the building and an outdoor hammock.
Ruby and Karen also expressed a need for an outdoor storage space that would be accessible to the youth outside of YP building hours. There were alot of basketballs and various sports equipment that consistently went missing since there was no place to keep them. They felt that an outdoor shed of some kind, with a combination lock, would be a good exercise in responsibility and ownership for the YP kids.
Some suggestions and ideas from the group included cleaning out the bombshelter as a place for the kids to meet outside of YP building hours and including the youth in the actual execution of the project to encourage a sense of ownership. It was decided that cleaning out the bombshelter would require alot of research and community permission, as well as conversations among the community and the YP about how to keep that space safe and drug-free. It was decided in the end that it was too far off the radar for the YP this year.
2 - meeting with the youth ages 8-12
September 26, 2007
Today we met with the younger group that makes up the YP, ranging in age from 8-12. We did some brainstorming sessions in small groups about what they would like to see in the YP space.
Some of the funniest suggestions:
-huge rubber duck
-spaceship
-roller coaster
-sweet machine
-indoor snow machine
-shoe monster
Some of the funnest suggestions:
-party tent
-carnival
-pet show
-game day
-big hill to sled down
-climbing wall
Some of the most workable suggestions:
-barbeque
-zip line and tree house
-swing/bench/hammock
-teepee
-dance party
-shoe rack
After the small group brainstorming sessions each group presented their best ideas in charade form or a short skit. It was pretty hilarious. For the last hour, Simone and Oren ran games with the kids. Fun was had by all, and the whole group felt energized by being around the younger group.
Today we met with the younger group that makes up the YP, ranging in age from 8-12. We did some brainstorming sessions in small groups about what they would like to see in the YP space.
Some of the funniest suggestions:
-huge rubber duck
-spaceship
-roller coaster
-sweet machine
-indoor snow machine
-shoe monster
Some of the funnest suggestions:
-party tent
-carnival
-pet show
-game day
-big hill to sled down
-climbing wall
Some of the most workable suggestions:
-barbeque
-zip line and tree house
-swing/bench/hammock
-teepee
-dance party
-shoe rack
After the small group brainstorming sessions each group presented their best ideas in charade form or a short skit. It was pretty hilarious. For the last hour, Simone and Oren ran games with the kids. Fun was had by all, and the whole group felt energized by being around the younger group.
1 - a day with craig
September 21, 2007
Today our FCS group was introduced to the Service Learning Aspect of our Creative Expression Module - a permaculture project focused around the Youth Project here at the Findhorn Foundation, in The Park. Our project had three components - the project itself, the documentation of the process and a collective presentation to the community of what was concieved and achieved. The process was to begin in the next few weeks, while presentation was to take place on December 2 along with our art portfolio presentations.
Project Outline:
Using the primary principles of permaculture (Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share), how can we, the FCS student group, better equip the Youth Project's space in the Park to help the youth feel more included in the community and to feel a sense of place? Through consultations with the youth workers, community work departments and the youth themselves, we were to determine needs and wants of the various parties involved, and then execute a project based on permaculture design principles.
See pictures from the day here.
Today our FCS group was introduced to the Service Learning Aspect of our Creative Expression Module - a permaculture project focused around the Youth Project here at the Findhorn Foundation, in The Park. Our project had three components - the project itself, the documentation of the process and a collective presentation to the community of what was concieved and achieved. The process was to begin in the next few weeks, while presentation was to take place on December 2 along with our art portfolio presentations.
Project Outline:
Using the primary principles of permaculture (Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share), how can we, the FCS student group, better equip the Youth Project's space in the Park to help the youth feel more included in the community and to feel a sense of place? Through consultations with the youth workers, community work departments and the youth themselves, we were to determine needs and wants of the various parties involved, and then execute a project based on permaculture design principles.
See pictures from the day here.
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