Congratulations on the completion of another successful academic year!  For those who will be involved in summer programs please remember that Lions Quest lessons benefit youth in out-of-school environments as well.  Many communities have enjoyed positive results of such Lions Quest implementation - Maryland FirstStep experienced an increased attendance rate of 93%; Youthlinks in Maine reported a 28% increase in positive peer relationships; and Volunteer Tennessee program participants benefitted from improved problem solving skills and increased resiliency.  With expanded use and demand for Lions Quest curricula out of the traditional classroom, we will be working this summer to develop implementation models for after school use, and researching program support such as curriculum maps and staff development opportunities.

Summer workshops
Summer is a great time to participate in a Lions Quest workshop!  Many dates and locations are available with new opportunities added regularly.  Check the workshop schedule at www.lions-quest.org for a location near you.  Registration can be completed online or by calling 1-800-446-2700.  Many workshops are supported by local Lions, providing discounted participation fees, and all workshops include a full Lions Quest curriculum!   Now available:
June                           July                        August
Tamms, IL                   Rutland, VT             O'Fallon, IL
Rochester, MN            Jackson, TN             Gillett, WI
Morristown, TN           Las Cruces, NM       Sterling, IL
Greensboro, NC                                         Baltimore, MD
Cuba, IL                                                     Cumberland, MD
Lyndonville, NY                                          Many KS locations

Just looking for a Lions Quest refresher?  Check out ReQuest, our new online learning course!  Enjoy a 2.5 hour training and discover how to establish SEL environments, improve student performance, and reduce and manage bullying.  New bullying prevention lessons are included, along with elements of successful service-learning and project ideas.

Bullying declines in Scottsdale
Adapted from article by Emily Dean, Arizona Republic, 5/7/09

Middle schools in Scottsdale Unified School District have experienced a steep drop in incidents of bullying over the past three years, according to the 2008 Arizona Youth Survey provided by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.  Dr. Milissa Sackos, executive director of student & community services for SUSD, credited the decline in the number of 8th grade students reporting incidents of bullying, from 21.5% in 2006 to 10.8% in 2008, to district prevention efforts.  With the main goal of creating a safe school environment, SUSD began a comprehensive approach to bullying prevention in 2005, including implementation of Lions Quest.  The curriculum is implemented on a school level, a classroom level, and an individual level.  "We do everything we can to prevent (bullying), but what is extremely important is to be able to acknowledge and be able to intervene appropriately," said Sackos.  Lynne Marion, an elementary school teacher who does volunteer work in bullying prevention, said she dedicated herself to volunteering because she knows bullying can be stopped.  Prevention is important because the impact of bullying is so great, she said.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, one in four children who bully will have a criminal record by the age of 20.

Research, Stats & News

Health risks faced by young people
The CDC Division of Adolescent & School Health's (DASH) 2008 School Health Programs At A Glance highlights the importance of establishing healthy behaviors during childhood.  Research demonstrates that school health programs can reduce the prevalence of health risk behaviors and have a positive impact on academic performance.  Some statistics show: More than 1 in 5 HS students in the US are smokers; More than 1 in 3 children and adolescents are overweight or at risk; 37% of deaths among adolescents aged 10-24 years are due to motor-vehicle crashes.  Coordinated school health programs bring administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and the community together to assess health needs, set goals, and plan, implement, and evaulate school health program activities.  Visit www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth to learn more about DASH, statistics, science-based guidelines, and funding for addressing safety in schools.

Service-Learning in America's Schools
Late last year, the Corporation for National & Community Service issued a brief summarizing the research report Community Service and Service-Learning in America's Schools (2008).  Research studies show that when young people participate in service-learning, the benefits contribute to students' success and have a positive impact on their social behavior, habits, and attitude.  A number of studies are available to support the need for policies that will build and sustain service-learning programs in schools.  Tufts University's CIRCLE research center provides a working paper on the impact of participation in service-learning on high school students' civic engagement, and a fact sheet that investigates the effect of school-required community service on academic performance.  With youth volunteering on the decline since the September 11 attacks, now is the time to engage young people in service!  Did you know - on average, course-required community service enhanced academic progress by 3.3% (in history) to 6.7% (in reading). Source.

Project Ignition Grants
Deadline: June 30, sponsored by the National Youth Leadership Council and State Farm.  Teams of high school students and community program leaders are asked to create innovative service-learning projects using their choice of media that promote teen driver safety.  Grants will be awarded to a maximum of 25 programs.  The grantee's school will receive a $2,000 grant to implement their program in the fall.  Teams will then conduct their projects and submit a portfolio of their work for judging. 

Free Download
Service-Learning in Community Based Organizations: A Practical Guide for Starting and Sustaining High-Quality Programs