Training Session Descriptions

Adding Curricular Connections for High Quality Service Learning
Whatever subject, whatever grade, bring it on! Using easy to replicate strategies, map out authentic curriculum connections. Find out how readily cross-curricular connections are made, deepening the impact of service learning and enriching academics.

AmeriCorps Role in Disaster Preparedness
Lean how National Service Members have successfully assisted in disaster preparedness.

Appealing to Experience: Marketing to Boomers and Beyond
How do we take what we know about Boomers and develop marketing messages and strategies that will attract and retain them as volunteers and members? Learn how to identify and define your target market; the basic principles of appealing to your audience; and craft a message that will excite and engage a new group of volunteers.

Are You and Your Community Prepared?
An introduction into the world of disaster preparedness.

Assistive Technology for Older Adults and Seniors - Home Sweet Home
The consistent, thoughtful work of Senior Companions and RSVP volunteers makes a significant difference in the ability of many frail elders to continue to live in their own homes. According to a recent AARP housing survey, 83% of older Americans want to stay in their current homes for the rest of their lives. However, as people age, the design of their homes and the activities they must complete to stay independent may become increasingly difficult. Knowledge about low and no-cost assistive technology (AT) that promotes independence can support Corps members in their service.

Building Community through Initiative Games and Team Building
Building community and an atmosphere of trust, respect, and support in your program area can be challenging. This workshop will focus on self-awareness, group dynamics, effective communication and conflict resolution through discussion and active participation in games and scenarios. This experiential workshop is ideal for teachers of all grade levels and disciplines that want to incorporate character education and challenge into their programs. Get ready to move and learn some great activities. Maximum capacity 25.

Dealing With Difficult People
Working with the general public is never easy! Difficult situations arise daily causing one to wonder if the situation was handled in a professional manner. Whether it is the 'complaining' parent, the 'know-it-all' volunteer, or the 'avoider' co-worker, this workshop will give you tips on how to work with each difficult person. You will also discover your triggers and learn how to identify your emotions and unconscious reactions. This workshop will help you get to the heart of conflict and turn 'enemies' into allies.

Delegate…And Make it Work
Basic steps of effective delegation will be presented, along with tips for coaching to successful outcomes.

Disaster Preparedness - Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared
Over 300,000 people live in Ada County. In the event of a major emergency or disaster, professional first responders such as firefighters and paramedics may not be able to meet the immediate demand for their life-saving services. If there was an earthquake in the Treasure Valley today, would you know what to do? If a powerful ice storm knocked-outpower throughout the valley and could not be restored for days, would you be prepared?

Effective Leadership
Applying Leadership Practices to your AmeriCorps Experience and Beyond - In this interactive session we will explore different leadership practices, learn how to recognize your personal leadership style, and discover ways to improve your leadership abilities.

Engaging People with Disabilities
Who are people with disabilities and how can we engage the entire community in volunteerism? This session will use interactive approach to expand the participant’s understanding about disability, and methods to reach out to the disability community. Universal design in outreach, job description creation, and welcoming environment for a quality service experience will be discussed.

Facilitating Meetings
Tips for running a successful, short meeting that covers everything you need to cover.

Handling Sensitive Topics and Risky Behaviors
In this session we will explore some of the reasons behind teen risk behaviors and what can be done by parents and caring adults to assist in risk reduction. We will examine brain research, influences and connections of risk behaviors and delve into best practices to assist with the decline of teen issues, especially early initiation of sexual activity, STDs and teen pregnancy.

How to Become an AmeriCorps Host Site
In this session we will find out what AmeriCorps can do for you. Learn more about Idaho's tutoring and mentoring programs. This session is for organziations and individuals who are interested in hosting an AmeriCorps Member/s in their school, agency, faith based organization or non-profit.

How to Retain Good Volunteers
The best way to increase your volunteer base is to retain current volunteers. From project beginning to end, volunteers need to feel good about themselves and their service. Retention includes motivating volunteers before the project, engaging them during the project, and leading them to reflect on their service. In this workshop you will explore tactical examples of how to retain good volunteers.

Keeping Youth Engaged
This session will drill down on how to structure your programs and activities to ensure youth keep coming back for more. We will specifically focus on how to use mixers and initiative games as metaphors to deepen leadership skills and increase creativity and commitment.

Lessons from the Field
Best Practices in Service Learning from ANSER Charter School.

Life After AmeriCorps
The Life After AmeriCorps workshop will be looking at how our experiences in service have prepared us for our next steps and will benefit us for the rest our lives. In addition, we will be discussing some of the common obstacles faced during the transition from AmeriCorps Service to life after AmeriCorps and how to overcome and make the most of them. This will be a fun and informational workshop for all AmeriCorps members.

Mentoring Youth
Are you a mentor? Have you had a mentor in your life? What makes a good mentor? This interactive session will help you identify skills that make a good mentor, as well as ways to help you recognize mentors in your life.

Nuts and Bolts of Service Learning
Let’s get to the essential inner workings of service learning. In a lively, interactive workshop, explore how service learning is much more than adding service – this is teaching at its best! Review preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration, and give your students the finest education experiences through service learning.

Practical Youth Outreach
struggle with reaching out to youth and keeping them engaged? This session will unpack innovative and time tested methods of youth outreach. We will focus on the fun factor, how to infuse your project with play and how to create room for youth to take the lead.

Project Citizen: Linking Public Policy and Service Learning
This session will provide an overview of Project Citizen and how it can fit into your service-learning program. Project Citizen is an exciting instructional program that involves an entire class of middle school or high school students in a series of structured cooperative learning activities. Students work to:
1. Identify a public policy concern in their community to study.
2. Gather and evaluate information on the concern from a variety of sources.
3. Examine and evaluate existing and proposed policies designed to deal with the problem.
4. Select or develop a proposed public policy designed to deal with the concern and evaluate its adherence to constitutional principles.
5. Develop a proposed action plan to show how they might attempt to influence their government to adopt their proposed policy.
The results of the students' work are displayed in a portfolio consisting of two sections: a four-panel display and a documentation binder. Once students have completed their Project Citizen project they can apply their knowledge by implementing a service-learning project in their community related to their project.

Risk Management for Volunteer Programs
In this facilitated panel, panelists will address areas regarding risk assessment and management issues that face organizations with volunteer programs/projects. Bring your questions and be prepared to get the answers from the experts.

Strategies for Success: Connecting Literacy and Character Ed to Service Learning
We hear the buzz words: literacy, character education, and safe school communities. How does service learning fit into this picture? Experience strategies for success, activities that model how service learning is a vehicle for best practices to advance and apply literacy and character development.

Students with Disabilities in Service learning
This is a 90-minute interactive workshop combining information, and Individual Educational Planning with hands-on creation of materials. Concept is suitable for a wide range of students, with and without disabilities, to create materials in service provision of literacy support. Africa Reads, a Ugandan literacy initiative, is used as an example.

Tapping into National Service Opportunities
Learn about National Service programs and projects, their history, focus and accomplishments and how to access the services of National Service programs in Idaho.

The Boomers are coming! Are you ready?
The transition to a new type of retirement is providing us with many opportunities to engage the enormous population of boomers/age 50+ adults in service. For many, however, the traditional volunteer roles are neither interesting nor practical, given the skills, interests and time constraints of this diverse cohort. This workshop will provide a snapshot of this rich and diverse cohort and some new ideas and practical tips for developing compelling and innovative volunteer roles within your organization

The Making of a Good Role Model
Each of us can point to individuals who powerfully and positively influenced our lives as we were growing up. What they said or did impacted our decisions and future direction. In this session we will look at the characteristics of those good role models and how we can increase our ability to model qualities that others will want to emulate. Be prepared to share your ideas and insights!

Using Your AmeriCorps Education Award
Lean about where to go for the answers to general questions about the trust, Request for Vouchers, the Ed Award Mailbox, Going Online – “Online Registration” for Payments or getting your payment the “Old” way. In addition, learn about the Interest Accrued Forms, Vouchers, 1099’s and Reconciliation Reports.

Volunteer Leadership Development
Long after a member’s departure, an organization benefits from a robust volunteer infrastructure that continues to sustain the activities of the organization. Essential to this sustainability are Project Leaders, community members who are trained to recognize community need and to lead other volunteers in service activities that will meet those needs. Project Leaders who are properly trained and supported can strengthen your program and expand the work you are able to do in the community. In this workshop, you will learn to develop a Project Leadership framework, recruit and equip Project Leaders, and support Project Leaders.

Working with the Media
How to Get Noticed in a Noisy World. When it comes to getting publicity for your projects and events, it can seem like a dog-eat-dog world out there. However, there are some simple steps you can take to increase your chances of getting newspaper, television, and radio coverage before, during and after your important events. Come prepared to strategize in this fast-paced, fun and creative session lead by a trainer who has experienced the world of media from both sides of the camera.