Why is the Youth Partnerships Initiative Important to West Central Minnesota?

• Conducting research and building curricula that address particular needs of schools and young people;
• Planning and implementing educational and recreational activities that enrich the lives of at risk and rural youth and encourage young people in rural areas to celebrate their heritage.

Current Community Partners

• Early Childhood Family Education: a program focused on parent education for families of infants through pre-kindergarten.
• School Readiness: targeted for families of children 3 1/2-5 years that are not enrolled in kindergarten.
• Youth Development/Youth Service: main focus is on helping youth develop their potential while providing opportunities to learn leadership skills.
• Recreational Services: program responsible for providing recreational opportunities to city residents.
• Enrichment Opportunities: program brochure full of classes and activities for people of all ages to participate in.
• Adult Basic Education: program for adults 18 and older who have not completed high school who want to prepare for the GED or sharpen basic skills.
• GED Testing Center: tests are given on an appointment basis in areas of writing, reading, science, social studies, and math.
• Learning Unlimited: a collaborative project with UMM to provide senior citizens programming with an emphasis on humanities.

• There are many facets to operating a ranch and a program. All girls are involved daily in many varied activities. All activities are designed with one ultimate goal--to provide the girls with opportunities for success.
• Horses are central at Heartland. Girls care for horses as part of their daily routine and treatment program. Working with a horse, a girl takes on the role of an authority figure.
• Equine Skill Acquisition Therapy is focused not on riding skills; but rather on self-discovery, what the horse can teach us about our relationships. In horse therapy group the girls have an assigned task to complete.
• Through cooperation with Benson Public Schools and the Montevideo Special Education Cooperative, Heartland Girls' Ranch is able to offer a very uniqe and effective school program.

Morris Area Child Care Center

Dawn Rohloff
1001 1/2 Scotts Ave.
Morris Mn, 56267
Phone: 320.589. 3341


Morris Area Child Care Center provides the environment and opportunity for the physical, social, and mental development of children. The Center and curriculum are designed to stimulate growth through a balance of guided and self-directed activities. Each child is given the opportunity for individual development and exploration through an environment that is creative, stimulating and nurturing. We also encourage and promote intergenerational programming between the nursing home residents of West Wind Village.

Morris Area Child Care Center aims to create an environment that fosters opportunities for the development of the child in the areas of:

• Self confidence
• Curiosity
• Sensory-motor skills
• Inner security
• Social skills
• Initiative and persistence
• Skill development
• Creativity and imagination

• provide University of Minnesota, Morris students with volunteer opportunities.
• provide elementary school children with meaningful tutoring and mentoring experiences.
• promote literacy in school age children throughout the Morris Community.
• provide tutors with helpful training and reading strategies, as well as meaningful reflection sessions on their volunteer experience.

Morris Area Elementary School
600 Columbia Ave
Morris, MN
56267
Phone: (320) 589-1250

Morris Area High School
201 S Columbia Ave
Morris, MN
56267
Phone: (320) 589-4400
Fax: 320-589-3203

The Morris Area Schools' Philosophy of Learning is:

• Every student can learn
• Educators are responsible for structuring the learning environment.
• Students are responsible for their own learning and making appropriate decisions.
  
• Students learn best when the instruction is meaningful and they experience success in a caring environment.
• Students learn best when educators and parents work cooperatively to provide a variety of learning experiences.

Examples of Current and Former Courses Participating in the Youth Mentorship Initiative

Political Science: 1201: American Government and Politics- Ongoing Course
Paula O'Loughlin
Students collaborate with Morris Area Community Education on a series of voter education and registrations drives on campus and in the community. Additionally, a group of ten students will also assist with the Kids Voting Program, teaching a curriculum to elementary school students and assisting with Voting Booth for Kids on election day.

Ed 1020: English in the American University
Spring 2008 Nancy Pederson
ESL students will participate in an intercultural exchange with Morris Area Elementary School fifth graders.

Eng 1131: Introduction to Literature
Fall 2007 Brook Miller
UMM students will assist fifth grade students with writing skills and work with them on reading and writing poetry. UMM and elementary students will plan a final project and reading. UMM students will write a series of assignments about the ways in which the experience of teaching elementary school students impacted their understanding of literary analysis.

Phil 2101: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
Fall 2007 Lory Lemke
UMM students will teach MAES students the basics of logic by creating and implementing a series of lessons plans that meet Minnesota state standards.

SOC 1101: Intro to Sociology - Ongoing Course
Jennifer Rothchild
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of sociology, exploration of societies and how they operate. By actively thinking about the issues facing societies today, students will learn to examine life situations and the influence of societies and groups on people's lives, careers, hopes, fears and personalities. Students will choose from a variety of projects to connect sociological concepts learned in class to real world challenges. Partners will include: Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance, the Pride of the Prairie/Local foods and regional farmers, Someplace Safe, TREC (Tutoring, Reading, and Enabling Children), West Central Research and Outreach Center, and intergenerational projects with West Wind Village and the Morris Area Child Care Center.

Theater 2111: Creative Dramatics With Children - Ongoing Course
Ray Schultz
Students will learn dramatics techniques which they will incorporate into lesson plans and theatrical activities geared toward elementary school children. The class will put these ideas into action by working with local elementary school children both on site and on campus.

SOC 3141: Sociology of Deviance
Jennifer Rothchild
Students may choose to assist with fundraising and event planning for Someplace Safe, an agency that educates about and advocate for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, or to mentor a girl in the juvenile justice system who lives at Heartland Girls' Ranch in Benson through a series of educational activities.

Music 3204: Advanced individual Performance Study
UMM students will teach voice lessons to MAHS students, who will perform their individual pieces at the end of the semester.

Span 3002: Advanced Spanish II - Former Course
Stacey Parker Aronson
Students will tutor adults and children for whom English is not a first language, translate documents into Spanish for local businesses, and teach Spanish language and aspects of Latino culture to school children.

MUS 1300: Concert Band - Former Course
John Ross
Students in this course have the option of tutoring high school students who play the same instruments. In addition, the band will provide a full-day clinic for Morris Area High School students and high school students at other schools in Minnesota. They will perform in a collaborative concert with UMM dance students and artists from the Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance, a community-based arts organization.