May 12, 2013

A Backpack Journalist Workshops & Camps always close with a special multimedia or video presentation of the youth’s work that include examples of their photography (portraits, serious and not so serious) and  of their essays and writings.

Now, each youth will also receive a full-color “E” book – PORTFOLIO and a printed PORTFOLIO  of the experience as well.

Portfolio Book – Example
full-color examples of each student’s work!

This A Backpack Journalist Portfolio will provide each youth and their family a “picture book” and a record of the youth’s work and accomplishments.

As well, this Portfolio may be used when submitting information and examples of the youth’s work for college or other type of school applications.

A Backpack Journalist further supports the Portfolio with an on-line website that will house all of their youth’s work and Portfolios in an “E” book.  Each youth will receive ONE printed Portfolio with a workshop/camp registration and/or supply fee.  Additional Portfolios in print will be available on line, as well as the “E” book.

Additionally, the Portfolio will also be used when the “Backpackers” are credentialed as press to COVER THE ASSIGNMENT.  Upcoming?  The Points of Light Conference in Washington, DC, June 20-23, 2013, and also the Workshop/Camp to be held at Cantigny Place, Wheaton, Illinois.

For more information about A Backpack Journalist – Workshop/Camps, please visit our Curriculum Link on http://www.abackpackjournalist.com/workshopscamps/

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Live near Washington, DC!  IF so be sure and check out the listing of films showing this year at the GI Film Festival.

We will see you there next year – as we are now working on our first short!

http://www.journalism.ku.edu/ptsd-stream

The Nature Place, Colorado Outdoor Education Center

Atlanta, Georgia

April 17, 2013

“We are heading west!”  Are you a military youth living near Colorado Springs and have a love of nature and ready for a great experience!  We have a 3-day workshop and camp now accepting registration.  Read on – as this camp is grant funded, and complimentary to 12-14 military youth (the workshop – the lodging and all food!).

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Park has partnered with the teaching staff of A Backpack Journalist to present a 3-day Nature Learning Adventure that includes incorporating basic journalism skills such as how to observe, gather information, write then report on some of the most spectacular remnants of the earth’s prehistoric life.

This Nature Storytelling Camp also includes the use of the digital camera to capture the images to help complete the stories.  Each youth during this 3-days, will participate in creating a multi-media presentation for publication, and also building their own portfolio:

“Florissant Fossil Beds – A Nature Storytelling Camp”.

DATE:

Date:  July 26, 2013  – July 28, 2013 (Friday – Sunday)

ARRIVE by:  10 am – Friday, July 26, 2013

DEPART by:  4 pm – Sunday, July 28, 2013

LOCATION:

Sanborn Camp/Lodge – next to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument – Colorado. (approx. 50 miles from Colorado Springs.)

NOTE:

We have available 12 – 14 – complimentary youth openings. 

Complimentary includes:  lodging and meals at the Sanborn Camp/Lodge for Friday night and Saturday Night and checking out on Sunday.

For Friday – Sunday.  Lodge rooms can sleep 2-4.

Chaperones are required to attend with the youth.  We have available:  “paid” 1 lodge room, and meals for 2-3 Chaperones for 12-14 youth.

There is a registration packet to be completed by the youth/their parent or guardian and then the chaperone accompanying.  

SUPPLIES:  each youth must bring a minimum of a 20-gig thumb drive to save their photos and other work completed. Optional:  digital camera or laptop.   We will provide backpacks and t-shirts.  We also will have extra digital cameras and laptops for use.  (On site we will have extra thumb drives for purchase also.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION and to receive a registration packet:

Linda Dennis, Program Manager

colorado@abackpackjournalist.com

www.abackpackjournalist.com (curriculum/summer camps)

Phone is 404 314 8007

Description of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

A beautiful mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak holds spectacular remnants of the earth’s prehistoric life. Huge petrified redwoods and incredibly detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants reveal a very different Colorado of long ago. Almost 35 million years ago, enormous volcanic eruptions buried the then-lush valley and petrified the redwood trees that grew there. A lake formed in the valley and the fine-grained sediments at its bottom became the final resting-place for thousands of insects and plants. These sediments compacted into layers of shale and preserved the delicate details of these organisms as fossils. The Florissant Fossil Beds are world-renowned, and in 1969 were set aside as a part of our National Park System; Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Today, this 6,000-acre national park area contains a wonderland of mountain meadows, montane forests, and is rich in wildlife like elk, bear, fox, and coyotes. There are 14 miles of hiking trails for visitors to explore.

LODGING:  Sanborn Lodging/Camp:   address is shared with all elements of Colorado Outdoor Education Center.  The physical address is 2000 Old Stage Road Florissant, CO 80816.  For detailed instructions on travel please check the website at thenatureplace.net.

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Cantigny Park and the First Division Museum, Wheaton Illinois will be the location of a Citizen Journalist’ Workshop for Military Youth ages 12-17.

This workshop will take place on August 1- 3, 2013 with the support of a grant from the

Robert R. McCormick Foundation, committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens.

“A Backpack Journalist workshops are fun, educational and bring in a real world experience for all the youth who attend.  Often, we hear from the youth – ‘WOW, this is not like school – this is better!’ We look forward to learning more about The First Division Museum, Robert R. McCormick and sharing what we learn via a film.” Linda Dennis, Program Manager.

For three days. rotations of writing, photography and film making  will be taught by the qualified staff of A Backpack Journalist teachers for military youth from Illinois and the surrounding states.  During the workshop the teachers and military youth will also be interviewing Veterans and building a documentary on Cantigny Park, First Division Museum and Robert R. McCormick.  Each youth will be participating in each element:  interviewing, reporting to directing and then the final film.

Patty Barron, Director of AUSA Family Programs said, “We are so pleased to be involved with this workshop as our plans are to premiere this documentary at the 2013 AUSA ‘s Annual Meeting Military Family Forums. We have had A Backpack Journalist youth present at our Family Forums for the past three years and this year we look forward to sharing their experience at the workshop and interviews with the Veterans and other service members.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Cantigny@abackpackjournalist.com

Or call:  404 314 8007 – Linda Dennis, Program Manager

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Bethesda, Maryland

April 10, 2013

So how does Daniel open his performance?  He asked the audience:

“How many of you out there are in the military or love a soldier?  Then, put your hand over your Heart!  Feel the beat?  That’s the Heart of a Soldier!”

Daniel Jones performs live!

Behind him, on the screen an American Flag appears, a choir opens with the humming of Amazing Grace and quickly we begin to hear the sounds of a helicopter and sirens.  It’s Daniel and he’s rapping the lyrics of PTSD Won’t Stop Me!  Introduced over a year ago at DCOE, this A Backpack Journalist partnership video with The Nashville Film Institute, is available on line for viewing. (click on our advocacy link – PTSD and you will find it!)

Today, Daniel is invited in to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to a special conference to perform live.

And, he did.  He was rapping and moving about the stage with ease, and the audience loved it.  Imagine hearing the symptoms of PTSD put to music and actually tapping to the beat?

So how did he close his performance?  Going back to his first question – he quickly moved into The Heart of the Soldier!  Rapping again his original lyrics, he audience loved it – clapping and even whistles were heard!

Following this at a reception, many took the time to recognize Daniel and his presentation, and the best of all – was the slight smile and humble thank-you often heard expressed by Daniel.

Daniel is the son of a retired Army Reservist, and his Mom is a top flight Mary Kay Agent!  Congrats to them for sharing their son – with A Backpack Journalist and also today with many from the medical and arts and healing communities.

For more on Daniel Jones – The Masterpiece -

https://www.facebook.com/DKJMasterPiece

Lexie at her best!

Kat deep in thought!

Washington, DC April 8, 2013

A Backpack Journalist Interns -Lexie and Kat spent time today at the 4H National Conference sharing their lives as a Military Youth!  The 4H National Conference brought together youth ambassadors from all over the United States.  The majority of the members of 4H  have lived in one city or town most of their lives, attended one school and have never had a parent leave or deployed!  We call them “Civilians”!  So why were the “Backpackers” there?   We were invited in to share information on the life of the military child and also to provide information on our approach to building an advocacy program using our curricula.

Lexie and Kat each have a parent who has served in the US Military and deployed.  Each have had special events that their deployed  parent has missed being so far away!  And, each have had reintegration issues when the deployed parent returns home.  As Kat shared with the group.  ’You would think that when they come home it’s great.  But let me explain it this way.  For the year or so that they are deployed, all of us – the remaining family members, are in a boat and we somehow get a balance to keep floating along.  When the deployed parent returns and gets into our boat, well, it’s hard to manueuver”.

Linda Dennis, Program Manager, presented a short film  featuring the 9 Military Youth who attended the AUSA Family Forum in October of 2012.  Each of these 9 military youth had a story to share!  In total there were 39 moves, 19 deployments and 15 siblings involved!  The goal of sharing this film was to also allow the “voices” of these military youth to be directly shared and visually show the differences between the life of the Military Youth and  the “Civilian” 4H member.

Since PTSD awareness is one of the advocacy programs that A Backpack Journalist supports, Lexie openly shared her issues with what they are now calling – “Secondary PTSD”.  As she explained, “I am really close to my Dad.  He has PTSD and we are working through it, and in the process, I have secondary issues.”  Lexie is 17.

Over 66 youth and a several of the 4H leaders joined in throughout the sessions.  Confirmed throughout was that the 4H Ambassadors are perfect  young people – “boots on the ground”  to provide outreach and support for military youth in their communities.   The 4H groups each have monthly meetings and focused on serving their communities in a multitude of ways. Expect to see in the not to distance future, 4H Clubs adding an outreach program to support the military family and youth.  It’s all about the power of youth and the differences that they can make!  Go 4H!  Stay tuned!

are coming to Atlanta!  Day sessions are open to teens, ages 12 -17, with each workshop/camp combining digital photography, and storytelling, with writing and broadcast for 5-days of creative fun combined with technology.   A Backpack Journalist’ workshops are designed for the beginner or the experienced, as all classes rotate.  The evening sessions are for the adult learner or Veteran.

A Backpack Journalist workshops/camps are not like school! (Sssh!…)  It’s a creative experience.  The writing class is not the typical writing class, as the goal is to help the youth find their “voice”.  The photography is not just technical info, but also how to shoot great pictures for the moment!  Each attendee completes a portfolio digitally and in print.  Backpack Journalist’ portable digital lab is complete with the latest, greatest MACS and software.

June 10-14, 2013 (Day session): Become a Backpack Journalist!  Learn how to write and interview and then broadcast!  Experience and learn digital photography. Spend a day participating in a real world “reporting” experience. Each participant will create a portfolio, or a digital photo-story, in print and on line.

(Evening session)  The focus is on writing and digital storytelling for Veterans and the adult learner.

June 24-28, 2013 (Day Session):  So what’s a Cowboy got to do with becoming a Backpack Journalist?   Learn how to write and public speaking (broadcast) from real Cowboys.  Learn all about Portrait and Environmental Photography with a digital camera.  A trip to the Booth Museum, with the largest collection of Western Art is included.  Each youth will create a portfolio, or a digital photo-story, in print and on line.

(Evening session) The focus is on writing and digital storytelling for Veterans and the adult learner.

The goal of A Backpack Journalist is to provide a workshop that helps each youth or Veteran or adult learner to find his or her “Voice” and to build resilience through creative expression.  

The workshops are located within The Showcase School of Photography, 1135 Sheridan Rd. NE, off Cheshire Bridge Road & I-85.

For more information:  Linda Dennis, Program Manager – 404 314 8007

ATLANTA@abackpackjournalist.com or

www.abackpackjournalist.com  - Curriculum/Workshops/2013

Here – we will be posting the student’s work from each workshop!

For more locations/details – go to our Curriculum Link and click on Workshops 2013.

So what’s a porfolio?  It is a collection of the student’s work!  We are also providing a print copy as well!