Speak Out for Military Kids Retreat

1. Runke, Amber; Harries, Kia, Pettersen, Laura & Walgenbach, Madeson (April 2011). Speak Out for Military Kids – Successful Retreats. Workshop presented at 2011 DOD/USDA Family Resilience Conference, Chicago, IL.

2. Speak Out for Military Kids Retreat SOMK • Raises community awareness of issues faced by geographically dispersed military youth • A youth-led program facilitated and supported by adults

3. SOMK Retreat • Participants create presentations, then deliver informative briefings to a variety of audiences throughout the state • Youth gain knowledge and skills in developing creative and informative presentations in a variety of different media • Youth learn about the military lifestyle and culture and gain empathy for issues that confront military families

4. Weekend Event • Typically held on a Friday evening through Sunday noon • Hotel facility • One large meeting room • 5-10 sleeping rooms • Waterpark or recreational facilities • Catering access • Maximum of 25 youth (minimum 10) • Maximum of 4 adults

5. Promotion of event Flyer sent as PDF to military partners Sent to 4-H staff throughout state Posted on MN OMK website Sent to neighboring states (in vicinity where event is held) For youth in grades 7-12 Youth who have previously attended are placed on a waiting list MFLC engaged in entire program SOMK Overview

6. SAVE THE DATE: May 6-8, 2011 WHO: Youth in grades 7 – 12 WHAT: Speak out for Military Kids (SOMK) Retreat WHERE: Owatonna, MN Holiday Inn & Serengeti Water Park! WHEN: Friday, May 6th at 6:00 p.m. – Sunday, May 8th at noon WHY: To meet other young people, help tell others about what military families go through during mobilization and deployment, and HAVE FUN! PRICE: $15 program fee (used to defray the cost of expenses not covered by our grant funder. This fee can be waived upon request).To request a fee waiver, you MUST email BEFORE registering (kharries@umn.edu) to receive a Fee Waiver Code. Families will have no other expenses for this retreat. SOMK Promotional Material

7. Supply List • OMK Lanyards • Badges for Lanyards • Nametags • OMK Notebooks • OMK Folders • Journals • Kleenex • 3M Flipcharts • Pens • Pencils • Markers • CDs • Flash Drives • Post It Notes • OMK Wristbands • OMK Dog Tags • MTL – laptops, printer, video camera, digital camera, scanner • White Printer Paper • LCD (2) • Movies • SOMK Presentation Slips • SOMK Shirt (1 to show) • Wii’s (Systems & Chargers) • OMK Stickers • Games • Speaker/Microphone • OMK Pull-Up Banner • Fortune Cookie Debriefing Activity  • Thank You Cards • Schedules • Copies of Skill Sheets (Pages based on newest version of SOMK manual (pgs 123-125; 126-144; 149&151&155-156; 162-169; 175-179) • Certificates • SOMK Handbook – “Adolescent Adjustment Report” (extra copies (5) of pages 67-73) • Snacks (chips/candy/pop/water/etc.) & Plates, cups, napkins • Signs • Door Signs • Cooler • Activity Supplies • First Aid Kit • Accident Insurance

8. Parent Information • Letter sent to parents inviting them to hear presentations on final morning • Letter explains behavior expectations and what consequences will be • Explains where to meet OMK staff in hotel (look for OMK jersey)

9. 6:00 p.m. Registration & Check-in 6:30 p.m. Parent Informational Meeting & Ice Breakers 7:00 p.m. Supper 7:30 p.m. Recreation: Dog Tags 7:45 p.m. SOMK Presentations, Developing Messages, Creating a Presentation & Brainstorm Ideas 8:30 p.m. Reflection & Journal Time & Break 8:50 p.m. “Adjustments among Adolescents in Military Families when a Parent is Deployed” 9:30 p.m. Recreation; Review Sat. Schedule & ?’s 10:00 p.m. Free time –movies, games, Wii, etc. 11:30 p.m. In rooms for evening Midnight Lights out!! SOMK Schedule - Friday

10. SOMK Schedule - Saturday 7:30 a.m. Wake up, prepare for day & breakfast 8:45 a.m. Check-in on thoughts from last night 8:55 a.m. Recreation: Magic Carpet 9:15 a.m. Panel Presentation & dialogue with Military Personnel 10:30 a.m. Reflection and journal time & quick break 10:45 p.m. Work on developing presentations 12:00 p.m. Lunch & free time 1:00 p.m. Work on developing presentations & break at 3 4:30 p.m. Begin listening to presentations 5:30 p.m. Dinner  6:15 p.m. Waterpark 9:30 p.m. Socializing – movies, games, cards, etc. 11:00 p.m. Return to rooms for evening 11:30 p.m. Lights Out

11. Military Panel Goal For youth to hear from military personnel who have been deployed and have the opportunity to ask questions of the military personnel

12. SOMK Schedule - Sunday 7:15 a.m. Wake up, prepare for the day & breakfast  8:15 a.m. Journal & review plan for delivering presentations 8:25 a.m. Finalize presentations & prepare room 10:00 a.m. Debrief Activity 10:30 a.m. Welcome parents & explain retreat 10:45 p.m. Presentations, Photo Slideshow & Closing Ceremony 12:00 p.m. Farewells & Depart

13. Every Presentation Needs: • Your Name • Your Service Member’s Name, Rank and Branch of Service • How did a deployment(s) affect you (before, during and after) • How did you grow from a deployment • Advice for other military kids • Ways other people can support you

14. Presentations • Many families have never heard their child’s “story” • Youth are a great support network for others – for many, the opportunity to meet others “like them” • Emotional • Inspiring • New learning for audience

15. Mobile Technology Lab

16. Speak Out for Military Kids Retreats May 6-8, Owatonna MN – Registration Due April 15 Grades 7-12

17. Our Learnings • Engage partners to promote event • Service Members for “night hall duty” • Allow the hotel to cater as much as possible • Too many adults overwhelm the youth • Have someone who knows technology • Youth will bond quickly • Structured time, with flexibility, is important • Must have MFLC!

18. Our Learnings (cont.) • Collect participant e-mail addresses to send to the participants after retreat • Send appreciation letters to Commanders of Service Members that supported retreat for their personnel files • Mail participants their presentation and the photo slideshow • Create an incentive for them to share their presentation

19. Wisconsin’s Learnings • First hand experience • Youth participants input • Must have’s • Get to know you • Water park & free time • Service member presentation • Practice, practice, practice times • Journal time, reflection, & debrief

20. Youth Input • Promotion • Food • Schedule • Activities • Presentations • Mobile Tech Lab • Outcomes

21. Wisconsin Specifics • Meals • Housing • MFLC • Journaling • Presentation do’s & don’ts • Service member presentation • Get –to-know you’s & teambuilding

22. Unique to Wisconsin • Initiated a one day SOMK experience • Utilized Fort McCoy • Child, Youth, and School Services • Computer Lab • Restaurant • Presentations

23. Evaluation “I learned I really did make a difference in my friend’s life when her dad was deployed.” “I didn’t know programs like this existed. It’s great meeting other kids from military families. I want to participate in more.” “I had never made a PowerPoint presentation before. It was great learning how to do that.”

24. The Value of SOMK • Five C’s http://ase.tufts.edu/iaryd/publicationsRecent.htm • 4-H Essential Elements www.national4-hheadquarters.gov • Search Institutes Developmental Assets www.search-institute.org

25. SOMK RETREAT Madeson Walgenbach

26. What I gained from the SOMK RETREAT: Friendships

27. Skills and Knowledge

28. Vigilance

29. Support

30. Planning the SOMK Retreat

31. Contact • Kia Harries- University of Minnesota Extension, 4-H Military Liaison, 507.372.3908, kharries@umn.edu • Amber Runke- University of Minnesota Extension, OMK/4-H Program Specialist, 612.624.8198, runk0014@umn.edu • Laura Pettersen- University of Wisconsin Extension, Operation Military Kids Project Director, 608-487-1966, www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/omk, laura.pettersen@ces.uwex.edu

32. Thank You!