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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCedar Valley's Promise-Proposal-02.16.2009 .0-oo9 — Cedar Valley's Promise ©�� tu BEST "Uniting for the Love of Our Children" COMMUNITIES t YYLVAC Peok f Mentor Protect Nurture Teach Serve Cedar Valley's Promise Proposal Format I. Contractor information A. Application date: February 3, 2009 B. Name of Agency/Provider: Waterloo Center for the Arts C. Address: 225 Commercial Street I Waterloo, IA 50701 D. Telephone number: (319)291-4490 E. Persons responsible: Cammie Scully I cammie.scully@waterloo-ia.org Shannon Farlow I shannon.farlow@waterloo-ia.org F. Legal name and title of person signing: Cammie Scully, Executive Director G. Federal Tax Identification number: 42-6005327 II. Abstract Overview— in one page or less please answer the following items: A. Name of Proposal: Free Early Childhood Tours at the Phelps Youth Pavilion B. Purpose of Proposal The goal of this project is to provide a free,cultural experience at the Phelps Youth Pavilion for 6,666 preschool-age children.Today's children are tomorrow's future, and this project has the power to give young children the tools to succeed now so their future(and ours)can be bright. This project will introduce the Waterloo Center for the Arts'mission to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity due to barriers of finances,time,awareness,or perceived interest. C. Amount of funding requested: $19,998 D. Duration of the Proposal: July 1, 2009—June 30, 2010 E. Schedule of proposal dates and times Tours of the Phelps Youth Pavilion can be scheduled Tuesday through Friday between 9:30am—5:00pm. Each preschool group/organization will individually schedule a tour date/time that works best for their group. F. Outline of curriculum The Pavilion exhibits are directly related to Art, History, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Technology, and Critical Thinking. Specifically,the 9 exhibits in the Caribbean Kinder Island, an area designed for children ages 0—6,focus on supporting the development of early learning principles such as large-motor skills, sensory awareness, hands-on exploration,social-emotional growth,and cognitive and language understanding. Participating children will be exposed to an interactive learning experience that incorporates the arts, Character Counts values, and educational concepts, all in one setting! Kids will be having so much fun they won't even realize they are learning. Just like adults, kids remember things better when they're actually interacting and being engaged and the Phelps Youth Pavilion offers this experiential learning component. It's all about kids touching, feeling, playing, and EXPERIENCING. This project will provide cultural connections and an innovative place for children to play, explore, and learn,which will ultimately enhance the play-to-learn concept for participating children and chaperones. Giving young children access to and exposure to cultural and arts concepts will build lifelong learners in tomorrow's future leaders. At the Phelps Youth Pavilion, preschool age children will learn about different cultures and the visual arts. The Pavilion is a unique, learning experience for preschool age children, where its hands-on exhibits help kids develop creative thinking skills as they touch, play, learn, climb on, and interact with the play-to-learn spaces. Throughout the tour experience,there are also lessons that the children can take home and learn from. Additionally,the Pavilion's exhibits were developed in line with the schools' benchmarks and standards, so giving this tour experience to young children will help prepare them for concepts they will later learn in school. - 1 - Free Earfi Childhood Tours at the Phelps Youth Pavilion During their tour,children will explore a world of wonder,discovery& learning with over 40 hands-on exhibits in 3 galleries. The Pavilion's galleries bring arts and cultural themes to life for children and adults.Exhibitions are designed for multiple outcomes,so children will want to return again and again and again.McElroy Junior Art Galleries I&II are full of exciting permanent exhibits ranging from simple hands on art activities like creating your own Mola,to amazing high-tech adventures like digital finger painting. Junior Art Gallery III features changing exhibitions specifically for children and families. Tiny Tots Tide Pool:This discovery area is designed especially for our very youngest visitors, separated from the larger Kinder Island so that infants and toddlers are free to explore without fear of being overwhelmed by older children.Featuring a fun ocean theme filled with bright colors,textures,sounds and kinetic elements,this area includes a wide range of toys and activities to enhance visual skills and promote overall physical and mental development.Elements include a sculptural floor mat representing ocean waves,an aquarium wall featuring real tropical fish and sea creatures,overhead elements,balls,mirrors,manipulatives,and a simple puppet activity to encourage interactive play. Feet Beat Steel Drum: One of several exhibit areas that make up the tropical-themed Kinder Island,an area planned especially to serve our youngest visitors;Feet Beat is a fun and exciting calypso drum dance pad.This walk-on floor mounted disc is equipped with special sensors,which activate various steel drum sounds.As children walk,run, jump or dance on the surface,they will create their own sunny Caribbean rhythms. Tropical Toddlers Playhouse:This peek-a-boo play structure resembles a traditional colonial-style house common throughout the Caribbean region.With vibrant colors,shuttered doors and windows,and a fruit vending activity,it's the perfect place for young visitors to engage in imaginative play. Sky Magic: There's fun and excitement everywhere you turn in the dynamic Caribbean themed Kinder Island.Look up and visitors will be treated to a rainbow of colorful kites as part of an exhibit called"Sky Magic."A crank mounted on the trunk of a palm tree sets the kites flying overhead.Young visitors will be entertained and amazed while developing manual dexterity skills and learning about cause and effect relationships. Tap Tap Taxi:Inspired by the distinctive painted buses common in Haiti(as much works of art as modes of transportation),our kid-friendly version rocks and bounces,makes noise and is tons of fun for imaginative play and social interactions.It is believed that the term Tap-Taps derives from the noise they make rolling on the bumpy streets.Colorful,blaring music,full of people and sometimes even chickens or goats,these buses"tap-tap"down the bumpy streets taking their passengers to their destinations!All aboard—the Tap Tap Taxi is the perfect vehicle for the imagination of any young rider! Catch&Count Fishing Boat:No trip to the Caribbean would be complete without a ride in a boat on the deep blue sea! Children can leave reality behind as they sail,and with special magnetized fish and poles,catch fish such as those pictured in artwork from our Haitian Art collection.Ocean sounds complete the experience as children develop motor and social skills,and learn to role-play. Hand&Sand Activity Table: Waterloo may be far from an ocean,but tons of beach fun can be enjoyed while playing at the enclosed sand table.Clear plexiglass provides see-through views of sea creatures.These creatures are magnetized and children can move them through the sand by waving magnetic wands underneath the bottom of the table.Tons of fun-and no mess! Living Colors Aquarium:Experience the art of nature by studying the distinctive shapes,striking colors and enchanting movements of the sea creatures on display in the Living Colors Aquarium. Finger Fun Digital Painting: Fingers make the best brushes! Using a specially designed touch screen,little painters have the opportunity to express themselves in a whole new way.And without paper or paints—no aprons are needed and no clean up is required! G. Target population The target population is preschool-age children,all genders,ethnicities,and socio-economic backgrounds. This project has the opportunity to give 6,666 early childhood learners a free,hands-on tour of the Phelps Youth Pavilion. Because this project includes preschool-age children from across the Cedar Valley,and the project removes the financial barrier to visiting the Pavilion,it is likely that it will impact some children who are involved with child welfare or Juvenile Court Services. H. Collaboration efforts This is a great opportunity to collaborate with the many day care centers/homes,preschools and other early childhood groups in providing quality, learning experiences to their children. The Center is also partnering with the R.J. McElroy Trust to provide free busing money for preschool tours at the Pavilion. Lastly, the Center would work closely with Cedar Valley's Promise in promoting this opportunity. -2 - Free Larhv('/uld/lood Tours at the Phelp=)oath Pavilion In a separate section address the following items: III. Explain in narrative detail: A. CVP/task team goal This project meets all 5 of Cedar Valley's Promise's goals. GOAL 1: Each person in the community is a life-long learner and a caring,responsible citizen. Free hands-on tours of the Phelps Youth Pavilion will give children access to quality,early childhood educational opportunities so they can enter school ready to succeed.The experience will include adult tour guides and a parent or caregiver,providing great role models who demonstrate respectful,responsible care giving and instruction. The Pavilion's exhibits have many educational correlations and relate to the Six Pillars of Character,offering a common vision and language for character education as these young learners get prepared for school. GOAL:2 Parents,friends and other persons in the community model positive,responsible behaviors. All Phelps Youth Pavilion staff and each tour group's chaperones will be positive,responsible role models for early childhood learners. The Pavilion staff and tour guides are well-trained in mentoring young children through the Pavilion exhibits and always demonstrate a high level of care,safety and acceptance of diversity. GOAL:3 All individuals/families are self-sufficient. Developing one's self-sufficiency can be a life-long process,and this program gives children the opportunity to see and experience one of the most impressive resources in their community without any barriers. A free Pavilion experience can assist in the development of a child's progression in seeking out the different resources for them in their community. GOAL 4:Youth areprovided with positive opportunities. With this project,youth are provided with opportunities and access to participate in a community program offered by the Waterloo Center for the Arts.The Pavilion was developed with a fundamental focus on giving youth a unique,cultural experience,in their own backyard,to help them develop lifelong skills and positive memories. GOAL:5 Every child lives in a safe,nurturing environment that promotes a healthy start and future. The Phelps Youth Pavilion is a safe, community-based resource,and by funding preschool tour admissions,this project will make this opportunity available to everyone,regardless of their living situation,background,socio-economic status,history, among other potential barriers. GOAL 6:Persons in the community RESPECT and embrace similarities and differences between cultures and groups. With this project's focus on cultural and artistic connections through preschool tours/admissions,young visitors to the Pavilion will develop cultural competencies by viewing and interacting with the hands-on exhibits. Each exhibit has a takeaway for early childhood learners,especially the Caribbean Kinder Island that is specifically designed for infants and toddlers,and the Creativity Across Cultures exhibit area that gives visitors a chance to experience and learn about 5 different countries. Additionally,as tour groups arrive at the Waterloo Center for the Arts,they will be introduced to the Center as a whole and see how it offers cultural learning opportunities and experiences are for all segments of the community. When people have a better understanding of the different cultures in our community,they become more accepting and it makes the community a safer,more supportive environment. This also encourages young people in the community to recognize and respect the inherent value of each individual. B. Community need and research support The Phelps Youth Pavilion is an innovative place for children to play,explore,and learn,and it has the power to serve a population of people as diverse as the Cedar Valley community. This project offers a free experience to our community's youngest learners,which will give them a great foundation for learning and using their creative and critical thinking skills. Arts education makes a world of difference in a child's development, and the Pavilion brings art and culture to life, giving kids of all ages an opportunity to see and interact with a world of wonder,discovery and learning. Studies have shown that: ■ Arts education enhances early childhood development,especially that of the brain and motor coordination. • Arts education increases self-esteem,teaches teamwork,heightens motivation,hones discipline,and sharpens problem-solving skills. • Afterschool and drop-in arts education programs help keep kids out of trouble,and are proven to be effective in reducing delinquency and truancy problems among at-risk youth. • A high quality arts education leads to superior overall academic performance. • Students who study the arts for 4 years score an average of 89 points higher on the SAT,according to College Board research. While most parents(89%)agree that it is important that art be taught in school,what they might not realize is that meeting the current minimum standards of arts education is not nearly enough. In addition to advocating for and supporting a strong arts program in our school districts,parents can help their children enjoy the arts outside of school by participating together at home,taking advantage of our community's cultural resources,like the Phelps Youth Pavilion. The Phelps Youth Pavilion is the result of 12 years of strategic research and planning. The Pavilion has had over 30,000 visitors since opening its doors in early 2008. The Pavilion,not a drop-off spot for parents,was designed with the intent of - 3 - Free Early Child/low,Tours at the Phelps Youth Parilion adult-child interaction,involving both playing and learning together. After experiencing the Pavilion,parents will see the development of creative thinking skills,which will contribute to their child's future educational interactions. And current brain research supports what arts educators have witnessed for many years,that"...the arts lay the foundation for later academic and career success. A strong art foundation builds creativity,concentration, problem solving,self-efficacy, coordination,and values attention and self-discipline."(Eric Jenson, Teaching with the Brain in Mind) Today's children are tomorrow's future, and this project has the power to give young children the tools to succeed now so their future(and ours)can be bright. This project will introduce the Waterloo Center for the Arts'mission to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity due to barriers of finances,time,awareness,or perceived interest,and giving children memorable learning experiences like this will carry them throughout life and make them more dynamic,productive citizens. The Phelps Youth Pavilion is an innovative place for children to play,explore,and learn,and it has the power to serve a population of people as diverse as the Cedar Valley community. This project offers a free resource to our community's youngest learners,which will give them a great foundation for learning and using their creative and critical thinking skills. "The Youth Pavilion will be an invaluable resource for the children of our community, a place for them to explore their natural creativity and imagination, to make new discoveries about themselves and others, and to express how they feel about things. Now that arts funding is being cut in schools,places like the Youth Pavilion are more important than ever. The arts develop the imagination;without an imagination we cannot see possibilities for ourselves or society."-Bonnie Koloc, Honorary Co-chair, Youth Pavilion Campaign This program has the potential to give 6,666 young children the Phelps Youth Pavilion experience—for free. This program is needed because not everyone has the resources to give their children exposure to the unique, interactive experiences that the Pavilion provides.The more young children who experience the hands-on learning at the Phelps Youth Pavilion,the more enriched the Cedar Valley community will be. Below outlines the outcome data from the 2008-2009 year,to-date(1s`year of program): - Available free tour coupons:666(each coupon admits 10 children) 460 coupons have been distributed by Cedar Valley's Promise - 568 preschool-age children and 119 adults have toured/are schedule to tour the Pavilion for free - With 5 months still remaining in this year's project,the Center anticipates the distribution of the remaining coupons, and many more early childhood groups taking advantage of this opportunity. Because Cedar Valley's Promise has connections to and the expertise in working with early childhood organizations and groups,it is the ideal organization to partner with and give the Pavilion experience to young children. The opportunity to offer its constituents free Pavilion tours is a great resource for the Promise,and it can also serve as an impressive tool to attract potential new partners to the Promise. C. Program description 1. Location of service The Phelps Youth Pavilion is located at the Waterloo Center for the Arts,225 Commercial Street in downtown Waterloo. 2. Frequency of service Tours of the Phelps Youth Pavilion typically last 2 hours and are available Tuesday through Friday, 9:30am—5:00pm. The Pavilion's general admission hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am—5pm and Sundays 1-5pm. 3. Minimum and maximum number of participants. Tour groups can have between 12 and 75 children to qualify for a guided tour. Special arrangements are possible for groups outside of that range. For safety reasons, the Center does require 1 adult for every 6 children on the tour. This gives the tour guides the opportunity to focus on explaining the exhibits and helping the children get the most out of their experience. Depending on the size of the tour,the group is split into 2 or 3 smaller groups,each with a docent who will guide the group through a 2-hour Pavilion experience. D. Program management Cammie Scully, Executive Director, Kent Shankle, Curator, and Carolyn Carpenter, Phelps Youth Pavilion Manager will manage this project,with input from eight additional full-time Waterloo Center for the Arts staff. The Center's receptionists book the early childhood tours, and the Pavilion Manager schedules tour guides to accommodate, and also ensures that the Pavilion's exhibits are sanitized, functioning correctly, and ready to serve each tour group. (Note: The Pavilion staff sanitizes the exhibit areas throughout each day, with a deeper cleaning taking place every evening by maintenance staff. Visitors are also encouraged to use the hand sanitizer provided at the entrances of each of the Pavilion's galleries.) -4 - Free Early Childhood Tours at the PhelpsYouth Pavilion E. Performance/Outcome measurement 4. Indicate program outcomes that can be measured (this should be represented in a number or percent) to show how the youth/community will change because of this service The return on this investment is creative, imaginative, well-rounded leaders for tomorrow. The more early childhood learners who experience the hands-on learning at the Phelps Youth Pavilion,the more enriched the Cedar Valley community will be. This free experience will be measured by the number of free tour coupons distributed and redeemed, which ultimately results in the number of young people who have been exposed to unique, cultural experiences. During 2008-2009, 460 coupons were distributed by Cedar Valley's Promise and 568 children/1 19 adults have/are scheduled to tour the Pavilion for free. The success of this program will be measured by having 100%of the coupons distributed(69%distributed to-date in 2008-2009),and 6,666 children experience the Pavilion. The free, early childhood tours will be promoted by the Waterloo Center for the Arts and Cedar Valley's Promise, with the Promise being responsible for distributed the 666 available'free tour' coupons(each coupon is valid for 10 persons). 5. Use percentages or numbers to show reasonable changes and impact this proposal will have on core child welfare services. N/A F. Tracking/evaluation of outcomes This program satisfies all 5 community plan indicators. The hands-on learning experiences at the Pavilion give each participant (child and adult) the opportunity to be engaged and learn something new. The tour guides and tour chaperones are caring, responsible citizens who model positive, responsible behaviors. The Pavilion is a self-directed, interactive experience, which challenges participants to be self-sufficient in their experience, while knowing they are surrounded by caring, adult tour guides and mentors. Playing to learn and learning to play at the Pavilion offers youth a positive,nurturing environment that promotes a healthy start and future; and the foundation of the Pavilion's mission is to encourage early childhood learners to identify and embrace common understandings, similarities, and differences between cultures and groups. The Center will track and measure the effectiveness of this project's impact through the number of free preschool-age tours booked, coupons redeemed, and the number of discounted admission coupons that are redeemed after the tours take place. Each tour group is also provided a pre- and post-tour packet of information,which includes information to prepare the group for their tour experience, and a survey to complete after their tour experience, giving every tour group the opportunity to provide feedback,take-aways,and suggestions from their Pavilion experience. Every child who attends a tour at the Phelps Youth Pavilion is also given a$1 off admission coupon to use on a future visit. This coupon will allow the Center to track the retention of its tour participants,and will encourage the children to bring their families back to the Pavilion for an experience they can share together.This tracking tool will illustrate the children's interest in the Pavilion experience. See attached sample tracking tools. G. Sustainability Because the project so closely aligns with the mission of Cedar Valley's Promise,the Waterloo Center for the Arts will give Cedar Valley's Promise the first opportunity to sponsor this program. The Center will also be conducting an annual fundraising campaign that would help in providing resources for this project. IV. Budget Management A. Attach a line-item budget INCOME EXPENSES Waterloo Center for the Arts $22,139 1 Tour Experience I $23,331 R.J.McElroy Trust $12,600 Busing $12,600 Cedar Valley's Promise $19,998 Staff Time $10,640 Marketing&Printing $1,500 Take-away Promotion j $6,666 Total Income $54,737 I Total Expenses i $54,737 Cost Per Unit:Cost Per Unit:This project can serve 6,666 early childhood learners throughout the year(52 weeks). This results in a Cost per Unit of$0.16 per child,per week. - 5 - ere!Larh Childhood Tours al the Phelps Youth Pavilion B. Budget narrative-a brief narrative description of the line item budget justifying costs. Free tours of the Phelps Youth Pavilion for preschool age children will bring attention to cultural and arts concepts and fulfill an unmet need in the community for providing unique,hands-on experiences at the Pavilion. Kids will learn about different cultures and the visual arts,and build creative thinking skills in a variety of ways. • Tour Experience: This project can serve 6,666 young children,and the group tour rate is$3/person,so,6,666 children @$3/child=$19,998.Chaperones are admitted free,so 1,111 chaperones @$3/adult=$3,333. • Staff Time:Each tour is 2 hours and has 2 docents who will guide the children through the Pavilion. With salary and benefits,each docent is paid$10/hour,so each tour costs$40 in staff time. There are an average of 25 preschool children on each tour,so 266 free tours are available.266 tours @$40/tour=$10,640 • Marketing&Printing:Printing of brochures,free tour coupons for preschools/daycares, and discount coupons for children to promote free tours to local daycares,preschools and early childhood development groups • Take-away Promotion:Every child who attends a tour at the Phelps Youth Pavilion is also given a$1 off admission coupon to use on a future visit. With 6,666 children taking advantage of the free tours,this cost=$6,666. • Busing:The RJ McElroy Trust will reimburse up to$90 per tour.These funds are limited and are distributed on a first come,first serve basis. C. In-kind contributions The Waterloo Center for the Arts will give every child who attends a Phelps Youth Pavilion tour a$1 off admission coupon to use on a future visit.All adult chaperones(1 for every 6 children)will also be admitted free. D. Total budget Project Matching CVP Expenses Funds i Request Tour Experience-Kids $19,998 $0 $19,998 Tour Experience-Chaperones j $3,333 $3,333 $0 Waterloo Center for the Arts (in-kind) Busing $12,600 $12,600 $0 R.J.McElroy Trust Staff Time i $10,640 $10,640 ` $0 Waterloo Center for the Arts Marketing & Printing $1,500 $1,500 $0 Waterloo Center for the Arts Take-away Promotion $6,666 $6,666 $0 Waterloo Center for the Arts (in-kind) Total Project Budget: $54,737 $34,739 $19,998 36.5%of Project Budget E. Other funding sources for this specific program or service The Waterloo Center for the Arts will fund the operating and marketing expenses,the R.J.McElroy Trust will provide free busing money to participating tour groups,and the Cedar Valley's Promise/Empowerment would have the benefit of being the`sponsor'of providing this tour experience to early childhood learners. V. Other Contracted Programs In June 2008,the Waterloo Center for the Arts received$20,000 to provide free tours of the Phelps Youth Pavilion to preschool and daycare facilities. VI. Attachments A. Proof of Insurance for the amount to cover the contract B. Letters of recommendation (optional) - 6 - r