Weekly Media Roundup - November 7, 2012

A new afterschool program in Tumwater is not only teaching students how to repair a flat tire, adjust a bicycle seat and safety skills, but also promoting physical fitness and environmental education, The Olympian reports. When students complete Intercity Transit’s two-day Bike PARTners workshop they can receive their own newly refurbished bike. About 200 children have earned bikes since the program began in January 2010.

 

Afterschool students on the robotics team at Sycamore Elementary School and Central Middle School have been challenged to come up with ideas to help senior citizens become more independent, engaged and connected as part of a robotics tournament. The students plan to pitch their idea for portable stairs to help seniors get in and out of cars on Nov. 17 at the FIRST LEGO League qualifying tournament at Purdue University, the Kokomo Tribune reports. The robots the students build will also earn points by having their robots performing activities and tasks that a senior citizen might be found doing, fixing a LEGO chair, exercising, quilting, picking up a pill bottle, and more.

 

Eight teams of afterschool students from elementary programs from Trinidad to Carlotta worked with local mentor chefs to create original salsa recipes emphasizing fresh, local ingredients and competed in the third annual North Coast Youth Culinary All Stars Salsa Recipe Competition. The “Most Marketable” award went to South Fortuna Elementary for their “Viva Las Veggies Salsa.” The salsa will be produced commercially and distributed throughout Humboldt County, the Times-Standard reports.

 

The Tiger Bay Club sponsored a forum on youth violence last week in Bradenton. Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County President Carl Weeks said that young students become uninterested in school and get attracted to gangs. He said that safe afterschool programs and mentoring from quality adults can be a positive outlet for young people, the Bradenton Herald reports. “It all goes back to prevention with our young people,” said Weeks.