Round 1 Finished!

As the holidays roll in the Bookmobile pulls in for a pit stop. We've finished our first round of book distributions, seeing over 4,000 kids and promoting disaster preparedness. We want to thank all the schools for your cooperation during our visits and we look forward to seeing everyone 2 more times in the winter and spring of 2009 (featuring out brand new vehicle). Remember, our goal is to make you happy, so let us know what books you would like to see added to our collection. We will do out best to ind what everyone wants. Also, we'd like to give a special thanks to School #54 for sending us cards. We love getting feedback from everyone and appreciate the time put into to making these works of art!

Return of the Bookmobile!

The 2008-2009 school year is in full swing which means the Bookmobile is once again roaring its engine at a school near you. This year we will be visiting a total of 16 different IPS schools and giving grades 2-5 the opportunity to select a new book. We have all the usual favorites in stock this year such as Hannah Montana, Capatain Underpants, Junie B. Jones and Goosebumps. Students have 3 different opportunities to select books from us during the school year, but that doesn't make choosing a great read any easier. A special thanks to all of our volunteers who help with distributions and to our Manual High School students who aid us as well. We look foward to visiting your school too and hope that kids remember that reading can be an adventure!

Fire Escape Plans

One of the most important things about a Family Disaster Plan is knowing how to escape your home in case of an emergency. Families often draw maps of their homes to help them femember which routes are the fastest and where the most accessible exits are. You should also have a meeting place outside your home your whole family can safely gather. I've displayed my fire escape plan here, now draw your own at home nd share it with your family!

Can you solve the puzzle?

provided by flash-gear.com

Upcoming appearances

The Youth and Educational Outreach team will be appearing at various locations around the city this month, including....

August 6th - Lawrence Early College Boot Camp

August 7th - Playfit/Target free family night at the Children's Museum

August 21st - 10th Annual Back to School Carnival Celebration at Julian Coleman Academies, IPS # 110.

September 4th - Perry Meridian Highschool Healthy Living Fair

Look for us at these events and others, and if you have an event you'd like us to attend please contact me at AMoschell@redcross-indy.org .

From the Desk of Kathleen Burkhardt

Rumblings of a forty-something year old bookmobile and practiced, steady words on disaster preparedness could be heard amid the typical shrieks, laughter, and games of summer camp in the Greater Indianapolis Area this year.

Cara McCord and I, two summer VISTAs for the American Red Cross Youth and Educational Outreach Department, made over 82 presentations to youth ranging in age from 3-17 at YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Indy Parks over the past eight weeks. Every Monday-Thursday Cara and I would strap ourselves into the bookmobile, rattle off down the road, and wonder what the day held for us. Although we gave the same 40 minute presentation up to six times a day, the variety of our audience ensured new experiences and lessons each time we detailed the importance of Disaster Kits and Family Disaster Plans. We soon learned that nearly every group, without fail, would mistake the Emergency Blanket for a PopTart; try to convince us that jumping out of a second story window was a good idea during a fire; adhere to some unspoken rule that when in doubt, shout out “Ice pack!”; and would never, ever remember Cara’s name.

In the end, we were able to reach 1,775 youth and educate them about disaster preparedness. Every student we met this summer learned at least one new thing from our presentation, which—when the information could save a life—made every word worthwhile.

- Katie Burkhardt -

Word Search Puzzle!

Here is a fun crossword puzzle for you to do at home. Just click the image and then print the page that appears!

Summer Youth Preparedness

The American Red Cross youth and educational outreach department has been having a busy summer. Though school is out and the youth of Indianapolis are scattered around neighborhoods, we’ve been working with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club to provide relevant information and fun presentations to kids at summer day camps. Teaching the program are two amazing AmeriCorps*VISTA workers, Cara McCord and Katie Burkhardt. When asked about the summer education efforts Cara said, “Teaching youth about Disaster Preparedness is imperative in our world today. The youth play a major role in changing the future world and being prepared for the unexpected is a good place to start.”

With the weather being as unpredictable as ever lately, the need to teach kids how to be prepared has become a major priority. The youth have been witnesses to the destruction and chaos that can be caused by tornadoes, floods and multiple other disasters. The presentations about being ready for such events give them something to relate to and teach them valuable skills. The focus has been getting families educated on the importance of having a disaster supplies kit and making sure everyone has a disaster plan. So far the kids have responded with enthusiasm and interest which ensures us that when the time comes, these kids will be ready!

For more information on disasters and how to be prepared, please visit the American Red Cross website at http://www.redcross-indy.org/ or by purchasing a disaster supplies kit at your local American Red Cross.

An Introduction

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis has always worked with the Youth of our community. From assisting with Red Cross Bookmobile distributions, to creating comfort kits to be used in disasters, to providing educational information about being prepared, the Youth of Indianapolis have been active more then ever. This blog is a way for us to share information with you about upcoming events and about how you too can become more involved.