Global Kids Island Newsletter - September 2008

[Rafi Santo]

Hi Everyone,

I've included below the Global Kids Island monthly newsletter, which we distribute in-world on the teen grid.  Hopefully this can give people a sense of things that are happening in that space, and make sure that what happens in the teen grid doesn't just stay in the teen grid.

I've highlight in RED anything that's particularly relevant to parents, educators or residents of the main grid.

Also, if you're an educator or parent that would like to get your teen students involved in GK programs on the teen grid, or have college age students we can work with in our main grid Second Life projects, feel free to mail me off-list. 

best,

Rafi

=== Global Kids Newsletter ===

July, 2008

Welcome to the monthly Global Kids newsletter!  This is your chance to find out what's happening on the GK Islands and ways you can get involved! 

We've got all sorts of excitement going on this month.

   

+++++UPCOMING EVENTS+++++

++D.I.D.I. Hits the Main Grid!++

Greetings from the Dream It. Do It. Initiative, an exciting partnership between Global Kids and Ashoka's Youth Venture, open to young people and student groups in Second Life. Through January of 2009, the D.I.D.I. Initiative is supporting up to 40 teams of young people to launch ventures that benefit their communities, either within or outside the virtual world of Second Life.

After extensive work on the teen grid since September 2007, we are excited to expand our efforts to the main grid this fall!

If you are a young college-aged resident of Second Life, OR if you are a teen who will be transferring to the Main Grid soon, or an educator working with young people on SL's Main Grid please contact Meg...@globalkids.org or IM Coreina Grace in SL to learn how you can get involved!

Get the flier here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holymeatballs/2851288984/

And the blog post here:

http://www.holymeatballs.org/2008/09/didi_the_didi_initiative_comes_1.html

_____________________________________________________________________

++ Become a GK Intern! ++

Applications are open for the teen grid's most exciting leadership program!  Be part of a dynamic group of TSLers that are dedicating to making the grid, and the world, a better place.  Learn how to run your events with the help of the experts, get project planning skills, and even community service hours!

IM Rafi Gkid for full program info and application.

Deadline for application is midnight PDT on Sunday, September 28th, 2008

_____________________________________________________________________

++ Live from Uganda: Text Chat with Victoria on HIV/AIDS++

When: Sunday, September 14, 11:30am-1:00pm SLT

What: Global Kids will be holding a very special online conversation with Victoria, a remarkable Ugandan teen who has been personally touched by HIV/AIDS.  We will be communicating with her using a new tool by Global Kids called "Switchboard," which can exchange text messages between SL and virtually any cell phone in the world.   Do not miss it!

_____________________________________________________________________

++ September Fireside Workshops! ++

Look for new firesides coming your way during the month of September!  We have one event set already (see above), about the Hurricane Katrina three years later, to take place on Monday, September 15th, at 4 pm PDT.  Do you want to see a particular issue addressed during a fireside this month?  If so, IM Rafi Gkid with your idea!
_____________________________________________________________________

++++RECENT EVENTS++++

++ D.I.D.I. Summer Camp '08 Successfully Launches 5 Venture teams! ++
        
Congrats to all the teams that launched over the summer!

- [Gangs in Uniform] with Joey Alexandre and Storm Basiat
- C.R.N.T.egan with Tarkin Garzo and Jetta Egan
- Building for Charity with Alexander9 Carver, Katie Doigts,  Phlash Ansar,  Lee Soothsayer,  Ewan Lohner

- Team PlayWright with Teddie Twine and Wardy Romano

 - Hands and Paws Alliance with Nekoslash Innis, Rev Tengu and Baal Beaumon

         
View our DIDI Summer Camp '08 Flickr set here!

http://tinyurl.com/6o59a4
_____________________________________________________________________

++ I Dig Tanzania Program Video Released ++

In July 2008, Global Kids, the Field Museum of Chicago and the Biodiversity Synthesis Center worked together to organize the "I Dig Tanzania" virtual summer camp. This innovative project brought together 16 teens in Chicago and New York to learn about paleontology, scientific field research, and Tanzania culture using the virtual world of Teen Second Life.

We knew that explaining the camp to outsiders was going to be difficult. So we had this short video put together to describe the teens' experience. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed organizing the camp. Please share this with your parents/friends/colleagues who are curious about what happens in Second Life!

http://www.holymeatballs.org/2008/08/idt_i_dig_tanzania_promo_video.html
_____________________________________________________________________

++ Fireside Workshop: Gas at $4 a Gallon ++

Led by our summer Watson Fellow Michael, this workshop explored both the causes and implications of increasing gas prices globally.

Check out the blog post here:
http://www.holymeatballs.org/2008/08/tslleadership_workshop_on_gas.html

_____________________________________________________________________

++++ANNOUNCEMENTS++++

++ GK Releases Second Life Curriculum ++

The Global Kids Second Life Curriculum is officially available now at RezEd.org! It contains over 160 lesson plans for teaching the basics of Second Life, whether in a classroom, a library, or at home. The curriculum is available at no cost and is designed to be adaptable by practitioners for a variety of uses, from teaching science, to literature to global studies.

Get it here:
http://www.rezed.org/group/GKslcurriculum

_____________________________________________________________________

To keep up-to-date on Global Kids, join our group "Global Kids Allies". You can also learn more at our blog, http://www.holymeatballs.org, subscribe to our Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/Holymeatballs, or IM Bhikku Beeks.