Perspective into the Program
February 2011
Amazing! It has been two years since my last entry! My apologies to those of you who thought I might have dropped off the edge off the edge of the Earth!
Needless to say Tom and I are incredibly busy. As well as running his successful Handyman business, he continues to present Ready or Not, our urban disaster preparedness/survival program. We now present twice a year for QUALCOMM employees and were delighted to receive a small monetary grant from QUALCOMM last year. We also present on a regular basis for CERT groups, and other community groups.
I was busy enjoying retirement when an incredible opportunity came my way! With the support of the Lakeside Firefighter's Association, I ran for a position on the governing board. And, guess what! Thousands of Lakeside residents voted for me! I am currently a Director on the governing board of the Lakeside Fire Protection District and also a member of the Board of Commision of the Heartland Commnicatons Facility Authority.
For those of you who knew my Dad, that very proud English gentleman; he passed away in October 2010. My heart is still hurting. He was my best friend and even though he lived so far away in jolly old England, we had communicated on a regular basis by cassette tapes for eleven ears. That, my friends, was a lot of chat!
Our GIrls are now three years old and there are a few photos on my other website.
Hugs to you all!
February 2009
It has been two years since the "music died." Not really. It was just time for us to switch gears and move on discovering new paths. In the early spring of 2008, Tom and I were blessed to meet a group of young people from Americorps. They were working with San Diego County Parks and Recreation and they "camped" at Stelzer Park. We developed "Wilderness Wednesdays" but that quickly turned into Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays! What an amazing group.
For those of you who knew "Boy" dog, he passed away in April of 2008. We miss him. He was an integral part of the program. But his passing made room for our two new "fur children," Legend and Mystery. They are Boglen Terriers; a cross between a Beagle and a Boston Terrier. They have changed our lives and all who meet them. They are known as the "Buddha Belly Babies" as they roll upside down and wait for you to rub their tummies and make a wish. No, we didn't teach them; they came equipped with this magic! Hope you like the photo!
March 10, 2006
Unfortunately the grant funding for the Coyote Youth
program is over. There is nothing on the horizon as far
as Abraxas High and the Poway United School District are
concerned. So, at the end of June we will be "beating
the streets looking for
funding
to
keep
on
keeping
on! We are, of course, disappointed that our program is
ending. Its success was beyond anything we could have imagined,
but with the focus of all school districts on testing and
high school exit exams, alternative curriculum programs
take a back seat.
We are optimistic however, that a new chapter will be
written soon. One in which we continue to touch the lives
of the kids, truly make a difference, and continue to work
to save our Earth. If you know of any funding sources or
want to make a donation, please contact Susan by email:
susan@careforthefuture.org
January
20, 2004
The Cedar Fire made us realize how important things like
electric power and telephones have become in our lives!
Though our house did NOT burn, we suffered extensive damage
to our outbuildings and vehicles. Fortunately, we have
a good insurance policy and will be reimbursed for much
that we lost. The hard part was living without electric
power for 11 days and without a land-line phone for seven
weeks! Can you even begin to imagine how difficult it was
to function with a district wherein everyone uses email
to stay in contact! Thank goodness we are back in the 21st
century now.
Abraxas High continues to be our facal point for new and
innovative programs. If it works there, it can work anywhere!
WIth a little help from Coyote Youth, a new principal and
a year-round schedule, programs are easier to try out,
students are more focused, course completions are up, attendance
is up and discipline is down! Things are good. The students
are awesome! And, most of all, Tom and I are grateful for
our jobs!
May `4, 2003
It has been ages since I updated this page. We have been
so busy. Poway High now takes part in the wilderness training.
Abraxas High keeps us busy three days each week with the
Success Orientation class and the Coyote Youth English class.
We now accept vehicle donations. What a great way for folks
to help out the kids!
December 27, 2002
Rancho Bernardo High School has completed two wilderness
training sessions and has signed up for more!
Just as an aside, we are not some sort of a boot camp for
juvenile delinquents, sent by the Court. Rather, we work,
under grant from the Poway Unified School District and the
Los Rancheros Kiwanis Club to provide the program for youth
attending the Poway Unified School District schools. Our
training programs are After School Programs with on campus
activities. We do NOT take kids to the wilderness and hope
they survive. Instead, we use the wilderness survival training
activities, correlated to school standards to not only increase
self esteem and confidence, but also to increase school
grades and interest in literacy.
October 22, 2002
Yesterday we met with support staff of Rancho Bernardo
High School. Beginning in November, students of RB will
be attending the wilderness training provided by the Coyote
Youth Project.
October 16, 2002
Today we received the Freedom Award from the Los Rancheros
Kiwanis CLub. Brian Maienschein, San Diego City Councilmember
presented Backyard Tourist with a Commendation for the work
we have done in the last two years. Many thanks to Los Rancheros
Kiwanis club and to Brian!
13 members of the club signed up to work as mentors for
the kids enrolled in Project Coyote!
October 4, 2002
We received news yesterday that the Poway Unified School
District has been awarded the Character Education Grant
from the U.S. Department of Education. Project Coyote/Coyote
Youth Project as a main component of this grant will now
begin its expansion into seven of the district's schools.
We are privileged to continue working with PUSD to provide
meaningful programs for youth. Thanks to the District for
its support!
August 30, 2002
Wow! It has been an incredible summer. First we finished
up the 2001-2002 school year by helping Tony with an intensive
study course in order to get him graduated on-time, and
then watched him ship off to boot camp for the US Navy.
His letters have brought us all much joy and give us the
type of reward that cannot be matched by any financial donation
or special recognition award. I have met with the new principal
at Abraxas High School and we are both excited about the
incredible opportunities that will take place this year
and look forward to a long-lasting partnership with the
staff and students.
Thanks to both the Los Rancheros Kiwanis and the Rancho
Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club for their generous contributions
which helped keep the program going through the summer and
will give us the start we need for the 2002-2003 school
year. Keep those donations coming - equipment, money, time.
We're excited about all the great things lined up and welcome
any suggestions.
March 6, 2002
Tom Dyke has stepped up to the plate again and made it
possible for the Coyote Youth Project to purchase a Toybox
Trailer to haul our kayaks, bikes, tents and sleeping bags
to the "woods." Students from Abraxas are now
working with San Diego City Lakes to create and implement
a wheelchair accessible interpretive trail at Lake Sutherland.
The Coyote Youth Project continues to expand and is now
available to all high school students in the Poway Unified
School District.
October 17, 2001
When Tom Dyke donated a passenger van to us last month,
he did so with the words, "Now is no time to stand
still. Unlike much of the nation gripped with paralysis,
the Coyote Youth Project should surge forward providing
knowledge and activities for our youth and their families."
The basic wilderness survival skills that the teens learn
are simply relevant from a daily standpoint. With heightened
confidence and awareness, they and their families are better
equipped to deal with the tentative nature of today's environment.
Terrorism is here to stay, that seems to be a given. But,
if you know how to provide for your family in a crisis situation,
the fear and panic is reducible. For that reason, Backyard
Tourist has made a commitment to continue providing classes
for the general public from Urban Survival Emergency Preparedness
to Wilderness Survival Techniques. One of our most popular
classes is the 3-day intensive; a class that takes you all
the way from an urban crash to a wilderness survival situation.
The class is scheduled at the end of December. And, if you
are thinking you'd like to give a gift to a loved one that
has real value this year - this is it. Click on the link
for more information. 3-day Intensive.
September 28, 2001
The Coyote Youth Project has been blessed with an awesome
donation: a 15-passenger van donated by Tom C. Dyke Drilling
and Blasting in Alpine, CA. What a gift! Now the possibilities
are endless in terms of outdoor adventures for the participants.
Many thanks Tom!
Perhaps some of you are wondering how we can push forward
with our youth projects given the troubling times that are
facing our nation. It's simple. Now is not the time to ditch
our kids. They need us more than ever. Traditional school
work to many of the students seems not only boring but to
some, even pointless right now. Being outdoors, the kids
have a chance to touch all that is real and alive. They
need to receive positive reinforcement and that is what
our youth projects are all about.
What has happened has changed our world as we know it but
the rewards of working with our youth give us hope that
we can make lemonade out of lemons.
August 2, 2001
Working with students from Abraxas High School and Juvenile
Court School, we have had our hands full this summer. One
day wilderness experiences and community service action
projects have all been a grand success. Clean up efforts
at Lake Hodges, El Capitan reservoir and Lake San Vicente
brought lots of kudos!
June 5, 2001
I have completed my training and am now a Project Wild
facilitator and also a Backyard Habitat Host for the National
Wildlife Federation. Contact me about workshops.
June 2, 2001
The Coyote Youth Project is expanding! A successful second
session at Abraxas completed, we have been asked, and have
agreed, to provide ten sessions of the Wilderness Training
beginning in the fall semester. In addition, along with
school staff and students, a wilderness outdoor educational
facility will be built at the rear of the campus. Backyard
Tourist is eagerly seeking your help, monetary donations
and in-kind donations for this important project. We have
already received a Rototiller!
April 16, 2001
School shootings! And, everyone is looking for answers.
We have a positive solution. Help us to expand the Coyote
Youth Project. Last month, the Poway Unified District became
the newest of our partners as they approved our curriculum
for Abraxas alternative high school in Poway. On March 31
and April 1, 10 students attended the wilderness training
at the Poway Primitive camp located between Lake Poway and
the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve. Fox 6 filmed the event
for the Saturday night news and the North County edition
of the Union Tribune published an article in the Sunday
paper. The results have been astonishing. Eight of the ten
students completed the training and will receive commendations
from Councilman Brian Maienschein and Assemblywoman Charlene
Zettel on April 17th at the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary.
January 18, 2001
In order to heal our Earth, we must all become a part of
the solution. In December, 2000, students from Lakeside
Summit High School, part of the Juvenile Court and Community
School system were the first group of teens to take part
in the Coyote Youth Project. This unique program, the first
of its kind in San Diego, provides the missing piece of
the equation. Please take the time to review the details
of the program and whether you have a youth to enroll or
a donation to make to the program, you will all be contributing
to being part of the solution! And, just in case you need
a success story to convince you that wilderness education
makes a difference, read on....
October 3, 2000
It is indeed our hope that those of you who are visiting
for the first time, will tour the site and get a feel for
who we are. Not only do we teach wilderness survival and
nature awareness, we truly talk the talk and walk the walk!
We live in two worlds. Our teacher, Tom Brown, Jr. coined
the phrase, "The Razor's Edge" and it is truly
how we live our lives. Though we are savvy to the ways of
the wilderness, we live in the 21st Century surrounded by
technological advances that affect us profoundly on a daily
basis. What we have done at Backyard Tourist is find a way
to develop our skills in such a way as to make living in
both worlds truly an adventure. Apache Scout skills are
just as relevant in the wilderness as they are in an Urban
Setting. In fact, some of our sojourns into the downtown
jungle have been just as exciting as any excursion into
the wilds of the back country! Well, almost!
Whether you are looking for a course in which you can learn
firsthand the excitement and intricacies of the bio-diversity
in San Diego, or you want to learn the basics of lost proofing
so that your next camping trip will be less stressful, Backyard
Tourist has a program designed for you.
Corporate America has been amazed and delighted as they
have participated in special wilderness team-building programs
and the At Risk Youth Camps have changed the children forever.
We are constantly evolving our programs, searching out
new partners and planning our camps, seminars and courses
to provide you with exciting outdoor experiences. Custom
classes are also available for families and groups - just
call us and let us develop an adventure for you.
Let Backyard Tourist teach you the skills to enjoy life
to the fullest, a way to make every day an adventure, and,
in some cases, you'll need to go no further than your own
backyard! |
