This virtual Short-Term Experiential Program (STEP) is for youth 10-13 years of age. The club meets twice a week for 1 hour for 5 weeks. It is a hands-on, interactive program that covers cultural aspects such as music, language, legends/stories, and cooking. In addition, youth learn where the country is, their famous landmarks, and geography.
The goals of the program are:
- To provide social interaction among preteens
- To increase preteens' knowledge of unfamiliar cultures
- To build capacity for future teen exchange programs
- To increase preteens' appreciation for people of unfamiliar cultures
- To increase preteens' knowledge of issues other countries face
Summer of 2021 - Guam
We learned that animators from Disney visited the islands of the South Pacific to learn about their legends, which they combined into one story, Moana. We were amazed that the legends in the movie were actual legends of the islands! We also learned about the plight of the local ko'ko' bird and that when we meet with them in the evenings, it's already tomorrow there!
Fall of 2020 - Italy
We learned how to dance the Italian Tarantella, a traditional Italian folk dance, and were told the Sicilian legend of Colapesce, who holds Sicily Island up. We also made delicious Frutta Martorana, a sweet Sicilian treat traditionally shaped and colored to look like fruit.
Summer of 2020 - Russia
We learned how to make blinis, which are like our buttermilk pancakes. Youth also learned how to write their names using the Cyrillic alphabet and the words to the traditional song, Kalinka Malinka, which we found the refrain pretty easy to learn!
Fall of 2021 - ???
Check back with us to learn where our next adventure will be!
Sample Schedule
Day 1: Introductions, ice breakers, games: Where in the World where youth see how far apart our countries are on Google Earth or Road Trip! (Identifying famous landmarks from other countries)
Day 2: Language and Communication
Day 3: American legends: Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, the Headless Horseman, and/or the NJ Devil
Day 4: Our international friends' legends
Day 5: American Music and Dance: the influencers to jazz, folk, and rhythm and blues, as well as Native American music and dance.
Day 6: Our international friends' Music and Dance
Day 7: American Cuisine: strawberry shortcake, buttermilk pancakes, apple sauce bars; whatever is in season!
Day 8: Our international friends' cuisine
Day 9: Virtual Escape Room (or other interactive leadership activity)