Other Resources

Interfaith Youth Core: http://www.ifyc.org/

Search Institute: http://www.search-institute.org/

Interfaith Voices of Youth: www.interfaithvoicesofyouth.org

Power of Hope: www.powerofhope.org

Earth Ministry: http://www.earthministry.org/

Creativity/Integrating the Arts into Learning

Learning and Loving It: Theme Studies in the Classroom, by Ruth Gamberg et al. 
An inspiring and instructive guide to theme-based learning as practiced at the Dalhousie Experimental School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Shows how to integrate the arts into a program.

Source Book of the World’s Religions, by Joel Beversluis

How to Be a Perfect Stranger: Volume 2: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies
by Arthur J. Magida (Editor), Stuart M. Matlins (Editor)

The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education, edited by Carolyn Edwards, et al.
A collection of inspirational essays and interviews describing an early childhood educational approach that integrates the arts into the learning process. Will stimulate good ideas regardless of the age group you work with.

The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan with Barry Buzan
How to engage both sides of the brain to increase creative thinking, brainstorming, and problem solving. Mind mapping can be used for values exploration and to inspire art or writing.

The Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion, and Character at School, by Rachael Kessler
Based on the “Mysteries” curriculum, a rites of passage program for eight and twelfth graders, this book is an excellent guide for addressing the inner life of youth without violating the separation of church and state. Published by ASCD Press; www.ascd.org.

Writing

The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
A method for working through creative blocks. Effective exercises. Good book to work with a group over a series of weeks.

Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind, by Natalie Goldberg
Excellent books on writing as a practice. Free writes are the basis of this work. Connects writing to inner process and meditation. Good for teens and adults.

If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland
Brenda Ueland is an enthusiast about people’s innate creative capacities. This book will give you the courage to put pen to paper.

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
By the best-selling author of Operating Instructions, a book about her first year of mothering. Anne is honest, witty, and self-forgiving. A excellent guide for those who are more serious about writing.

Writing the Natural Way, by Gabrielle Ricco
A guide for using mind-mapping as a method for getting into writing.

Storytelling

The Moon in the Well: Wisdom Tales to Transform Your Life, Family, and Community, by Erica Helm Meade.
This book written by a Seattle-based storyteller and therapist, introduces you to stories to use as teaching tales in response to a wide range of life situations. Includes excellent advice on how to learn and tell stories.

Theater and Improv

Interactive Acting, by Jeff Wirth
An excellent primer for both interactive (audience participation) theatre and improvisational theater. Written in clear, simple language. Published by Fall Creek Press, Fall Creek, Oregon ISBN 0-9632374-9-7

Improv Game Book ll, by Linda Belt
An excellent collection of performance games. Published by Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave. SE, Puyallup, Washington ISBN 0-9620799-6-0

Spontaneous Creation: Using Comedy Improvisation in the Classroom, By Katie Goodman and Soren M. Kesiel.
An accessible guide for using comedy improv to bring learning alive. Includes lots of games as well as excellent tips on how to lead improv. Available for $20 plus $4 shipping and handling from Katie Goodman, 2304 N 7th Ave., Ste C-1, Bozeman MT 59715.

Theater of the Oppressed, by Augusto Boal
An introduction to Augusto Boal’s system of interactive theater. Boal’s powerful theater techniques can be used to explore social issues and empower individuals and communities to make change. Published by Theatre Communications Group, New York ISBN 0-930452-49-6

Games for Actors and Non-Actors, by Augusto Boal
Filled with exercises, this book provides the practical application for the Boal approach to theater. Published by Routledge, London. ISBN 0-415-06155-5

Visual Arts

Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards
This method will uncover talent you never knew you had. Offers exercises that teach you to see in a new way.

The Zen of Seeing, by Frederick Franck
A kind of Wild Mind for drawing. This book teaches you a simple way to draw by looking at the object rather than the page.

Music

Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook, edited by Peter Blood and Annie Patterson
The lyrics and chord charts for over 1200 much loved songs and chants. To learn the melodies you can purchase accompanying tape sets. Sing Out, P.O. Box 5253, Bethlehem, PA 18015-0253 or call (215) 865-5366.

Singing in the African American Tradition: Choral and Congregational Vocal Music, taught by Ysaye Barnwell with George Brandon
A six-tape set and guidebook on multi-part singing with groups by the lead composer of Sweet Honey In the Rock. Homespun Tapes, Box 694, Woodstock,NY 12498. ($49.98)

Youth Leadership

It’s Up to Us: The Giraffe Heroes Program, by John Graham.
An excellent teen leadership guide based on the premise that the meaningful life is the happy life and the strongest leadership flows from vision. Includes an excellent chapter on how to make a good speech.  Order from the Giraffe Project: 1-800-853-7550

Arts and Education

Americans for the Arts: www.artsusa.org; On this website you can order copies of monographs on the arts including “Living the arts through language-learning: a report on community –based youth organizations.”

New Horizons for Learning: www.newhorizons.org. This site, “A virtual learning community supporting an expanded vision of learning,” has articles and resources on integrating the arts.

Rhythm Instruments and Art Supplies

Dancing Colors Scarves: www.dancingcolors.com; These scarves are the overall best prop we’ve found for improvisational performance, creative movement, and dance. Loved by youth and adults alike.

Lark in the Morning: www.larkinthemorning.com. This music service specializes in instruments and instructional material from around the world. Stores in Seattle and San Francisco.

John’s Music Center: www.johnsmusic.com: A fabulous Seattle-based source for drums and other percussion instruments from around the world, plus instructional music and videos. 4501 Interlake N, Seattle (in Wallingford) (206) 548-0916

Molly Hawkins House: www.mollyhawkins.com. Low cost visual arts resources.

Youth Leadership

The Giraffe Project: www.giraffe.org. The Giraffe project honors people who stick their necks out for the common good. At their site, you’ll find service learning and leadership curriculum for kindergarten through grade twelve plus much more.

Earth Service Corps: www.yesc.org: The Earth Service Corps is a YMCA-based national environmental program for teens with clubs in 111 Y’s in over 30 states.

Freechild Project: www.freechild.org: Dedicated to making social change action, education and resources more available for young people.

Youth for Environmental Sanity: www.yesworld.org: YES! Empowers youth to take action to promote social justice and environmental sanity. Their Youth Jams bring together youth leaders from around the world to work together to build a global youth movement for change.

Innovative Arts Programs

Arts Corps: www.artscorps.org. We hope this innovative program will serve as a model for major cites throughout North America. Arts Corps provides free after school arts classed through community centers, YMCA’s and schools in the greater Seattle area.

Reel Grrls: www.reelgrrls.org: "Reel Grrls" is a special program of 911 Media Arts Center in partnership with Seattle's Metrocenter YMCA and KCTS - The Public Network. By teaching teenage girls how to be critical television watchers and then producers of their own media, we are giving them a voice in an arena where they are heavily targeted as consumers but where their artistic expression is seldom heard or seen.