
Birding Adventure at Mason Farm!
Community Mentor: Nancy Armstrong!
Passion + Profession: Birds and Bird Language
Workshop Location: Mason Farm Biological Reserve, North Carolina Botanical Gardens, Chapel Hill
Nancy, Why is Birding a Positive Outlet for Youth?
When you open your eyes and ears to birds, you deepen your understanding of the beautiful world around you. Birding offers insight into your place in the community and the world as a whole. By expanding your knowledge of the local and migratory birds it will leave you knowing that we are all in this together.
What will youth come away with after this workshop?
I will share a key into unlocking the mysterious universal language of birds by teaching the "five voices" that birds use to communicate with each other. You will leave with a new appreciation of the birds that are around you everyday.
About Nancy Armstrong:
Our Thoughts: Nancy is an extraordinary community member who exemplifies what it means to realize your own dreams and follow your heart. Nancy has lovingly and generously offered to share herself and her passions with the Grow Your World community, and we are so excited to spend time any time with her, no matter what we do!
Duration
1 one-hour workshop.
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback soon!
Community Mentor: Nancy Armstrong!
Passion + Profession: Birds and Bird Language
Workshop Location: Mason Farm Biological Reserve, North Carolina Botanical Gardens, Chapel Hill
Nancy, Why is Birding a Positive Outlet for Youth?
When you open your eyes and ears to birds, you deepen your understanding of the beautiful world around you. Birding offers insight into your place in the community and the world as a whole. By expanding your knowledge of the local and migratory birds it will leave you knowing that we are all in this together.
What will youth come away with after this workshop?
I will share a key into unlocking the mysterious universal language of birds by teaching the "five voices" that birds use to communicate with each other. You will leave with a new appreciation of the birds that are around you everyday.
About Nancy Armstrong:
Our Thoughts: Nancy is an extraordinary community member who exemplifies what it means to realize your own dreams and follow your heart. Nancy has lovingly and generously offered to share herself and her passions with the Grow Your World community, and we are so excited to spend time any time with her, no matter what we do!
Duration
1 one-hour workshop.
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback soon!

Tell It All, To Everybody
Community Mentor: Seth Moser-Katz!
Passions: Sharing Information + Starting Conversations
Professions: Multimedia Specialist and Co-Host of The Extraenvironmentalist, and Videographer with Duke Medical Center
Location: Media Lab at the Chapel Hill Public Library (10/7)
Seth, why is digital storytelling and videography a positive outlet for youth?
The tradition of telling stories is as old as humanity itself. Crafting the narrative of community, the stories we tell each other, help to pass on the values and priorities of a culture. While the tools of telling a story have changed, the basic ideas behind what makes a good narrative have not. The combination of digital media and the internet has allowed a unique story telling landscape to emerge, in which the source of the story have become less important than the message it conveys. When every person has an entire video production suite in the palm of his or her hand, the presentation is all that separates a home movie from a cinema experience.
What will you share with youth in your workshop?
Understanding the basics of what makes good videography is all about observation and attention to details. In this workshop we will explore what elements makes a good story, learn techniques for effective multimedia story telling and enable youth to make their own multimedia projects. They will receive instruction in using cameras, digital editing, lighting, and correct usage of microphones. They will also be encouraged to learn through doing and will work through different roles on a production set.
About Seth Moser-Katz:
Seth is a videographer currently employed at Duke Medical Center and co-host at the multimedia production non-profit The Extraenvironmentalist. Seth has a degree in multimedia journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been working with digital media for over 10 years. Seth's most recent work can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/73335902
Our Thoughts: We are extremely fortunate to call Seth a member of our community, not to mention a Community Mentor. Seth not only brings extreme talent to this community, but also a passion for using those skills to share valuable information with the world. Seth and his collaborators at The Extraenvironmentalist join their passions to shed new light on existing issues in our community (the world). They examine novel solutions to and thoughts on problems we confront daily, taking a perspective of foreigners to our planet! From a place of abundant creativity and teamwork, the extraenvironmentalists at The Extraenvironmentalist inspire us to think outside the box and the confines of conventional thinking to ask, think, wonder and do more. (Check out this amazing podcast at extraenvironmentalist.com!) Thank you, Seth, for your contributions to our planet, our community, and our afterschool!
Duration:
1 workshop session with opportunity for continued support
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback!
Community Mentor: Seth Moser-Katz!
Passions: Sharing Information + Starting Conversations
Professions: Multimedia Specialist and Co-Host of The Extraenvironmentalist, and Videographer with Duke Medical Center
Location: Media Lab at the Chapel Hill Public Library (10/7)
Seth, why is digital storytelling and videography a positive outlet for youth?
The tradition of telling stories is as old as humanity itself. Crafting the narrative of community, the stories we tell each other, help to pass on the values and priorities of a culture. While the tools of telling a story have changed, the basic ideas behind what makes a good narrative have not. The combination of digital media and the internet has allowed a unique story telling landscape to emerge, in which the source of the story have become less important than the message it conveys. When every person has an entire video production suite in the palm of his or her hand, the presentation is all that separates a home movie from a cinema experience.
What will you share with youth in your workshop?
Understanding the basics of what makes good videography is all about observation and attention to details. In this workshop we will explore what elements makes a good story, learn techniques for effective multimedia story telling and enable youth to make their own multimedia projects. They will receive instruction in using cameras, digital editing, lighting, and correct usage of microphones. They will also be encouraged to learn through doing and will work through different roles on a production set.
About Seth Moser-Katz:
Seth is a videographer currently employed at Duke Medical Center and co-host at the multimedia production non-profit The Extraenvironmentalist. Seth has a degree in multimedia journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been working with digital media for over 10 years. Seth's most recent work can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/73335902
Our Thoughts: We are extremely fortunate to call Seth a member of our community, not to mention a Community Mentor. Seth not only brings extreme talent to this community, but also a passion for using those skills to share valuable information with the world. Seth and his collaborators at The Extraenvironmentalist join their passions to shed new light on existing issues in our community (the world). They examine novel solutions to and thoughts on problems we confront daily, taking a perspective of foreigners to our planet! From a place of abundant creativity and teamwork, the extraenvironmentalists at The Extraenvironmentalist inspire us to think outside the box and the confines of conventional thinking to ask, think, wonder and do more. (Check out this amazing podcast at extraenvironmentalist.com!) Thank you, Seth, for your contributions to our planet, our community, and our afterschool!
Duration:
1 workshop session with opportunity for continued support
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback!

Gardening together for better health and a better world!
Community Mentor: Maria Hitt!
Passion + Profession: Gardening and Community Service + Environmental Educator, Health Educator, and Chef
Workshop Location: Community Gardens at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (9/25)
Maria, Why is Gardening a Positive Outlet for Youth?
Gardening is a positive outlet for everyone of every age! Being outside under the sun and sky, seeing a seed that you planted turn into a plant to flower and fruit and feed you, that's a totally positive experience. Youth may not have many opportunities to explore the natural world and gardening can provide time to slow down, be away from technology and see where food comes from, take joy in the growth of plants, flowers, fruits and veggies.
What will young people come away with after this workshop?
They will work with their hands and gain insights into the many steps and skills it takes to grow food. We will learn about the community that receives the food harvested from the community garden, and the importance of access to healthy foods and maintaining the skills needed to grow it.
About Maria Hitt:
Maria is a gardener, chef and teacher and a student of the natural world. She has worked in restaurants, health departments and schools and now manages this community garden. Maria loves to share her love of gardening with others old and young.
Our Thoughts: We are so excited to have Maria joining us as a Community Mentor! Maria was introduced to us through Alison Weiner (see her workshop, "I've Got Something To Sing! Musicmaking for EVERYONE"), and clearly demonstrates that passion for lifelong learning and service to others and our planet. (See her blog! http://morgancreekchronicles.blogspot.com/) Her work with the community garden is only one of the many hats she wears. We are thrilled to get to learn from such a thoughtful and diverse human being! Thank you, Maria, for your time, energy and creativity; we are so excited to work with you!
Duration
1 session (1 hour)
Supplies
Water, clothes to get dirty in, closed toed shoes, and gloves!
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback soon!
Community Mentor: Maria Hitt!
Passion + Profession: Gardening and Community Service + Environmental Educator, Health Educator, and Chef
Workshop Location: Community Gardens at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (9/25)
Maria, Why is Gardening a Positive Outlet for Youth?
Gardening is a positive outlet for everyone of every age! Being outside under the sun and sky, seeing a seed that you planted turn into a plant to flower and fruit and feed you, that's a totally positive experience. Youth may not have many opportunities to explore the natural world and gardening can provide time to slow down, be away from technology and see where food comes from, take joy in the growth of plants, flowers, fruits and veggies.
What will young people come away with after this workshop?
They will work with their hands and gain insights into the many steps and skills it takes to grow food. We will learn about the community that receives the food harvested from the community garden, and the importance of access to healthy foods and maintaining the skills needed to grow it.
About Maria Hitt:
Maria is a gardener, chef and teacher and a student of the natural world. She has worked in restaurants, health departments and schools and now manages this community garden. Maria loves to share her love of gardening with others old and young.
Our Thoughts: We are so excited to have Maria joining us as a Community Mentor! Maria was introduced to us through Alison Weiner (see her workshop, "I've Got Something To Sing! Musicmaking for EVERYONE"), and clearly demonstrates that passion for lifelong learning and service to others and our planet. (See her blog! http://morgancreekchronicles.blogspot.com/) Her work with the community garden is only one of the many hats she wears. We are thrilled to get to learn from such a thoughtful and diverse human being! Thank you, Maria, for your time, energy and creativity; we are so excited to work with you!
Duration
1 session (1 hour)
Supplies
Water, clothes to get dirty in, closed toed shoes, and gloves!
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback soon!

I've Got Something to Sing! Musicmaking for EVERYONE
Community Mentor: Alison Weiner!
Passion + Profession: Music + Teaching, Composing, Arranging, Performing, and Improvising Musician and Founder of mahaloArts
Workshop Locations: The Forest Theatre (9/27) + Johnny's Gone Fishing (10/4)
Alison, Why is Music a Positive Outlet for Youth?
Music is a language, a means of expression, that can be understood in terms of melody, harmony, and rhythm. If you use your voice to speak, you are being melodic. If you have ever been in a room where people are talking at the same time, you are hearing harmony. If your heart is beating, you know about rhythm. Everyone has a unique musical voice, and to be able to hear that and be heard is something that can't help but brighten anyone's life.
What will youth come away with after this workshop?
In this gathering, we will explore together the language of music, using our voices and instruments. Folks will learn about listening to and supporting each other in musical conversation.
About Alison Weiner:
Alison is the creator and caretake of mahaloArts. With degrees in architecture (BS), jazz studies (BM) and music composition (MA), Alison is joyfully earning her keep as a musician by teaching, performing, composing, arranging and recording.
Our thoughts: Alison is not only an incredible musician, but also a joy of a human being. Alison adds humor and warmth to all situations, and approaches life in a way that includes and invites others to join her on her journey. Alison's creative arts collaborative in Carrboro, mahaloArts, is a testament to this community-oriented spirit, as malahoArts encourages "improvised performance and exploration, which further our abilities to communicate and craft solutions that transcend cultural boundaries and celebrate our common humanity." Thank you for your wonderful contributions to our community, Alison!
Workshop Duration
2 hours (1 hour x 2 sessions)
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback!
Community Mentor: Alison Weiner!
Passion + Profession: Music + Teaching, Composing, Arranging, Performing, and Improvising Musician and Founder of mahaloArts
Workshop Locations: The Forest Theatre (9/27) + Johnny's Gone Fishing (10/4)
Alison, Why is Music a Positive Outlet for Youth?
Music is a language, a means of expression, that can be understood in terms of melody, harmony, and rhythm. If you use your voice to speak, you are being melodic. If you have ever been in a room where people are talking at the same time, you are hearing harmony. If your heart is beating, you know about rhythm. Everyone has a unique musical voice, and to be able to hear that and be heard is something that can't help but brighten anyone's life.
What will youth come away with after this workshop?
In this gathering, we will explore together the language of music, using our voices and instruments. Folks will learn about listening to and supporting each other in musical conversation.
About Alison Weiner:
Alison is the creator and caretake of mahaloArts. With degrees in architecture (BS), jazz studies (BM) and music composition (MA), Alison is joyfully earning her keep as a musician by teaching, performing, composing, arranging and recording.
Our thoughts: Alison is not only an incredible musician, but also a joy of a human being. Alison adds humor and warmth to all situations, and approaches life in a way that includes and invites others to join her on her journey. Alison's creative arts collaborative in Carrboro, mahaloArts, is a testament to this community-oriented spirit, as malahoArts encourages "improvised performance and exploration, which further our abilities to communicate and craft solutions that transcend cultural boundaries and celebrate our common humanity." Thank you for your wonderful contributions to our community, Alison!
Workshop Duration
2 hours (1 hour x 2 sessions)
Youth Feedback:
Please check back for feedback!