EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dynamic Opportunities for Youth is a national rowing program designed to share the lessons and benefits of sport with youth at risk, taking a proactive stance against problems among youth by making the rewards of sport accessible to those that will benefit most. Through the positive and challenging alternative learning environment provided by Dynamic Opportunities, struggling youth are taught to value their role in a team and to make positive choices in their daily lives beyond sport.

Through the support of national sponsor Dynamic Mutual Funds, the program allows selected individuals to attend a free 10-session program at local rowing centres. The program highlights special themes that address the needs of youth at risk, including self-esteem, teamwork, trust, personal challenge, discipline, and fair play. Local volunteers and staff provide transportation and healthy snacks for each session, and upon completion of the program, participants are awarded t-shirts, medals, and a ‘passport’ for completion of Rowing Canada’s Journey 1 skills program. Opportunities also exist for participants to qualify for funding to continue rowing.

Expansion beyond Victoria was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Dynamic Mutual Funds, the involvement of national program partners, and the enthusiasm and commitment of host rowing centre personnel. Between September 10th and November 24th, 2001, Dynamic Opportunities for Youth was delivered to 172 at-risk youth in nine communities across Canada, including Victoria, Colwood, Port Moody, and Deep Cove, BC, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Mississauga, and Fredericton. All participants were selected by their program or school counsellors and accompanied by them at every session. Local Olympians, police officers, and other high-profile individuals were also recruited to participate in the program, allowing the youth to connect with their community in a positive and non-threatening environment.

Feedback from teachers, counsellors, and participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with consistent reports of the program’s impact. On feedback forms, 100% of supervising teachers and counsellors described an improvement in self-esteem, teamwork, and/or discipline among their youth groups. Scholarship forms, filled out by participants wanting to qualify for funding to continue rowing, are full of positive and exciting feedback.

With the help of Official Spokesperson Silken Laumann, the program and its key messages were also promoted very effectively through local and national media outlets, with an estimated national audience of 7.9 million. Stories appeared in major daily newspapers in Toronto (Star and Globe & Mail), Mississauga, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and many other cities where the program was not even offered. Numerous reports appeared on CBC radio, including the Inside Track, and television coverage included Canada AM, Vancouver SHAW Cable, Victoria CH-TV, and Saskatoon Global TV.

Thanks to funding provided by Dynamic Mutual Funds and the Jodamada and Roasters foundations, the program covered costs for all participants, including program fees, coaching, transportation, snacks, t-shirts, and medals. While the financial viability of the program remains dependent on the support of Dynamic Mutual Funds, supplementary funding sources are being explored to enable the program to expand.

As a result of the Fall, 2001 program, a national network of rowing centres now exists with the capability of handling up to 270 youth. The volume of requests for information from youth, parents and teachers, as well as expressions of interest from possible new locations for the program have been overwhelming. The positive impact generated by Dynamic Opportunities for Youth, and the potential growth of the program, are limitless.

PROGRAM DETAILS

In its first year as a national program, Dynamic Opportunities for Youth was introduced in seven new communities in addition to the two Greater Victoria locations where it was already being offered. This expansion was made possible through the support of national sponsor Dynamic Mutual Funds, and was executed in partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron, the Rock Solid Foundation, and the Optimist Clubs of Canada. Rowing Canada Aviron assisted with media relations, provided Journey 1 skills manuals for all participants, and facilitated the establishment of relationships with its member clubs in new communities. The Rock Solid Foundation, a group of BC-based law enforcement personnel who run in-school anti-violence programs, travelled to host centres to assist with coach training and the involvement of local police. Optimist Clubs provided volunteer support in many communities, organizing healthy snacks and transportation for participants, and also contributed toward scholarships for participants who applied to continue rowing.

With only two months from the time funding was confirmed to the start of the first sessions, Dynamic Opportunities for Youth was implemented very quickly and efficiently. Without the efforts of program partners and the enthusiasm, commitment, and initiative of host rowing centre staff, this ambitious undertaking would not have achieved such dramatic results. While participation rates in new centres were modest in the first year, the quality with which the program was delivered and the infrastructure that now exists ensure continued growth of the program in future years.

Starting September 10th in ‘cold weather’ cities Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnnipeg, and Fredericton, the program was initiated. Coach training had occurred in the previous week during a visit by Foundation 2000 Plus and a Rock Solid Foundation police officer. Media releases were issued for the official launch of the program on Monday, September 24th at Don Rowing Club in Mississauga, at which time the ‘warm weather’ cities (Mississauga, Victoria, Colwood, Port Moody, and Deep Cove) also started their programs. The following weeks were spent instructing participants in basic rowing technique and highlighting the special focuses of the program; self-esteem, teamwork, trust, personal challenge, discipline, and fair play.

Most programs followed a format similar to a standard Learn-to-Row, with participants beginning on rowing machines or indoor tanks, and then progressing to on-water instruction. Participants were given the opportunity to try a variety of boat types (singles, doubles, quads, eights) and to row with different combinations of individuals, allowing teamwork to evolve naturally. A special life skills package was developed to reinforce participants’ awareness of the importance of teamwork, goal setting, and determination in sport.

Copyright ©2002 Saskatoon Rowing Club