Overall Goals:
The Kickin' It at Kickapoo project was inspired by the upcoming PBS series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, and the hundreds of people who rallied to save Kickapoo State Park when the governor threatened to close it and 10 other state parks in 2008. This is a community-based project spearheaded by Illinois Public Media (WILL am.fm.tv.online) in 2009 with support from the Department of Advertising at the University of Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Prairie Rivers Network, the Danville Public Library, the Boys and Girls Club of Danville and Keep Vermilion County Beautiful. They are all working with and celebrating the youth participants.


Illinois Public Media expanded their Youth Media Workshop into an outlying community. They are now piloting a summer program with youth. African American youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Danville are participating in a series of activities at Kickapoo. They then learn how to create video public service announcements to persuade other African-Americans of the benefits and joys of Kickapoo State Park. Their relationship with media professionals and personnel from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will expose them to potential career opportunities.

Using small FLIP video cameras, WILL is teaching these middle and high school students how to videotape footage of the park and the Advertising Department at the University of Illinois is teaching them how to create a public service announcements to convince their peers that Kickapoo is a fun place to visit. The videos will be posted online.

Partners:
Danville Public Library, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Boys & Girls Club of Danville, Department of Advertising, University of Illinois, Keep Vermilion County Beaufitul, Prairie Rivers Network, Kickapoo Landing

Activity Name: Community Gathering
Activity Type: Screening & Discussion Session
A big community gathering where the station will showcase the PSAs created by the youth from the Boys and Girls Club.

Activity Name: WILL Activity Days
Activity Type: Community/Educational Event
WILL is sponsoring activity days at Kickapoo, including a music night, a bicycle activity and a clean-up day.
http://youthmediaworkshop.org/kickapoo/activitydays