Projects We're Working On
WFSU is involved in a variety of actiivities that enhance learning opportunities for children. Please see below for a more indepth explanation of the projects our outreach team takes on. If you should have any questions, please contact Kim Kelling-Engstrom, 850/487-3170 x326, kkelleng@wfsu.org or Tasha Weinstein, 850/487-3170 x325, tweinstein@fsu.edu.
WFSU is currently involved in a variety of community-based outreach. Please click on one of the following available links to learn more about these projects:
- Raising Readers (Formally Ready to Learn)
- Parenting Counts
- Dragonfly TV Sci Girls Camp
- Whole Child Leon County
- Financial Literacy Project
Raising Readers - Learn more about WFSU Raising Readers
WFSU has been named a PBS KIDS Raising Readers
station, a literacy initiative designed to harness the power of
public media content and tools to teach literacy skills to children
ages 2 to 8, especially those from low income families.
Parenting Counts - More WFSU Parenting Counts
WFSU is working on a grant project funded through the Talaris Research Institute, a Seattle-based, nonprofit organization that advances knowledge of early learning and the importance of parenting in the first years of life. Through this project we hosted a train the trainer session for area child care agencies, social services agencies as well as five other Florida PBS stations. In addition, we have integrated the materials into our Ready To Learn workshops that we conduct throughout the area. Currently, WFSU is airing ten 60-second spots that feature parenting tips during our day-time and evening broadcasts. These spots will also be made available to local hospitals, school districts and other organizations that communicate with parents. Key partners in this project include Kids Incorporated and the University of Florida - IFAS Program in Leon County.
Dragonfly TV Sci Girls Camp - More about SciGirls
For two weeks in July 2006 (July 10th through the 21st), 16 middle school aged girls had the chance to participate in a hands-on science camp. Through a grant from Dragonfly TV and the National Science Foundation, WFSU partnered with the FSU Magnetic Field Laboratory, the FSU Saturday at the Sea Program and the Tallahassee Museum, to encourage young girls to pursue a career in science. Girls from middle schools throughout the area had the opportunity to for fun hands-on science exploration all around the area - from the Gulf of Mexico to Wakulla Springs. They even set up a science experiment at Seminole Bowl! After two weeks of exploring science these girls found new science loving friends and that not only was science fun but that there are lots of terrific careers for women in the world of science. WFSU hopes that this camp will be offered again in 2007! Stay tuned. We will be posting information about registering for 2007 soon!
Whole Child Leon County - www.wholechildproject.org/Leon/leon.html
WFSU has been participating in the community wide launch of Whole Child Leon County. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential and become contributing members of their community.
This efforts brings together families, neighbors, businesses and the greater Leon County community to work together to serve the needs of children.
Financial Literacy Project: In response to the summit we are partnering with Whole Child Leon County and the United Way of the Big Bend to address financial literacy in the community. This partnership of banks, non-profits, area businesses and government representatives is looking at best practices from other communities and looking to integrate them here. WFSU is looking to broadcast companion programming surrounding this subject to address this need in the community. Some of the programs in the PBS pipeline include Money Track and Waging a Living.
