Workshops // Lead On! youth leadership conference

Student Workshops

Adam’s Story
By Mary Lou Kufta – parent
Grades 6-12 (Sessions I & II)
Mary Lou Kufta shares the story of her son, Adam, to “give a face” to Bucks County’s serious substance use. It is her hope that Adam’s story will make an impact on students so other family histories will not have such a devastating chapter.

Adventures in Leadership
By David W. Pastorok – Adventure Network
Grades 9-12 (Session I), Grades 6-8 (Session II)
Come actively explore your ability to make decisions, problem solve, work as a team and lead others in this fun, interactive, challenging and experiential workshop! This workshop will include ice breakers, cooperative activities, group initiatives and leadership challenges.

Are You Smarter…?
By Cliff Crosby, Former NFL Super Bowl Winner – Closing Speaker
Grades 6-8 (Session I), Grades 9-12 (Session II)
This workshop is presented by our closing speaker, Cliff Crosby, former Kansas City Chiefs player. It will address important topics such as college as a reality and not an option, using your support system and resources around you and advocating for yourself & others. Students will participate in engaging and interactive team building activities through friendly competition and ice breakers.

The Brain, Behavior and Addiction
By Matt Bellace, Ph.D. - Opening Speaker
Grades 9-12 (Session I)
This workshop is an interactive discussion of the detrimental effects substance use can have on the human brain and behavior. Particular emphasis is placed on new research that shows the adolescent brain is impacted more seriously than the adult brain to substance abuse. This is an audience-centered learning approach, where the audience directs the learning in the direction that interests them.

Discussing Substance Use: Marijuana
By Jason Radosky, LCSW, CADC – The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
Grades 9-12 (Session I), Grades 6-8 (Session II)
This workshop will focus on marijuana and will help students to understand the risks associated with using this substance, including social and legal consequences. Current legalization and medical marijuana issues will be addressed. Discussions will include social pressures and addiction and the knowledge needed to make responsible choices.

Drummers with a POSITIVE Attitude
By Kevin Travers and the Drummers With Attitude (D.W.A.), Bristol Township students
Grades 6-12 (2-hour workshop, Sessions I & II)
This interactive workshop emphasizes the importance of making positive choices to get involved in healthy activities. D.W.A. is an example of making the positive choice. Come join the Drummers With Attitude for this 2-hour workshop and get some hands-on experience with drumming…you might even get a chance to show off your new skills in the afternoon!
Important Note: Drummers with a POSITIVE Attitude will be a 2-hour workshop, from 9:10-11:20 with a 10 minute break in-between Sessions I & II.

Healthy Choices Jeopardy
By Rachele Daniels, Community Health Educator, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County
Grades 9-12 (Sessions I & II)
Description: What's the best way to prevent HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections? What is a female condom? Is my relationship healthy? Come to this interactive workshop and have all of your questions about relationships, safer sex, birth control and Sexually Transmitted Infections answered through a fun game of Jeopardy. All are welcome!

Healthy Relationships
By Christina Baer - A Woman's Place
Grades 6-8 (Session II)
Everyone deserves to be happy and safe in their friendships and dating relationships. Unfortunately, some relationships can become unhealthy and even abusive over time. In this workshop, students will discuss what to look for in a healthy relationship, the importance of boundaries in all relationships, how to tell when a relationship is no longer healthy, and how to stay safe in their relationships.

Mean Girls
By Amy Bocklet & Dawn Gillette – Bucks County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., Student Assistance Program
Grades 6-8 (Sessions I & II)
Brigham Young University (2005) reports that girl bullying starts as early as preschool. This workshop will focus on how female social groups operate, and the effect they can have on girls. Discussion will address the different types of relational aggression as well as the short-term and long-term effects. Topics will include girl gossip, rumors and cyber-bullying. The workshop will also include activities, hand-outs and an opportunity for self-reflection.

Natural Highs
By Matt Bellace, Ph.D. - Opening Speaker
Grades 6-8 (Session II)
This workshop is an interactive discussion of how the brain creates natural high states and how students can achieve them with friends or family. The students will generate a list of personal natural highs that can be used as coping mechanisms for life’s stressors. This is an audience-centered learning approach, where the audience directs the learning in the direction that interests them.

Positive and Powerful: Your Self-Image
By Julia Babij – Bucks County Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, Inc., Student Assistance Program
Grades 6-8 (Sessions I & II)
What does it mean to have good self-esteem? What is a healthy self-image? What might not be a healthy self-image? These are sometimes difficult questions to ask, especially when you're a teenager. Come, learn, and share in an interactive workshop that will get you thinking and leave you feeling positive and powerful about who you are!

Prescription Drugs: A Prescription for Addiction
By David Fialko - The Council of Southeast PA, Inc.
Grades 6-8 (Session I); Grades 9-12 (Session II)
What is a “Perc,” what is an “Oxy,” and what is a “Zanny?” Come find out what these “harmless” sounding nicknames really mean. Learn what you need to know about the prescriptions that doctors give for pain, anxiety and ADD-ADHD. Just because a drug is prescribed by a doctor does not automatically make it safe or without side effects. This workshop will provideparticipants with the inside information that doctors don’t always tell you.

Relationships and the Internet: Error messages for teens online
By Mike Pesce – NOVA
Grades 6-12 (Sessions I & II)
This workshop discusses the increasing use of social networking sites by teens, employers, and offenders, along with the technologies adolescents use in their daily lives. It will also cover some of the dangers that teens need to be aware of when using technology and its ramifications on their futures. This is an entertaining and interactive demonstration of how current technologies can be used against the unaware user.

STD’s – What You Need to Know!
By Kim Thomas, RN – Bucks County Department of Health
Grades 6-12 (Sessions I & II)
Come learn fact vs. fiction, signs and symptoms of the most common STD’s, and what to do if you are infected with an STD.

Sexting: All the Kids Are Doing It!
By Melissa Groden, MA – Bucks County Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, Inc., Prevention and Student Assistance Program Manager
Grades 6-8 (Session I), Grades 9-12 (Session II)
This student presentation raises the awareness of the dangers of “Sexting” - the act of sending sexually explicit messages and photos electronically. Students will be educated on the statistics gathered by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, MTV and PEW Research Center. The social, family, psychological, future and legal impacts of sexting will be discussed with students, with an emphasis on the possible legal ramifications to students. The workshop will cover sexting across the U.S. with students and celebrities, sharing the stories of Jessie Logan and Hope Witsell. Finally, students will be educated on preventative measures and what they should do if they receive a sext. Questions and answers are time dependent.

Teen Dating Abuse and Violence
By Christina Baer - A Woman's Place
Grades 9-12 (Session I)
Everyone has the right to a safe, happy, and healthy relationship. However, one-third of teens will experience verbal, emotional, sexual, and/or physical violence by a dating partner before graduating high school - and more than two-thirds will never tell anyone. This workshop discusses the warning signs of potentially abusive relationships, what an abusive relationship looks like, why it may be difficult and dangerous to leave an abusive partner, and how to help yourself and your friends.

Teen Parenthood Awareness: Fact & Fiction
By Jane McCarthy – Child, Home & Community, Inc.
Grades 9-12 (Session I), Grades 6-8 (Session II)
This fun and informative program is designed to promote responsibility and encourage good decision-making while exploring the day-to-day realities of being a teen parent.

The Choking Game
By Officer Stephen Thomas – Buckingham Township Police Department
Grades 6-12 & Adults (Sessions I & II)
This workshop, presented by Buckingham Township Police Officer Stephen Thomas, will explain the dangers of engaging in “The Choking Game,” from the killing of brain cells to accidental deaths.

The Truth about Cyber Bullying
By Tammy Angelini, Olweus Bullying Trainer – TODAY, Inc.
Grades 6-12 (Sessions I & II)
Have you ever received a cruel text or message on Facebook? What if you received them everyday for a week? How would that make you feel? Have you ever seen a cruel wall post on a friend’s page? What did you do? In this interactive workshop, you will learn about what cyber bullying is, your role in cyber bullying, and how you can protect yourself and others.

21 to Drink – Why?
By Marci Kelly, The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
Grades 6-8 (Session I), Grades 9-12 (Session II)
What’s with the drinking age of 21? If you are old enough to vote at 18, why can’t you drink? Europe has a younger drinking age (or none at all) – but do they have a drinking problem? Twenty seven years ago, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation mandating 21 as the legal drinking age throughout America. What have we learned about this law since then?

What Would YOU Do? How to Make Good Choices
By Adrienne Madnick – Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia/Project PRIDE
Grades 6-8 (Sessions I & II)
This workshop will be a fun, interactive experience where students will learn critical thinking skills to address “real life” scenarios.

ADVISORS ONLY
Note: The following will be 2-hour workshops for advisors only. There will be a 10-minute break in-between Session I & Session II.

Current Drug Trends & Youth
By Trooper First Class Steve Groman, PA State Police
Advisors Only (2-Hour Workshop covering Sessions I & II)
This workshop will discuss the surge of prescription drug misuse as well as alcoholic energy drinks, “synthetic marijuana” (K2/Spice), bath salts (a.k.a. synthetic cocaine) and other trends that are affecting our youth. Trooper First Class Steve Groman will share his experience and knowledge about youth drug use, signs and symptoms, and provide an update on the latest trends. There will be time dedicated for questions and answers.

Safe Driving Techniques
By Bob Johns, Director, Bucks County Community Traffic Safety
Advisors Only (2-Hour Workshop covering Sessions I & II)
This workshop will provide advisors with information concerning seat belt safety, general driving habits and DUI. Over 500 school bus drivers in Central Bucks and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit are privy to this workshop each year.

Working Together to Keep Teens Safe
By Christine Farrante - A Woman's Place Advisors Only (2-Hour Workshop covering Sessions I & II)
One in three teens report experiencing some form of dating abuse (verbal, emotional, sexual, and/or physical) before graduating high school.More than two-thirds will never tell anyone. Join A Woman’s Place for an informative and interactive workshop discussing the dynamics of teen dating violence and what you can do to prevent and respond to this silent epidemic. Learn what to look for in a potentially abusive relationship, how this type of relationship may affect your teen, why leaving is not always the easiest - or safest - option for victims, and what you can do to help.

Lead On! 2011 is funded in part by a generous grant from Foundations Community Partnership. For more information on Foundations, please visit www.fcpartnership.org