COWBOY ETHICS W a Li. presented by:

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1 COWBOY ETHICS W a Li presented by:

2 Living The Code - Training Opportunities The Code goes back to timeless principles that resonate with people from all walks of life. The cowboy represents the best of America - courage, optimism and hard work. Our curriculum is inspired through the work of James P. Owen and in collaboration with the Center for Cowboy Ehtics and Leadership. Owen s beautifully crafted manuscripts reminds us of a time and a place when your handshake was as good as a contract; where people drew a line and kept their promises. Cowboy Ethics uses a 3-step programmatic strategy-based curriculum, is built around the Ten Principles to Live By - The Code of the West. The curriculum can be adapted to many audiences and features two complete curricula for children in the primary grade levels and for youth in the secondary grades. The Code of the West Live each day with courage. Take pride in your work. Always finish what you start. Do what has to be done. Be tough, but fair. When you make a promise, keep it. Ride for the brand. Talk less, say more. Remember that some things are not for sale. Know where to draw the line. Teachers and program leaders must be passionate and energetically committed. The greatest challenge of all is designing an approach that will not only speak to individuals, but will stick with them, making a lasting difference in their lives. (James P, Owen, Finding the HERO Within: The Wyoming Youth Initiative, Center for Cowboy Ethics & Leadership, June 2011) 2004 Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen Since its launch in 2010, the program has grown to every Boys & Girls Club in Wyoming, Clubs in Colorado and Texas, local high schools, the county Juvenile Detention Center, and elementary schools. In addition, members of numerous groups including Wyoming ProStart, various youth organizations in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Idaho, along with Colorado 4H Clubs have also received training. The Trainers Jessica Baxter As a career educator, Ms. Baxter brings a strong skill set for creating and implementing curriculum that proves effective for all ages and backgrounds. Having co-created two Cowboy Ethics curriculums and led numerous groups through these lessons, Jessica has a wealth of knowledge and experience to inspire her students. She uses her training in differentiation and learning styles to create experiential learning opportunities for youth and for the professionals she trains. Jessica is the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming and holds a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming. Sara Beth Lyon As the Cowboy Ethics Outreach Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, Sara Beth uses her education degree to encourage students to be true to themselves and to never stop believing in their own internal power. Her seven years of classroom teaching in Alaska and Wyoming, along with two years of service to the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Horns in Buffalo, Wyoming, has provided a strong background to help create new and exciting curriculum for the Cowboy Ethics program, as well as implementing assessment strategies and tools for data collection.

3 Cowboy Ethics for Primary Grades Cowboy Ethics gives youth the opportunity to discover their own strengths and values, inspiring and empowering them to decide for themselves ways to respond to every day situations and life s challenges. Happy Trails Curriculum for primary grades is based on Jim Owen s second book, Cowboy Values. Each month focuses on a different Value, based on the values outlined in the book. 1. Respect/Community 5. Heart 2. Duty 6. Fair 3. Optimism 7. Courage 4. Honor 8. Authenticity Geared toward the younger learner (ages 5-12), this program uses an experiential learning concept to teach youth how we can live best in a community by showing honor and respect and by living authentically. I have become more aware of my actions and decisions and how they affect others. I have always felt it is important to do what I feel is the right thing, even if it is not popular, but Cowboy Ethics has reinforced that.

4 Cowboy Ethics for Primary Grades -Sample Lesson Plan Happy Trails Club Duty Use Your Noodle Material Activity Discussion Outputs Extended Outcomes -Swimming Noodle cut in half -Prizes or a small object -Blindfold -Chair -Everyone sits in a circle on the floor. -One student sits in a chair with the noodles in the middle of the circle and is blindfolded. -The prize or object is placed under the chair. -The blindfolded defender must now defend the item using only the noodles. -What is duty? (when you do something because you know it is the right thing to do, something you are asked to do) -What duty did the defender have? -What kinds of people have a special duty in their lives? (soldiers, parents, cops, firemen, etc) Members will become responsible, well adjusted team players because they understand that in order to succeed, we must do our best to fulfill our part. -The others try to get the prize without being hit by the noodles. -The person to finally get the prize without being hit, gets to be the new defender. -What duties do you have in life? -If On I am a student in a classroom, what are some things I know I am supposed to do? -How about at home? -Members will understand that being dutiful in all arenas of life is necessary for success. We are responsible for our actions, and they affect those around us as well! Happy Trails Intellectual Property of BGCCW 2012 Boys

5 Cowboy Ethics for Secondary Grades Cowboy Ethics teaches qualities like discipline and perserverance as routes to success. Youth are taught a way to approach life s challenges with dignity and belief in their own ability to triumph with their values intact. You learn new ways to live your life. You learn how to respect and treat yourself and others. The Code Curriculum for the secondary level is based on the James P. Owen book Cowboy Ethics. The Code is built around the Ten Principles to Live By - The Code of the West. In an experiential learning setting, group members seek out and discover the answers to three key questions: 1) What do I believe? 2) Why do I believe it? 3) How does my life show it? Following each activity, leaders facilitate discussion which culminates in a time of self-reflection and application to answer those three key questions. Because students are offered a variety of ways to express themselves and discover how they feel about the various topics presented, they are able to form their own opinions and apply the concept to their own lives. This curriculum offers more in-depth lessons for youth ages

6 Cowboy Ethics for Secondary Grades -Sample Lesson Plan Principle 1: Live Each Day With Courage Lesson 3: Use Your Noodle Objective: Members will have fun while demonstrating their ability to live with courage. Materials: Swimming Noodles Chair Blindfold Keys or other item to place below the defender Activity: Noodle War o Place one member on a chair with a blindfold on and the noodle as a sword. This person s job is to protect the prize below them. o Under the chair place the keys or other prize item o The others stand or sit in a circle surrounding them. o The members in the circle choose someone to attempt to steal the prize while the person in the blindfold uses their sword to protect the prize. Because the blindfolded person can t see, they must depend on their other senses to catch the would-be thief. o If the thief gets hit with the noodle, they are out of the game. Discussion: How does this activity represent Principle 1: Live Each Day With Courage? How is this activity like your daily life? Which Principles do you feel you displayed in this game? Why that one? What does that Principle look like in your life? Are there others in your life who display this Principle? How? Notes: Help the group members to see that although it s a fun game, it s also a representation of life. No matter what life may throw at you, you still have to show up and try, and sooner or later you ll get the prize in life whatever that may be Intellectual Property Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming

7 Coming Soon... BE SOMEBODY! A i u. In e i. G i. P po. Coming in January a new and improved curriculum and assessment tool. BE SOMEBODY offers brand new activities and lesson plans featuring the same core concepts you ve come to love with Cowboy Ethics to keep your students engaged. New to the program is an online character assessment tool to help track data and measure success. Watch our website for the launch of BE SOMEBODY!

8 Center for Cowboy Ethics & Leadership 98 San Jacinto Blvd. FSR No. 194 Austin, TX Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming 1701 East K Street Casper, WY Contact us: Jessica Baxter [email protected] ext. 102 Sara Beth Lyon [email protected] ext. 117 For more information on the curriculum or training opportunities, please visit our website: