CYFAR Project Teens Complete ASI Training

The CYFAR 4-H ATV Safety Club in the Copper River area held an ATV safety day camp in which youth participated in an official All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (ASI) Rider’s Course, resulting in six newly certified riders! The ASI course’s intention is to promote the safe and responsible use of ATV's, thus reducing accidents and injuries that may result from improper operation by the rider. (atvsafety.org) 


The course was taught by Joseph Hart from the Glennallen BLM, a certified ASI instructor and 4-H volunteer leader. The ASI ATV Rider Course is a hands-on training which covers a variety lessons all associated with ATV use. The course also covers local regulations, places to ride and environmental concerns. Glenn Hart, a 4-H volunteer from the Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE), also attended the day camp and spoke with teens about proper trail use and how they can minimize the impact of ATV use on the environment. Glenn Hart and Youth Adult Partnership Coordinator, Jan Miller, will also be working with the CYFAR project teens to develop a presentation on the impact of all-terrain vehicles to be presented at the Alaska Forum on the Environment to be held in Anchorage early next year. 


Instructor Joseph Hart reported the following after the event,
 “What I got from instructing the course was how important it is to introduce the proper riding techniques and how most riders are unaware of how to properly ride ATV’s. Applying proper riding technique can make a huge difference from just simply being along for the ride or being in control of your riding and being what we call “Rider-Active”, which means you put actions into motion which will cause the ATV to react in a manner which will increase safety and reduce the risk of accident or injury while doing so. With our riders, I observed them learning the proper riding techniques and their confidence grow greatly in their abilities to ride ATV’s safely. As an instructor, I enjoy seeing youth learn, and grow in this way and it is one of the best rewards for my being involved.”

Nenana ATV Safety Video

Nenana CYFAR Project teens along with other youth from the community, produced and recorded a "Know the Rules" ATV safety DVD for the ATV Safety Institute's Do the Ride Thing Contest. The video was planned, shot and recorded in just a few short hours. The youth worked together to choose what they thought were the most important rules for their peers to know. Since the video had a time limit the teens wanted to make sure they got the main point across that everyone should know the rules of ATV use before they ride!

Who We Are!

Picture








The Alaska CYFAR Project is currently being implemented in two separate communities- Glennallen and Nenana, Alaska.
The unique nature of this project is to create youth-adult partnership teams guided by UAF Cooperatove Extension faculty and staff, site coordinators and youth adult partnership leaders to deliver safety education programming associated with ATVs. 
The joint effort partnership uses the four essential elements of 4-H Youth Development: 
  • Belonging
  • Mastery
  • Independence 
  • Generosity
Project teens are involved in camps, skillathons, public speaking and safety demonstrations. Teens in groups of six to ten guided by 4-H staff and community YAP Leaders serve as community ambassadors providing classroom, community and special activity safety messages and programs associated with safety and proper use of ATVs.
Teens living in these two selected community sites are key to helping reduce injury and death associated with ATV use. The teens gain life skills, are seen as contributing members of their communities while they are engaged in service learning.
For more information please contact Project Coordinator, Becky Bruntz (907)474-2402 or rfbruntz@alaska.edu