Volunteers as Tutors and Trainers of Tutors : a Qualitative Study

Problem. The Seventh-day Adventist church/North American Division initiated a Tutoring and Mentoring project in response to President Clinton’s America Reads literacy campaign. This study documents the efforts of the church and the first cohort of trainees as they sought to establish tutoring projects in their home locales. Method. The author of this study was involved as a co-trainer and a participant-observer during the initial 1-week training session held at the North American Division Headquarters. This training was intended to equip the participants to become tutors of children and trainers of tutors in a primary-level tutoring project. During the school year immediately following the training, two of the original participants were successful in establishing tutoring projects. Their successes were examined in-depth by observations and interviews and reported through case studies. The other initial trainees did not establish projects during the first year. The author maintained contact with a majority o f the trainees by telephone, and reported their frustrations by telling fictional composite stories based on their accounts. Results. A framework of critical components was developed as a result of a literature review which examined characteristics of successful programs. The two successful projects which were established were analyzed using this framework. Most characteristics of successful programs were evident and documented in these fledgling projects. Other themes related to their successes were elucidated and added to the framework. The lack of successful implementation by the other trainees was primarily due to critical components that were neglected or not accessible. Conclusions. The two trainees who were able to immediately implement tutoring projects had many of the necessary skills and resources already available to them. The training they received acted as a catalyst which enabled them to establish projects. The other trainees expressed concerns related to the lack of personal confidence immediately following the initial training session, and these concerns were never sufficiently addressed. Their primary concerns regarding the need for more training and the lack of resources need be considered if the initiative is to realize its ambitious goals

Cyclicity in Northern Bobwhites: A Time-Analytic Review of the Evidence

Cyclical behavior in wildlife populations, including northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), has long fascinated human observers. However, studies examining cyclicity of bobwhite abundance have yielded contradictory results. We reviewed evidence for periodic fluctuation in bobwhite abundance by studying 73 long-term time series. Our aim was to discern with time-series techniques whether cyclicity occurred in bobwhite abundance. We elucidated the frequency of occurrence, geographical distribution, and potential mechanisms responsible for cyclicity. Approximately one-half (n = 37) of the populations examined demonstrated cyclical behavior, with a period varying between 4 and 17 yrs. True cycles, consistent, significant fluctuations in abundance, were rare, occurring in only 3 time series. The predominant form of periodicity was of the phase-forgetting quasi-cycle type (n = 34). This phase-forgetting may have contributed to previous contradictory findings of cyclicity in this species. We reason cyclicity in bobwhite populations is caused by aperiodic environmental perturbations interacting with density-dependence. Cyclic bobwhite populations occupied the northern and western portion of the species’ range, where stochastic weather events regularly negatively influence bobwhite population dynamics. Bobwhite populations were non-cyclic in the relatively consistent climate of the southeastern United States, however, habitat fragmentation rather than climate may have contributed to the absence of cyclicity in this region

4-S Positive Youth Development in Latin America: Professional Schools in Costa Rica

As youth development programs established in the United States expand globally, researchers must evaluate their impacts in diverse contexts. The work described in this article established a baseline for assessing the impact of a 4-S youth program at professional technical high schools in Costa Rica. The 4-S program is equivalent to 4-H in English-speaking countries. Results indicate that members of the 4-S program exhibited significantly higher levels of positive youth development than youths in the comparison group (p \u3c .001). We consider how these findings speak to the importance of promoting programs such as 4-S, and we conclude by discussing the implications of this work for practitioners

Survey of Diseases in Wild Turkeys in Arkansas

Nineteen dead wild turkeys were necropsied and 573 live wild turkeys were physically examined for pathological agents in Arkansas between 1992 and 1997 to determine the proximate role disease may play in declining wild populations in Arkansas. Necropsy of the dead wild turkeys identified avian pox and histomoniasis as the most common diseases (16% and 11% of necropsies, respectively). Avian pox was recorded from three major physiographic regions in the state (Ozark Highlands, Ouachita Mountains, Gulf Coastal Plain). One hen died of non-accidental crop impaction, the fifth occurrence observed in the southeastern United States. Another hen died after developing severe, focal necrotic dermatitis caused by a Penicillium sp. fungus, the first occurrence observed in wild turkeys. All live wild turkeys appeared free of gross signs of disease. We found diseases in wild turkeys in Arkansas are not uncommon and are more diverse than previously reported. Continued monitoring of disease in wild turkeys is therefore encouraged

Perceived Damage by Elk in the Arkansas Ozarks

Wildlife managers in Arkansas are faced with managing a growing population of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus neloni) that has extended its range to incorporate private lands near the Buffalo National River (BNR) in northcentral Arkansas. This range expansion has created conflicts between private landowners and wildlife management personnel. To document the extent of damage and assess attitudes of landowners with elk on their land, interviews were conducted with landowners who contacted us or the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission about problems with elk. A survey also was created and sent to landowners who live near the BNR in Boone and Newton counties and who may have elk on their land. Ten of 18 respondents with elk on their land reported having a problem with nuisance activity. Landowners indicated that most damage was to pastures, hay crops, and food plots. Damage appeared to occur more often in summer, when elk home ranges were smallest, than in other seasons. Landowners incurring damage from elk had a strong negative opinion. Continued research into effective management practices should be conducted to properly manage this growing population of elk and reduce conflicts between elk and Arkansas landowners

“I Think I'll Do Good”: Hopeful Future Expectations and Critical Reflection in Oppressed Youth

Critical consciousness (CC) and hopeful future expectations (HFE) are believed to promote positive development in youth who face structural inequalities (Callina et al., 2014; Heberle et al., 2020; Mcwhirter & McWhirter, 2008). Although both CC and HFE hold promise for enhancing the positive development of oppressed youth, gaps in the literature leave unanswered questions about the processes through which these constructs might promote versus inhibit youth thriving. Specifically, despite CC’s promise of liberation and contribution to thriving, progression through the necessary benchmarks (critical reflection, action, and motivation) remains scantily understood and is not guaranteed to result in a thriving young person. Additionally, no literature considers the mutual associations between CC and HFE or the impact personal and contextual factors might have on the aforementioned associations. This study used a mixed-methods approach to examine the associations between CC and HFE and the impact of developmentally related moderators on the aforementioned associations. The study used secondary data collected as part of an evaluation of the Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) Academy programs at six sites around the U.S. In the first (quantitative) strand, I analyzed survey data from a sample of 282 youth of color from low-income households who were members of the BHGH program. In the second (qualitative) strand of analysis, I analyzed interview data from a subset of the sample (n = 61). In line with the life course perspective that frames this study, findings suggest personal and contextual factors do play a role in the associations between CC and HFE. In particular, results raise concerns about promoting CC, specifically its subcomponent, critical reflection, in early adolescence. Additionally, findings suggest a complex relationship between critical reflection and U.S. meritocratic systems such that increased reflection appears to motivate youth toward action that perpetuate systems of inequality rather than actions to dismantle them. Better understanding the associations between critical reflection and hopeful future expectations adds to the growing literature on whether and how promoting critical consciousness skills in adolescent populations is useful. This information is helpful in the design of programs and interventions geared toward increasing critical consciousness in poor youth of color

Estimating Overwintering Monarch Butterfly Populations Using Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning

Concerns about the state of decline of the North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) have prompted their consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Data suggest a substantial decline (> 80%) in overwintering numbers for both eastern and western monarch populations. Making an accurate status assessment is difficult due to highly variable density estimates in the eastern monarch overwintering sites. We have developed a novel application of terrestrial LiDAR scanning (TLS) which creates a scene using millions of LASER-based distance measurements in the landscape. In this technology report we discuss the use of TLS and development of Subtractive Volume Estimation (SVE) methodology for estimating overwintering monarch butterfly populations. The principle proposition of the SVE method is to compare volumetric differences between two TLS surveys, a reference scan that records roosting monarch butterflies in their overwintering environment and a derivative scan, that records the same site without butterflies. Using paired long-range laser scanners, we collected data from four overwintering sites; two in California and two in central Mexico. To help estimate the number of butterflies, we developed an accurate 3D model of an individual monarch. To test the SVE method, we created digital 3D models of bare tree trunks and distal branches, based on laser scans at two sites and combined them with our monarch model to create virtual reference and derivative point clouds. To convert from volume to number of butterflies, we introduce a scaling factor, n, which represents the estimated volume occupied by one butterfly and a correction factor, f, which accounts for variation in clustering behavior and scanner position. While work is ongoing, we confirm that TLS combined with SVE is a suitable technique for surveying clusters of overwintering monarchs at overwintering sites in Mexico and the US

Winter Habitat Associations of Blackbirds and Starlings Wintering in the South-Central United States

Birds can cause extensive crop damage in the United States. In some regions, depredating species comprise a substantial portion of the total avian population, emphasizing their importance both economically and ecologically. We used the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count data from the south-central United States and mixed-effects models to identify habitat factors associated with population trend and abundance for 5 species: red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), Brewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Overall, we found positive associations between bird abundance and agricultural land-cover for all species. Relationships between abundance and other land-cover types were species-specific, often with contrasting relationships among species. Likewise, we found no consistent patterns among abundance and climate. Of the 5 species, only red-winged blackbirds had a significant population trend in our study area, increasing annually by 2.4%. There was marginal evidence to suggest population increases for rusty blackbirds, whereas all other species showed no trend in population size within our study area. Our study provides managers who are interested in limiting crop damage in the south-central United States with novel information on habitat associations in the region that could be used to improve management and control action