2009 Oklahoma Youth Leadership Forum

June 9- 13, 2009

Click on the different days to see pictures!     DAY 1  DAY 2  DAY 3  DAY 4  DAY 5

     Welcome to YLF2009!!!  Twenty bright-eyed delegates from across the state of Oklahoma were chosen to attend this year's YLF at USAO and to improve their leadership skills and themselves! 

Red Group

Hannah, Justin, Prince, Jennifer, Matthew, Anthony, Julie, Rachel, Kiley, Brad!  

Blue Group

Cristina, Shelbi, Nikolas,Andrew, Steven, Shay, Heather, Cristina, Brett!

Yellow Group

Lauren, Mindy, Kyle, Roderick, Olivia, Lauren, Krissy, Blake, Kethzia, Brian!

Green Group

Zechariah,Shyenne, Meredith, Aaron, Marta, Jamie, Cody, Glen, Haley, Amanda!

     Do you remember registration with Ann,  moving into your dorm room, meeting your room mate, waving to your parents, eating in the cafeteria, meeting Bob (The Builder?).  Meeting LeDerick Horne and listening to his rhyme.  "Dare to Dream!", Dr. Weeks!  Bandanas for everyone! Hanging with your small groups!  People First Language!  Your Personal Shield! Toxic waste...what?  What is toxic waste?  What do we do with this sponge? Pull the rope!  We can't go in the circle? Hurry up, I want some ice cream!!!  What toppings do you want?  

     Waking up at 6am...  That's early!  Learning how to direct your own IEP or IHP with Dr Martin and Crew!  Learning about Assistive Technology with Camber Moulton and Chuck Roberts!  Using a wheelchair and being blindfolded...what an experience.  Trying to fill a glass when you cannot see isn't easy!  Chocolate River (or is that a Skittles River?)...I'll take that placemat for you, really....   Those HUGE resource notebooks!  [Don't forget that you have them.  There are a ton of resources in there for you.  Use them!]  Dinner...and then the Name Game with Ann...  I don't know about you guys, but I don't think I'll ever forget "Bootylicious Brett".  Getting ready for the debate at the capitol!  PRO Side -> Red and Green Groups! Con Side  -> Blue and Yellow Groups!

     Getting up early and riding the bus to Oklahoma City!  McDonald's for breakfast! YAY!  Wow, the Oklahoma State Capitol is awesome!  Practicing for the debate and then finding your legislators' offices!  Meeting Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, Representatives Ben Sherrer and Mark Liotta!  Our debate in the House of Representatives Chamber!  Speaker of the House Mark Liotta declaring the bill passed!  Way to go Red and Green Groups!  (The voting result was 55 to 6.  Did we have that many people at camp GLEN? hahahaha).  The bus lift is broken...but we did make it home!  Sessions with our Super Alumni Mentors: Brett, Jamie, Shay, Anthony & Cody, and Lauren! 

     Getting up, again at 6...meeting Joyce Montgomery from OSU and learning about the importance of volunteering and career exploration!  Patrick Schwarz and M.A.P.S!  (Hey...you guys have started your action plan, right?  Look back at the goals you wrote down with Patrick!  If you need help, let me know!)  Disability history...  Please welcome your host for Jeopardy, Michael Beers!  Cleaning up for our etiquette lesson with Carey-Sue.  No elbows on the table please!  And remember!  Don't separate the salt and pepper!  Dancing after our formal dinner... Great tunes! 

     Getting up and meeting in small groups one last time...writing a letter to yourself! Building a mattress out of balloons and masking tape...yes, it can be done!  The ultimate test for our mattresses...Bob!  It didn't pop!  I sort of liked the mattress that you can do sit ups with.  The canopy was neat too!  Good ideas!  The winners of Mattress Factory 2009 *drum roll* the BLUE GROUP!  Congratulations!   Packing up for home, greeting your parents, signing t-shirts.  Small group skits: No more bullying with the Yellow Group!  Jerry Springer with the Green Group!  A mock IEP meeting with the Red Group and People First language with the Blue Group!  Your last speaker of the week, Michael Beers!  YAY!   Finally...Graduation!  Getting your certificates and pins from your adult facilitators!  Last words from Bob!  Checking out of the dorm! Cake, punch!  What a week that was!!! 

     Oh wait...  Let's get one more group picture..in front of Sparks Hall!  Say FLOUR!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  Now we know what 50 pounds of flour looks like when its dumped from a second story building on top of kids!  Had to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen!  Thanks to everyone for being a good sport about it!