We’ve had a couple people ask us why we’ve only been working with Corsica Public School students on the design:SD project. The answer is pretty simple: timing. When we began learning from and working with the Corsica community last fall, folks at the public school talked to us about a new program they were launching called “Senior Project.” CHS had applied for and received a state grant to implement a semester-long, hands-on learning experience for the senior English class. School officials had decided to go ahead with the program, but hadn’t selected a topic or format for the the students to work within.

At about he same time, we had just launched a Youth Engagement research project in which we set out to partner with a handful of South Dakota schools, and we had begun putting together the design: South Dakota project with the folks at AIA South Dakota. It was a perfect storm, of sorts. A partnership with CHS was born, and we’ve been working with Mrs. Eide and the Senior English class, engaging the students in hands-on learning about community design, ever since.

The things is, it all came together very quickly. The conversation started about the same time kids were already heading back to class. Had we had more time to put this together, we would have liked to have partnered with other area high schools (like Dakota Christain, Stickney, Armour, etc) and really made it a collaborative regional effort with kids from all those schools working together.

That’s kind of how pilot projects work. They are about learning how things work and how they don’t. We’re learning a lot about how to go about a youth engagement project like this in the future, and I’m sure things will be tweaked in the future. It’s been a great partnership with CHS, and hopefully a neat learning experience for the students (and their teacher too!) .

Joe

Nine senior students from Corsica High School, accompanied by their English teacher Mrs. Eide, took a field trip last Wednesday to visit a few members of the design:SD team at work. The student have been working with the RLC and members of the design:SD team to prepare for the charrette on May 16-19. The field trip gave students an opportunity to see architects, construction workers, and planners in their natural environment!

The first stop on the trip was at TSP architecture firm in Sioux Falls (visit their website at www.teamtsp.com). The students learned about what architects do, what it takes to become an architect, and also about how architects must work with engineers, construction companies, and clients in order to do their work. After a tour of the office, the students visited a job site with Elizabeth (architect) and Marv (construction manager, pictured left below) from TSP.

On the way to Planning and Development District III, students caught a glimpse of one of the great examples of neighborhood design in Sioux Falls at McKennan Park. The houses are a showcase for how a neighborhood can look when you are intentional about creating a sense of community.

What would a field trip be without food? We stopped in Tea on our way to Planning and Development District III at the Pizza Ranch for lunch. A nap was had by most as we headed to Yankton with bellies full of chicken, pizza, and dessert pizza!

At our visit to District III (see their website at www.districtiii.org) we all learned what can be done with GIS mapping and GPS units. Eric and Harry from District III were kind enough to entertain us with videos of 3-D applications for GIS mapping as well as other examples of what GIS technology is being used for. Students learned how dispatch offices are using GIS mapping to locate emergencies and the fastest way to respond.

A big thanks to TSP and District III for taking time to teach about what they do! See more pictures of students on the field trip below!

As you know, Corsica will become the first ever design: SD community. The CHS Senior English class is using this unique opportunity to be involved in something that matters to their community while meeting academic standards. By participating in this kind of real world education, CHS seniors discover first hand how important research, writing, and communication skills are to the success of this project.

The seniors are responsible for creating survey questions and for collecting data that will be important to the design team in helping the community create its vision. Collecting data through survey questions and discussion, attending design team and community meetings along with photographing various points of interest around Corsica are just a few ways CHS seniors are contributing to this project. Meeting deadlines, utilizing technology, and working with a wide variety of professional people is a great way to experience the real world while giving helping their community.

To help gather community and input the CHS seniors have created an online survey. To give your ideas and input to the design team please click here. The preliminary results of the survey will be reported by the students at the “Dessert and Design” gathering on Tuesday, April 24^th at 7:00pm in the Corsica grade school gym.

The design:SD planning team spent an afternoon in Corsica on March 23. We met with the local Housing Commission and with the senior class from Corsica High School. We also further developed our plans for May 16-19. We’ll soon be releasing the event schedule.

The Corsica Commercial Club has set up a handful of committees to help coordinate the charrette (what is a charrette?), including a Food Committee and a Host Home Committee. The Food Committee will be in charge of coordinating/serving the meals and snacks/refreshments for the Design SD Team while they are in Corsica in May. The Host Home group is looking for families in the Corsica area who are willing to host a Design Team member for 3 nights. Host families will not need to feed your guest, just provide a place to sleep, shower, etc. If you’d like to help, just contact Nathan Hinker at the Avera Corsica Clinic.

 Corsica high school senior students will be doing things a bit differently in the new year.  This senior class will be the first graduating class to complete an educational capstone experience called a Senior Project.  The project will be incorporated heavily in the English curriculum during the second semester.  Students will be researching the Corsica area, and developing products out of their research.

The Rural Learning Center is developing ways to effectively engage youth in rural communities, and will partner with the Corsica School District on the project.  The students will work with the Rural Learning Center throughout the semester. 

 The students will focus their research on three different academic tracks, including Community Design, Understanding Place, and Entrepreneurship.   All of the tracks encourage students to get out into the community and learn from the people who live and work in Corsica.

The RLC is excited to partner with the school district on this project!  If you would like to know more, send us an email!  You can see a detailed description of the tracks here.

Thanks,

Lindsey