Trails to Literacy: PHASES

Phase 2 Action - Central Frontenac

NORTH FRONTENAC ADULT LEARNING CENTRE, SHARBOT LAKE
NORTH FRONTENAC LITERACY PROGRAM

“This Trillium grant will provide ‘Tails to Literacy’ learning opportunities in four regions of Eastern Ontario. In ‘Trails’ projects participants are involved in the planning, research, writing, production and construction, which allows them to increase their literacy/numeracy and group communication skills. Even more significantly, they develop self-direction and enthusiasm for learning.”

Joyce Bigelow
Executive Director North Frontenac Literacy

The Sharbot Lake Trails project involves activities related to the section of the Trans Canada Trail that runs through the Township of Central Frontenac. In the introduction of this manual, a brief overview of the original project is provided. We would also recommend reading of our original report, ‘Trails to Literacy, Positive Pathways to a Brighter Future,’ written in August 2000.

As this project moves on through its second year we notice different behaviour and results. Here are some of our observations:

• The participants are uniting more as a group. They are working as a team, resolving more of their own problems. There is less need for staff facilitation, intervention and conflict resolution. The group dynamics training, provided to the participants by staff and outside speakers, has certainly paid off.
• On the flip side of this, the numerous entries, exits and even re-entries cause instability to the team. With each change in membership, new balances have to be achieved. This is accomplished through peer discussion and revisiting prior group training. Major increases in self-confidence and self-direction have continued to impress us. This has now moved past the individuals’ improvements to improvements in the group’s drive.
• The exception to the point above occurred during, and immediately after, summer lulls. The decreased attendance and intermittent absences caused the group to struggle with common activities and projects. Individuals sometimes found it difficult to find things to do, things they could do by themselves. Some found it difficult to pick up where they had left off, or fit in to where the activity had moved.