After Youths (under 19 years of age) have become members of the National American Iris Society (A.I.S.), then what? Many adult AIS members go to monthly club meetings, but these can sometimes be "boring" for a 3rd grader. Many adult AIS members exhibit iris, but who helps the 2nd grader or the 8th grader elarn to do this? Many adult AIS members hybridize iris, but what does that mean to a 6th grader?
Many adult AIS members think that all of the Youth Members belong to a Classroom Iris Project (C.I.P.) that is governed by a Teacher. This is not true. Many times there are not CIP programs established for the youth, or not teacher available to work with the youth. Remember, Youth can be members of AIS (American Iris Society) without being in a CIP (Classroom Iris Project), but all CIP participants must be AIS members. AIS and CIP are not synonymous. So, what else can a Youth Member of AIS do besides the CIP and go to the "boring" meeting with the adults? (By the way, not all "adult" meetings are boring -- and sometimes the Youth AIS member give the program.)
Few Examples of Youth Projects or Activities:
Classroom Iris Project (C.I.P.) under the direction of a Teacher
Youth Projects under the direction of a Scout Leader, 4-H Leader, or a Youth Advisor (Y.A.) (usually an adult leader from the local club who has been appointed by the club president) with help from the National Youth Chairperson and/or the Regional Youth Chairperson (R.Y. C.)
AIS Region 4 (Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina) a hybridizer has a yearly hybridizing clinic for youth only, and then they get their seedpods to plant if it works!
AIS Region 18 (Kansas, Missouri) has a Regional Contest that parallels the National Clarke Cosgrove Contest.
AIS Region 2 (New York) have a monthly meeting for youth only, where they do an activity, not always strictly iris related, but usually related to gardening
Some local clubs have "youth only" shows -- some are judged and some are not.
Some Youth Groups work in community gardens
Other AIS Regions have special contests beside the National Youth Contests.
Some clubs concentrate on youth participation in the artistic division on iris shows.
AIS Region 13 has a Teacher Directed group of youth who are currently concentrating on the National AIS Essay Contest and National AIS Coloring Contest as a beginning. They also have an iris planting and will have guest speakers from their sponsoring Iris Club who will talk about different aspects of the iris.
There are youth groups that concentrate on making posters for their Iris Club.
Some youth groups take tours of iris gardens and/or commercial sources of the iris.
Hopefully, the above list gives examples of the many projects available for the Youth Members of AIS. The National Youth Chairperson had ideas ready for mailing to participatinig Teachers, Youth Leaders, and Youth Advisors of Local Clubs. Becoming a Youth Member is the first step to receivng bulletins, booklets, and information handouts.
Kid's Corner at Jeff Co Show
The photo below is from the JeffCo show on May 6th, 2006. A youth from this Affiliate Society had a special table where kids could color iris pictures, touch the irises, leaves, etc, look at the pollen and learn about irises. Rita Gormley thought this was very successful and the idea came from the daffodil society.
Region 21 News -- Spencer Farley
Taken from The Iris Fan, Volume 16, Number 2, Winter 2005
My name is Spencer Farley. I am twelve years old and a member of the Lincoln Iris Society in Lincoln, Nebraska. A special place in Lincoln for me is the Northeast Family Center in Whitehall Mansion.
I've grown up going to the Mansion witih my mom for meetings and for special family gatherings. Whitehall Mansion is a great old house about a hundred years old. Two new playgrounds were being donated and I wanted to help.
The installation was moved from the summer to fall during school hours. Since I couldn't help put the playground in, my mom and I tried to think of other ways to help. We came up with the idea of planting hybrid iris along the playground fence to help beautify the area.
The garden has nearly 500 flowering bulbs, around two hundred iris, thirty hybrid daylilies and many other flowers and grasses. All donated. It was fun seeing the garden come together. Giving something back to the community.
(From the Editor: Thank you so much Spencer for being courageous enough to make a difference! I really think Spencer did a wonderful job, don't you? Like I have been saying all along, don't be afraid to ask -- you might just be surprised at the answer!)
Classroom Iris Project in Hutchinson, KS
These children had a lot of fun planting this iris garden around the sign. All of the youth are grown now. This picture was taken by Judy Eckhoff in Hutchinson, Kansas -- Region 18.