presented by:

BE SOMEBODY!

The Code of the WestLive Each Day with Courage.

Take Pride in Your Work.Always Finish What You Start.

Do What Has to Be Done.Be Tough, But Fair.

When You Make a Promise, Keep It.

Ride for the Brand.Talk Less and Say More.

Remember That Some Things Are Not For Sale.

Know Where to Draw the Line.2004 Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen

Living “The Code”- Training Opportunities

The Trainers

Sara Beth Lyon

As the Cowboy Ethics Out-reach Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, Sara Beth uses her education degree to encourage students to be true to themselves and to never stop believing in their own internal power. Her seven years of classroom teaching in Alaska and Wyoming, along with two years of service to the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Horns in Buffalo, Wyoming, has provided a strong background to help create new and exciting curriculum for the Cowboy Ethics program, as well as implementing assessment strategies and tools for data collection.

Jessica Baxter

“The Code” goes back to timeless principles that resonate with people from all walks of life. The cowboy represents the best of America - courage, optimism and hard work.

Our curriculum is inspired through the work of James P. Owen and in collaboration with the Center for Cowboy Ehtics and Leadership. Owen’s beautifully crafted manuscripts reminds us of a time and a place when your handshake was as good as a contract; where people drew a line and kept their promises.

Cowboy Ethics uses a 3-step programmatic strategy-based curriculum, is built around the Ten Principles to Live By - The Code of the West.

The curriculum can be adapted to many audiences and features two complete curricula for children in the primary grade levels and for youth in the secondary grades.

“Teachers and program leaders must be passionate and energetically committed. The greatest challenge of all is designing an approach that will not only speak to individuals, but will stick with them, making a lasting difference in their lives.”(James P, Owen, “Finding the HERO Within: The Wyoming Youth Initiative”, Center for Cowboy Ethics & Leadership, June 2011)

Since its launch in 2010, the program has grown to every Boys & Girls Club in Wyoming, Clubs in Colorado and Texas, local high schools, the county Juvenile Detention Center, and elementary schools. In addition, members of numerous groups including Wyoming ProStart, various youth organizations in Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona and Idaho, along with all Colorado 4H Clubs have also received training.

As a career educator, Ms. Baxter brings a strong skill set for creating and implementing curriculum that proves effective

for all ages and backgrounds. Having co-created two Cowboy Ethics curriculums and led numerous groups through these lessons, Jessica has a wealth of knowledge and experience to inspire her students. She uses her training in differentiation and learning styles to create experiential learning opportunities for youth and for the professionals she trains.

Jessica is the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming and holds a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming.

Be Somebody: Cowboy Ethics - Elementary

Be Somebody: Cowboy Ethics gives youth the opportunity to discover their own strengths and values, inspiring and empowering them to decide for themselves ways to respond to every day situations and life’s challenges.

Elementary Curriculum

“I have become more aware of my actions and decisions and how they affect others.”

Curriculum for primary grades is based on Jim Owen’s second book, Cowboy Values. Each month focuses on a different Value, based on the values outlined in the book. 1. Respect/Community 5. Heart 2. Duty 6. Fairness

3. Optimism 7. Courage 4. Honor 8. Authenticity

Geared toward the younger learner (ages 5-12), this program uses an experiential learning concept to teach youth how we can live best in a community by showing honor and respect and by living authentically.

“I have always felt it is important to do what I feel is the right thing, even if it is not popular, but Cowboy Ethics has reinforced that.”

Program Snapshot From Jim Owen’s “Building Character: A Four Legged Stool” White Paper Educating Hearts As Well As Minds A large and growing body of research has shown that life success depends less on I.Q. and native ability than on qualities of personal character. As social scientists have learned, it is these character qualities that enable someone to pursue a long-term goal, persevere in the face of obstacles, and bounce back from a stumble or fall. Our program focuses on four key traits:

1. ATTITUDE > Approaching life with a positive, can-do spirit that fuels – and is fueled by – self-confidence. Students need to understand that “You, and only you, are the author of your own life story.”

2. INTEGRITY > Knowing what you stand for. Young people need a solid belief system to anchor their lives and help them weather rocky passages. Rather than imposing values or harping on rules, we encourage them to reflect on their own beliefs, decide what truce success means to them, and develop a code of their own. The simple, timeless principles of the Code of the West give them a starting point for this journey of self-discovery.

3. GRIT > Building the capacity for hard work, perseverance, and resilience. We also help young people realize that success doesn’t always mean winning the prize. When you know you’ve given something your very best, you’re a winner already.

4. PURPOSE > Being determined to do or achieve something. We help students think about having a sense of purpose that gives their life direction and meaning. It’s about how they want to make their mark on the world – a decision no one can make for them.

Designed to Inspire, Not Instruct Unlike many character education programs, we don’t try to tell young people what to believe – that never works. We respect their ability to decide for themselves. Using Jim Owen’s three books – Cowboy Ethics, Cowboy Values, and The Try – and The Try documentary as jumping-off points, our program inspires students to “find the hero within.” As one student put it, “This class really isn’t about cowboys at all; it’s about being a better person inside yourself.” Adaptable to Any Setting The Be Somebody! program isn’t a standardized curriculum, but an adaptable set of ideas and resources that can be academically focused, or expressive and experiential, or both. Schools have structured it in a variety ways: as an elective course, an after-school club, for schoolwide assemblies, or part of orientation for incoming freshmen. Youth groups have used equally varied approaches, sometimes bringing the program into local schools.

Be Somebody:Cowboy Ethics - SecondarySample Lesson Plan

Be Somebody: Cowboy Ethics Secondary – Live Each Day with Courage Intellectual Property of BGCCW ©2012

Principle 1: Live Each Day With Courage Lesson 11: Use Your Noodle Objective: Members will have fun while demonstrating their ability to live with courage. Materials:

Swimming Noodles Chair Blindfold Keys or other item to place below the defender

Activity:

Noodle War o Place one member on a chair with a blindfold on and the noodle as a sword.

This person’s job is to protect the prize below them. o Under the chair place the keys or other “prize” item. o The others stand or sit in a circle surrounding them. o The members in the circle choose someone to attempt to steal the prize while

the person in the blindfold uses their sword to protect the prize. Because the blindfolded person can’t see, they must depend on their other senses to catch the would-be thief.

o If the thief gets hit with the noodle, they are out of the game.

Discussion: How does this activity represent Principle 1: Live Each Day With Courage? How is this activity like your daily life? Which Principles do you feel you displayed in this game? Why that one? What does that Principle look like in your life? Are there others in your lives who display this Principle? How?

Life Application & Purpose: Help the group members to see that although it’s a fun game, it’s also a representation of life. No matter what life may throw at you, you still have to show up and try, and sooner or later you’ll get the “prize” in life…whatever that may be.

Be Somebody: Cowboy Ethics - Elementary

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Sample Lesson Plan

Be Somebody: Cowboy Ethics - SecondaryBe Somebody: Cowboy Ethics teaches qualities like discipline and perserverance as routes to success. Youth are taught a way to approach life’s challenges with dignity and belief in their own ability to triumph with their values intact.

Curriculum for the secondary level is based on the James P. Owen book Cowboy Ethics. “The Code” is built around the Ten Principles to Live By - The Code of the West. In an experiential learning setting, group members seek out and discover the answers to three key questions:

1) What do I believe? 2) Why do I believe it? 3) How does my life show it?

Following each activity, leaders facilitate discussion which culminates in a time of self-reflection and application to answer those three key questions. Because students are offered a variety of ways to express themselves and discover how they feel about the various topics presented, they are able to form their own opinions and apply the concept to their own lives. This curriculum offers more in-depth lessons for youth ages 13-18.

Secondary Curriculum

“You learn new ways

to live your life . You

learn how to respect and treat

yourself and others.”

Contact us:

Jessica Baxterjbaxter@bgccw.org

307.234.2456 ext. 102

Sara Beth Lyonslyon@bgccw.org

307.265.2427 ext. 105

Center for Cowboy Ethics & Leadership98 San Jacinto Blvd.FSR No. 194Austin, TX 78701512.516.0049www.cowboyethics.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming1701 East K StreetCasper, WY 82609307.235.4079

For more information on the curriculum or training opportunities, please visit our website:

www.wyomingyouth.org