HONESDALE - Teaching kids about disasters and how to respond to them has just gotten easier. The American Red Cross (ARC) and the Allstate Foundation have teamed up to produce Masters of Disaster, a disaster safety curriculum that can be woven into everyday school learning activities by teachers.

The curriculum contains information and activities developed by national disaster and education experts focusing on general preparedness, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and lightning. In each curriculum kit teachers receive detailed lesson plans, activities and demonstrations that can be substituted for or added to regular math, science, social studies and reading classes.

"The Red Cross is always looking for innovative ways to bring important safety information to the public," said Marita C. Wenner, Executive Director of the Wayne Pike Chapter of ARC. "We are very excited about Masters of Disaster because it has been done exceptionally well and can be an everyday part of a child's learning experience."

The Allstate Foundation, recognizing that 40 percent of all people involved in disasters are children under the age of 13, has provided a grant of $1 million to the ARC to develop disaster safety classes for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Masters Of Disaster is now available nationwide through local Red Cross chapters.

Teachers and school administrators interested in learning more about the Masters of Disaster curriculum kit should call the Wayne Pike Chapter of the ARC at 570/253-2310 or 570/296-3229.

Zoo volunteer program accepting candidates

BRONX - The volunteer recruitment office at the Bronx Zoo is currently interviewing applicants for its fall training program. Each year, approximately 50 new candidates are chosen to participate in the intensive program, which includes weekly full-day classes at the zoo from September through December. Candidates may choose either the Wednesday or Sunday classes and serve as volunteers on a weekday, or weekend.

"We have a limited number of spaces available in the program," said Carole Ferster, Coordinator of Volunteers. "They're filled on a first-come, first-served basis."

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must stay for a minimum of two years. "Most of our volunteers apply in the spring or early summer months, allowing them to spend one day a week on a 'try-out' basis before committing themselves to the intensive course work. This course has become respected by those in the conservation field and several area colleges and universities have approached us about offering it as part of their curriculum," said Ferster.

Each weekday throughout the school year, volunteers conduct specialized, scheduled tours for more than 20,000 school children. Organized groups and the general public can also contact the zoo to schedule tours throughout the year. In addition, volunteers staff "hands-on" biofact carts stationed at various exhibits throughout the park where they give mini-talks and answer questions about the exhibit, assist various departments with animal behavior studies and provide an outreach program that travels locally to bring live animals to hospital and nursing home patients unable to visit the zoo.

Tri-state residents who are interested in joining the program can call the Bronx Zoo "Friends of the Zoo" volunteer office at 718/220-5141 to schedule an interview.

LIBERTY - The Sullivan County Teacher Center in collaboration with Sullivan County BOCES Instructional Support Services will offer a substitute teacher workshop on August 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (working lunch) at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty, New York.

Fee for the workshop is $20. Registration deadline is August 4.

For more information or to register call the Sullivan County Teacher Center at 845/292-0082 Ext. 121.