The DREAM Program, Inc. P.O. Box 361 Winooski, VT 05404 (802) 338-8979 tel www.dreamprogram.org
Riverside DREAM Quarterly Report September – December 2012 Greetings from DREAM! The Riverside DREAM program has finished up another wonderful semester of DREAM activities. The children were sad to see the mentors leave for winter break but are looking forward to their return in January. Here is a summary of all the Riverside DREAM happenings from the last quarter. Highlights from the quarter include: • Riverside DREAM joined Elm Street DREAM in hosting the annual chili cook-off, which raised $222 for both programs. • Three Riverside mentors attended DREAMstock, the South Burlington DREAM office’s annual mentor training event. This year’s event featured sessions on: being a co-chair, how to be a mentor, working with teens, open space opportunities, and behavior management. • One Riverside teen attended the Teen Futures Retreat accompanied by his mentor. Teens learned about preparing for college, summer opportunities, and applying for jobs, all while bonding with other DREAM teens from around the state. • The Riverside program welcomed Birchwood Alumna Caitlin Patey as their program partner. The South Burlington DREAM Office also welcomed alumni Steph Baer, Nicole Stevenson, and Laura Kingston as Burlington-area Program Partners. Friday Activities: • Mentors picked up their mentees at The Riverside Community and headed to Oakledge Park for a day of barbecuing and games. • Poor weather stopped the mentors and youth from hiking Mt. Philo and instead they played games at the Burlington Waterfront. • Riverside youth and mentors went apple crazy at Shelburne Orchards! • The Riverside program mixed fun with functional by splitting up mentees for Zumba and a discussion of the rules and expectations for this year of DREAM mentoring. • Mentors and mentees made some delicious baked goods and sold them during UVM’s parents’ weekend earning $99.28 for the program. • Riverside DREAM joined Elm Street DREAM in hosting the annual chili cook-off which raised $222 for both programs. • Veteran DREAM mentors showed new mentors around the Riverside Community and introduced mentors to families. • Mentors and mentees got lost at Sam Mazza’s corn maze. • Mentors hosted a Halloween party for DREAM youth with pumpkin painting, donuts on a string eating contests, and bobbing for apples.