dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
Elm Street DREAM Quarterly Report September-November 2015 Greetings from DREAM! The Elm Street program has enjoyed a fun filled fall semester and has lots of exciting news to report on!
Highlights from the Quarter Include:
Elm Street mentors collaborated with the Salmon Run and Riverside mentors to plan a Thanksgiving celebration for all three programs! The event was held at ArtsRiot in Burlington and food was donated by Hannaford. Mentors applied for and received a DREAM Alumni Grant to take their mentees on a culminating trip to Jay Peak Water Park!
Weekly Activities with Youth:
Mentors had a welcome back pot luck in the community with donations from Sherpa Kitchen in Burlington! A group of mentees and mentors participated in a scavenger hunt at the University of Vermont. The group went to Sam Mazza’s where mentees and mentors worked together to find their way out of a three mile corn maze! Younger mentees went on a nature walk in Centennial Woods with their mentors while older mentees carved pumpkins at a mentor’s house. Mentors and mentees split up into several small groups and participated in a variety of activities including going to Pizza Put, playing soccer, doing crafts, and baking. The group went bowling at Champlain Lanes! Mentors hosted a Halloween party for mentees! Mentors and mentees participated in a coin drop fundraiser and raised over $400!
Special Events for Children and Mentors:
This fall DREAM hosted its annual mentor conference, DREAMstock, at Bolton Valley Ski Resort. Mentors from all over the state attended for a weekend full of trainings, fun activities, exchanging of ideas, and bonding. Mentors talked about teen programming, how to connect with families, meeting facilitation, and fundraising ideas. Amanda Rhodenburg from Outright VT came and talked with mentors about how to create safe spaces for our youth.
Capacity Building and Fundraising:
DREAM staff members kicked off the annual appeal this November. Through the help of staff, volunteers, mentors, board members, and alumni we are over half way to our goal of $200,000. Hannaford gave a generous gift of $10,000 to DREAM. The Merchant’s Bank gave a gift of $7,500 toward Camp DREAM.
Camp:
We had a great Day of Caring this year with volunteers from Green Mountain Keurig. The day was filled with completing important tasks such as bedding the garden for the winter and dismantling old structures for materials.
Office: 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT | Mail: P.O. Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 │ (802) 338-8979 | info@dreamprogram.org
Camp Programs and Operations Manager, Matt Karkut, has been working hard on building structures at camp. Matt, along with volunteers, broke ground for a new cabin this fall. The group has constructed a foundation and a subfloor for the structure. Matt also got the roof completed on the bathhouse.
Office:
In September staff from Boston, Philadelphia, and Vermont got together for a retreat. The retreat focused on how staff can strengthen local programs, work across regions, and more. DREAM is excited to announce that we have a new VYDC AmeriCorps member. Alicia Pacelli has joined the team to serve as a Teen Coordinator. Alicia will be working closely with our teens throughout the state. She will be working on post-graduation plans, teen programming, teen retreats, and summer programming opportunities. Former VYT AmeriCorps member Kate Cahalane received a Governor’s Service Award for her dedication to DREAM during her two years of service. Kate was a mentor at UVM for four years, a summer intern, supported our three Dartmouth programs as a PED, and supported our three UVM programs as a PED. Kate’s dedication to DREAM has impacted many youth and mentors throughout the state.
Thank you for your ongoing support of DREAM. If you would like additional or more detailed information, please contact me by email or by phone. You can always look back at past reports or other programs’ reports by going to: http://dreamprogram.org/mentor-program/vermont/local-program-reports. DREAM big, Kelsea Moulton Program Empowerment Director VYT AmeriCorps VISTA kelsea@dreamprogram.org 802.338.8979