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