dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program @DREAMprogram
The Village Mentoring Organization
Windsor – Union Square DREAM Quarterly Report September – November 2014 Greetings from DREAM! The Windsor DREAM program has finished up another wonderful fall of activities. Though youth are sad to see their mentors leave for winter break, they look forward to their return in January. Here is a summary of all the Windsor DREAM happenings from the last quarter.
Highlights from the quarter include:
Mentors introduced High Adventure (an extended trip outside of VT) to the teens! Teens and mentors began planning for the trip and started fundraising to make this trip possible! Mentors brought their youth to the Adventure Fun Zone in Enfield, NH for their culminating trip! Co-chairs worked hard to recruit new mentors; 7 new mentors joined Windsor! Three mentors from Windsor attended DREAM’s annual mentor training! Two mentees from Windsor attended the Teen Futures Retreat with mentor Chris D’Angelo.
Fridays: For the first Friday of the quarter mentors and mentees enjoyed a fall festival on campus!
Mentees got to play games on a campus green and enjoy some sweet treats! Mentees got to enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon of apple picking at a local orchard. For Halloween mentors organized a campus wide trick or treating events. Mentors and mentees walked around campus in their costumes and received an abundance of sweets! Mentees and mentors sold apple cider on campus to raise funds for programming!
Special Events for Children and Mentors:
DREAM staff were excited to host teens for our annual Teen Futures Retreat! Teens from all over the state got together to talk about their future plans regarding educational goals and career choices. Teens participated in a small service project at a local farm.
The Chittenden County Mentoring Network hosted mentors from several different Chittenden County mentoring organizations to honor their hard work and dedication. DREAM mentors were invited to attend the function which was held in Burlington.
Capacity Building and Fundraising:
DREAM received a grant from the Green Mountain Fund to help in sustaining and expanding programming at Johnson State College. DREAM also received a grant from Hills and Hollow to aid in the continued support of our programming at Green Mountain College. DREAM was honored to receive a generous grant from the Donley Foundation to aid in delivery of general programming to all of our Vermont programs.
Our development team met in Philadelphia for a biannual retreat. The team was able to discuss what the coming years will look like for DREAM and got to see the Philadelphia programs in action.
Office: 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT | Mail: P.O. Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 │ (802) 338-8979 | info@dreamprogram.org
DREAM's annual appeal has kicked off. Staff have been working hard to get letters out to donors. Mentor's also contributed by calling alumni and thanking them for all the work they have done for DREAM and the support they continue to give!
Mentor Training and Workshops:
For our annual mentor conference, DREAM Stock, we got together at Bolton Valley with mentors from all of our Vermont programs. This year we were excited to have two Philadelphia mentors attend. Mentors attended informational sessions, collaborated with mentors from different programs, and made exciting plans for enhancing their local programs!
Camp:
This year Camp DREAM turned 10 years old! To celebrate the milestone DREAM held a birthday bash at Camp in Fletcher, VT. Staff, DREAM alumni, mentors and youth, and friends of DREAM enjoyed fresh baked flatbread pizza, games, and an informational discussion on the history of Camp DREAM and what the years to come will look like!
Alumni Involvement:
We are very excited to announce that alumnus Matt Karkut has taken the position of Camp Programming and Operations Manager. Matt was a Champlain College mentor and spent a summer with DREAM as an Adventure Programming Coordinator. While we were sad to say good bye to Rosetta Morse, who moved on to join Burton's Chill Program, we are thrilled to have someone with such energy and passion for getting youth outdoors!
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, Kylie Edwards Program Empowerment Director VYT AmeriCorps VISTA kylie@dreamprogram.org 802.338.8936