The dream program, northwoods, quarter 1, 2016 2017

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The Village Mentoring Organization

Northwoods –DREAM Quarterly Report Quarter 1 September – November 2016 Greetings from DREAM! The Northwoods DREAM program has finished up another wonderful semester of activities. Here is a summary of all the Northwoods DREAM happenings from the last quarter.

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Mentors came back in September. They had an all DREAM meeting for their first Friday back to discuss plans for term.

New mentors officially joined in October! They were surprised to find out they were in Northwoods when the current mentors woke up them up super early and brought them to breakfast!

In October the mentors had community dinner with the families. The mentors had pizza in the community center and played games!

This term one of Tyler’s mentors, Ross, is studying abroad in Hungary. Tyler’s other mentor, Daniela, has been facetiming with Ross so that Tyler can stay connected to Ross. The three of them are very close and his mentors are working to make sure that Tyler still feels connected to Ross while he is away.

In November the mentors took all the youth to Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center in Quechee, VT for culminating. They spent the day rock climbing and eating pizza!

The mentors left for winter break and will return in January.

Weekly Programming:   

Mentees got to go apple picking at Poverty Lanes in Lebanon, NH. All the mentoring organizations on campus hosted a trick-or-treating event on campus.

There were booths with many activities and treats for the kids. There was even a dance party!

The mentors did one-on-one and small group programming on campus this term.

Special Events for Children and Mentors: 

DREAM hosted its annual mentor conference, DREAMstock. Mentors from Poultney, Bennington, and Rutland got together for a Southern DREAMstock. Mentors from Champlain, Saint Michael’s, UVM, Johnson State, and Middlebury got together for a Northern DREAM Stock. This year mentors were able to collaborate with each other to learn about other programs and brainstorm new ideas. Mentors were also trained in a number of areas thanks to outside presenters.

Capacity Building and Fundraising: 

DREAM participated in the Rodman Ride. DREAM had 34 stakeholders working to raise money - together they raised $30,000.

Office: 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT | Mail: P.O. Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 │ (802) 338-8979 | info@dreamprogram.org

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DREAM received a $3500 grant from People’s United Trust for the White River Junction programs.

DREAM received a grant from the Donley Foundation for $10,000.

DREAM received a grant of $40,000 from Byrne.

Dartmouth Mentor, Henry Gardner applied for a grant from Dartmouth Class of 1969 and received $10,000 which will go toward their High Adventure to California!

DREAM kicked off its annual appeal this quarter. Office members and volunteers are working hard to get letters signed!

Camp:  

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Lodge project is getting ready to go out for bid. We will select the best proposal from a local contractor and then move forward with the project.

The Davis Conservation Foundation, based in Maine and granting funds to organizations in the Northeast, awarded DREAM $5,000 to purchase winter outdoor gear. We will be able to provide equipment for more youth to get outside and snowshoe and crosscountry ski this winter and for years to come!

DREAM held a Day of Caring this fall. Volunteers from IBM came and helped to clear out an area for the orchard.

Boston DREAM was recognized as the NCCC Sponsor of the year. Our Boston office also hosted NCCC members to assist with summer programming. The Boston NCCC members came to Camp DREAM for our week long camp session and served as camp counselors!

Teen Accomplishments: 

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Nikki, Teen Futures Coordinator, and Kelsea, the Program Empowerment Director for the University of Vermont DREAM programs led “Girl Talk” for the Elm St. program with some mentors. This event was a safe space for female identifying teens to ask questions and talk about a variety of topics like social media, bullying, and relationships.

Nikki, our Teen Futures Coordinator, held a Veterans Day event for the teens in Birchwood. The teens cooked a meal that was later served at an area shelter.

A few of our teens were able to attend Baku, an Anime conference, in Burlington. The teens played games and got to attend some informational sessions.

A group of Burlington area teens went to Salem, MA for a weekend. The teens were able to take a tour of the town.

Northwoods mentee, Nakaya Mitchell, started school at New England School of Hair Design.

Justice, a Birchwood mentee, recently applied early decision to University of Vermont and is waiting for her decision letter.

Alumni: 

Alumni voted for a new President of DREAM’s Alumni Organization and is honored to announce that Gabby Fisher, a former UVM mentor, will serve as the President.

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Nikki Duran, former Champlain College mentor, joined DREAM as an AmeriCoprs VYDC member to serve as the Teen Futures Coordinator. Nikki will focus on developing our teen programming for the next year!

Former mentee and Camp DREAM Staff, Luigi Alger, joined the office this fall as our new Development Assistant. Luigi will be working out of our Burlington office!

Paul Espina, former Dartmouth mentor and DREAM office staff, held a training for staff and mentors on behavior management.

Office: 

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Rachel Kauppila, former Bennington PED, assisted DREAM this fall by serving as a temporary Camp Director while Ashleigh, Camp DREAM Director, was on parental leave!

DREAM has expanded its relationship with Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) this academic year. DREAM assisted CHT in running summer programming at Winchester Place this past summer. DREAM was very well received in the community and will now open a new DREAM program in partnership with UVM. DREAM staff and AmeriCorps members from Vermont, Boston, and Philly got together this fall for a retreat. The retreat was focused on teambuilding, training for the upcoming year, and creating a plan for the next year.

Burlington area staff spent a day volunteering at Vermont Youth Conservation Corps with Ben & Jerry’s staff for a company wide volunteer day put on by their Community Action Team.

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