Love and Logic!

Hello from WYN!

One idea that is at the very center of the Western Youth Network (WYN) and
how we operate as an organization is a philosophy called Love and Logic.  The
Love and Logic viewpoint, according to loveandlogic.com, is as follows:

“Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children
to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of
working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control,
teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in
the real world, with its many choices and consequences.”

WYN uses the principles of Love and Logic as we engage and support the
youth in Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Wilkes, Alleghany, and Mitchell counties.  As
we help youth facing obstacles and challenges, the ideas behind Love and
Logic allow us to let them grow into the people they want to be.

If you have questions about Love and Logic, WYN, or anything related,  please
feel free to post any questions you have to our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/WesternYouthNetwork,  and we will answer them on air on our radio segment, Wednesdays with WYN on AM 1450 WATA and NewsTalk 1200 WXIT.

Mentor Spotlight: Orlando Dobbin

“One of my favorite memories with my mentee so far is the time where we went to a park near my apartment and just played, like little kids.  It was awesome!  It was so much fun to be a little kid again.  And it was one of the first times that I think (Dave) really had a good time hanging out with me,” Orlando Dobbin, WYN mentor, said.

Orlando is one of the WYN mentors who truly goes above and beyond both as a mentor and a supporter of other mentors.  He and several WYN mentors have been working on starting a registered club with Appalachian State University where they can go to share ideas, tell stories, and plan events as mentors for WYN.  Currently, they are in the final stages of the process for becoming a recognized club at Appalachian.  Their next step is to present their idea and documents before the Club Council.

 “Once we get approved by Club Council, our club will be good to go!” Dobbin said.

The Western Youth Network (WYN) mentors spend time with their mentees each week and make a big difference in their lives.  The Mentoring program at WYN aims to provide a positive role model and influence in the lives of kids across western North Carolina.  This program also gives the mentees someone to turn to for help with homework, decision-making, and staying motivated.  A support group for those who support the kids of the High Country of North Carolina will benefit the mentors and mentees alike. 

Dobbin said, “It is such an honor and blessing to know that I have the opportunity to have a significant impact on his (my mentee’s) life.  But with great opportunity, comes great responsibility, and learning how to handle the great responsibility of being a mentor has taught me a lot and helped me to grow as a person.”

For more information about becoming or finding a WYN mentor, please visit http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/programs/mentoring.

WYN Hits the Beach for Spring Break

Each year, Western Youth Network takes a group of students from the After School Program on a week-
long trip to Carolina Beach State Park. I interviewed Anna Wilkie, also known as just “Wilkie,” WYN’s
After School Site Leader for our west program, about her experience that week.

Q: Tell me a little bit about the purpose of the spring break trip.

Wilkie: Obviously, kids need to have fun. Most of the WYN kids can’t afford or don’t have the resources
to go to the beach, to the aquarium, or kayaking. Even with all the snow days this year in Watauga
County, we wanted some of the kids to go because they earned the trip through good behavior and
responsible decisions. It was windy and cold, so we couldn’t do all of the activities we wanted to do, but
it was still fun.

The trip is also a lesson in responsibility because they need to pack their clothes and be prepared to
camp for an entire week. For example, we communicate that they need to be proactive about hanging
up their wet clothing, otherwise, it won’t dry and they will have wet clothes to wear. They also need
to help with chores, getting water, and helping to make dinner. These activities also teach teamwork
because they often have to do activities in pairs or groups.

Q: Have most of the kids been to the beach before?

Wilkie: We had a total of eight kids on the trip and at least one that I know of for sure had never been
to the beach or seen the ocean before. It’s not uncommon for WYN kids to have these kinds of first
experiences on our trips. Again, their families don’t have the resources for recreational activities.

Q: What was the highlight of the trip for you?

The Hermit Trail. We visited the old WWII bunker and the kids learned a little bit about Robert Harrill
who used to live in the bunker where he spent his days fishing and cooking. You can also see the
memorials and pictures about Harrill’s life. He showed people how to live peacefully and passively.

As we walked along the trail I would tell the kids about the plants and animals, like the Snowy Egret,
which is a beautiful white bird with a slender black bill, long black legs and yellow feet. It was great to
watch their reactions.

Q: What were their reactions?

Wilkie: They would stare in silence. Maybe they thought I was making stuff up, but I’m fairly certain that
their silence was because it was all new information for them. It was exciting to see their faces to new
experiences.

Q: Is there one particular story of growth that you saw in any of the kids that week?

Wilkie: One girl was having some issues following through on a task. The staff asked her to clean up her
dishes from dinner, but she kept putting it off until it was dark out, and then she complained that it was too dark to do the dishes. She eventually dumped her left-overs outside next to my tent instead of in the
trash can. We explained to the children that it’s important to keep food out of the tents and to dispose
of food in the trash cans because of raccoons, possums, and deer. The staff cleaned it up and the next
day we talked to her about it and gave her the consequence of doing all the dishes from dinner that
night. Initially she refused, shut down and walked away. We gave her some time. She came back and
apologized. It was really a breakthrough moment for her and we were all really impressed that she held
herself accountable.

Q: Any final comments about the trip?

Wilkie: Never go to the aquarium on a rainy day. Ever. It’s so crowded!

By Faith Motter, Director of Development

Are you up for the challenge?

 Growing up can be difficult for anyone.  Each stage of life has its difficult moments.   In middle school, for example, there's braces, acne and the desire to be a part of the crowd.  Many teens today face obstacles and challenges everyday- just like adults- from all different directions.  These challenges may come in the form of peer pressure, lack of resources, messages from the media, meeting high expectations, and other situations of this nature.  Many of these teenagers do not have anyone who can help them adapt and adjust to the obstacles that come their way.  WYN serves the families of northwestern North Carolina via relationship-based programs to help teenagers through these challenges that they are facing.

WYN recognizes the challenges that our youth face day in, day out, especially youth who live with the added stress that comes with poverty, homelessness, substance use and abuse in the home, and many other circumstances.   And we at WYN want to be able to serve them even better! 

For the past few weeks, several WYN lovers have united to raise money for the Western Youth Network’s many programs and the youth who enjoy them.  We invite you to check out their sites (listed below) and see what challenges they are setting for themselves in order to raise financial resources to benefit the youth of the High Country.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Wyn-Volunteer-Challenge

http://www.razoo.com/story/Wyn-Volunteer-Challenge-1

http://www.razoo.com/story/10-Pledge-Challenge

http://www.razoo.com/story/Retro-Run-For-Wyn-1

http://www.razoo.com/story/Chris-Clark-Is-A-Ninja

http://www.razoo.com/story/Mentors-For-Kids-In-Memory-Of-Monica-Pombo

http://www.razoo.com/story/Help-Matt-Suit-Up-For-The-Retro-Hash-Run-Fu-Manchu-Or-Tutu-And-Fu

http://www.razoo.com/story/Win-For-Wyn

http://www.razoo.com/story/Skip-That-Meal-Out-And-Donate-10

http://www.razoo.com/story/Orlando-S-Half-Marathon-Run

 

Our list of  volunteers could be even longer if you take on this challenge with us!  If you are interested in creating a challenge, please contact Faith Motter at motterf@westernyouthnetwork.org.  

Are you up for the challenge?

Welcome to WYN!

Welcome to the Western Youth Network blog!   

Friends of the network affectionately call us WYN for short, so feel free to do the same.  To introduce ourselves, we would love to share with you a little about each of the programs we have to help the kids here in the High Country of Boone, North Carolina and what we are all about.

First, you should know that WYN no longer serves just Watauga County as was our former purpose but we serve Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Wilkes, Alleghany, and Mitchell counties.  We are passionate about serving these communities and making a difference in the lives of kids and their families.  

One program WYN offers is an After School Program where the kids go to get help with homework, play games, make friends, and spend time with their mentors.  The next program is our Mentoring Program where youth are matched with a mentor who spends at least two hours a week with the youth for at least one year.  Our Prevention Program uses evidence based practices to lessen and setback the start of early substance use and abuse here in western North Carolina.  Additionally, youth can participate in our 5-week day camp Summer Program where they travel on daily adventures to learn self awareness, leadership and social skills.

Again, we welcome you to the WYN blog!  We hope that you will give us feedback as you are welcome to comment below; we would love to hear your stories and questions.  Please post any questions you have to our Facebook page and we will answer them on air on our radio segment, Wednesdays with WYN on AM 1450 WATA and NewsTalk 1200 WXIT.

Join us as we raise a community!