Generosity at Summer Camp

WYN’s summer programming is in full swing, every available slot is filled and new adventures are occurring each day.  Our campers are so excited for an opportunity to do activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.  They get to climb an Alpine tower, ride the Virginia Creeper, tube the New River and hike mountain tops.  All of these activities are possible because of our generous donors.  Especially, donors like Sandi Solomon who took all of our youth to attend Lees McRae’s performance of “Mary Poppins.”  Our youth, including the ones that do not normally enjoy theater were grateful of this opportunity and even commented on the quality of the production.  In addition, to the events offered to our youth because of donor support, we are able to go on numerous adventures because donor funds contributed to the purchase of a new van.  This van is a source of pride for our youth, they have coined it the “Spaceship” and fret over who is going to ride in it each day.  The Spaceship is getting our WYN campers safely from place to place and we could not be more thankful!

 Summer Campers with Sandi Solomon and Mary Poppins!

 Youth hanging out with the "Spaceship!"

Summer camp has become a place of refuge for many of our summer campers to escape the hardships that they face at home.  Currently, one of our success stories comes from a young lady who was afraid to come to summer camp.  WYN understood the importance of her attendance because if she had to stay at home she would spend most of her days just sitting around, unable to go many places or do many things because both of her parents are battling separate illnesses.  After missing most of the first week of camp, our staff reached out to find out what they could do to get her to camp.  One staff member spoke to her and found out that she was shy and worried about swimming in river water.  The next day that staffer picked her up and took her to camp and talk about everything that she was fearful of.  Once at camp she was introduced to other youth, staff members, interns, and volunteers.  She was welcomed and put at ease by everyone at WYN!  Now she is in her 3^rd week of camp and she despises when it’s the weekend because she loves camp so much.   She says that camp “brightens up her day, ” and she no longer worries about swimming in rivers! 

 Summer campers tubing and included in this picture is our camper who was afraid of river water!

A local collaboration between Western Youth Network (WYN), Mountain Alliance and Watauga County Schools will provide five local youth-serving professionals with an opportunity to be trained in the evidence-based curriculum Project Venture, March 6-9, in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM.

Project Venture aims to prevent substance use and related problems through problem-solving and skill-building activities, outdoor adventure-based experiential activities, adventure camps and treks, and community-oriented service learning.

Together, WYN, Mountain Alliance and Watauga County Schools formed a team of five youth-serving professionals who were chosen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to participate in the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED).  NNEDLearn creates opportunities for community-based organizations to learn and implement evidence-based, adapted, and culturally-specific behavioral health practices.

“By adopting Project Venture you are joining a new community of youth workers willing to implement a program that is not ‘canned’, but requires creativity and dedication not usually found in other models,” Founder Mac Hall said.

 
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Mountain Alliance takes a break from their adventure at Worley’s Cave in Tennessee.

​A group of WYN youth pose at Upper Creek Falls after a day of hiking

WYN strives to build youth of confidence and character so that every young person in the High Country reaches their full potential.  Through the use of outdoor adventures, experiential education, service learning projects and team building, WYN works to strengthen self-awareness, leadership and social skills among middle school youth.

Similarly, Mountain Alliance provides high school-aged youth in Watauga County with opportunities to explore and develop their leadership potential through experiential learning.  By working closely with Watauga High School, Mountain Alliance connects students to a support structure and caring community to provide positive opportunities outside of school.

According to the program, traditional American Indian values are used to help youth develop positive self-concept, effective social interaction skills, and a community service ethic, internal locus of control, and increased decision making and problem-solving skills. The team, made up of Watauga County Schools’ Prevention Counselor, two WYN staff and two Mountain Alliance staff will be trained to implement this unique program to hundreds of Watauga County youth.

If you would like more information about Project Venture, Western Youth Network, or Mountain Alliance, please contact Hollie Storie at 828.264.5174.

Action-Packed Summer

As fall has quickly made itself known here in the High Country, we have loved reflecting on the action-packed summer of the Western Youth Network.

Our summer programing was once again filled to capacity, both with participants and action. The long days of sunshine and near-perfect temperatures provided countless hiking adventures, biking trips, service projects and recreational activities. Even though this year’s summer programming has come to a close, WYN has not slowed down a bit! The school year began, and both WYN afterschool sites have been filled everyday with laughter and learning. Our mentoring program has extended its resources to Avery County, successfully completing five mentor/mentee matches. The prevention team has continued its impactful work in a 5-county region, while expanding the range of services offered. The local and regional accolades continue to pour in for the hard work being done by our prevention team!

The development team has two new exciting missions as well! WYN is honored to announce a partnership with Sonny and Bricca Sweet, establishing the Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund. This endowment fund will provide scholarships to High Country youth for participation in WYN programming, delivering life-altering opportunities to those in need. Additionally, Chetola Resort has graciously offered to host the inaugural Festival of Trees, December 3-6. Individuals and corporations can decorate a Christmas tree or wreath based on a theme, and these trees will be auctioned at the event. All proceeds from the Festival of Trees will go to support Western Youth Network. Decoration is open to all participants, so please click the link below for more information if you are interested!

While we are excited about the grown at WYN, we all know that our work is not complete. Currently, there are 45 youth in Watauga and Avery Counties on our mentor waitlist. Our afterschool programming department is now picking up youth from all eight elementary schools in Watauga County, leading to an increased demand for tutoring and continuing education. The education services of our prevention team are providing a higher success rate with local data showing a decline in underage drinking and prescription drug abuse; however, the battle is ever-continuing, growing, and requiring constant updated practices on substance abuse.

People ask everyday how they can help, and my response is always the same: GET INVOLVED! Help spread our message, donate, volunteer, be a mentor… The possibilities and opportunities are almost endless! Are you gifted administratively? We have work for you. Do you enjoy cleaning and organizing? We have work for you. Do you love kids? We have multiple connecting points for you. Think your financial gift is too small to matter? Let us show you the difference even ten dollars can make.

WYN is about investment. WYN is building youth of character and confidence in the High Country, and we need you in order to continue making this happen. 

 http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/festival-of-trees

http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/sonny-sweet-scholarship-fund

Celebrating a Legacy

Western Youth Network shares a 30th Anniversary with Dr. Janice Rienerth in 2015. On Thursday, April 30th at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, WYN celebrated the legacy of Dr. Janice Rienerth. Jan is one of the original Co-founding Board Members of WYN, and has served on the Board of Directors since the organization’s inception. 

WYN (then called “Watauga Youth Network”) was founded in 1985 in response to the community’s cry for more local services to youth. Jan recalls the humble beginnings of WYN during the late winter and early spring of 1985: “It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since a group of us sat at a table in the jury deliberation room of the courthouse and conceived the idea of the Watauga Youth Network.”  

Jan will be stepping down from WYN’s Board of Directors effective July 1, 2015, at which point she will transition to the Advisory Board. When asked about her decision to rotate off the Board, she simply replied, “It’s time.”

Jan currently serves as Secretary of the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge Board and is a volunteer for Guardian ad Litem program. She worked 40 years at Appalachian State University as a Sociology Professor and retired in 2013. Jan still teaches as an Adjunct Professor. 

“If I had only two words to describe Jan, they would be consistent and kind," said Jennifer Warren, Executive Director. "Jan is the one you can count on to come to every event. Like a loving parent, she shows up and shows her support of you no matter how small or insignificant the event may seem. I clearly remember her being one of the only people who came to a car wash fundraiser the Mentoring Program hosted many years ago. Jan is also one of the kindest persons you'll ever want to meet. She notices when someone needs something, and she is quick to put her financial resources (as well as her wise and compassionate words) towards that need.” 

A few of the highlights from the event at Chetola included a walk down history lane with Ken Suddreth (also Co-founding Board Member) and guest speaker Ron Redmon (former Board Chair). WYN honored Jan with a plaque for her dedication and service and presented her with a gift of a Katie Langley photograph. Guest Denise Presnell (School Social Worker) was surprised to receive the first ever "Jan Rienerth Superhero Award" which will now be presented annually to an individual, like Jan, who has gone above and beyond to make WYN thrive and to serve with unwavering dedication our community's youth. Flower centerpieces were designed and donated by The Wedding Resource Center and were purchased by guests with proceeds benefiting WYN. 

Guests and former Board Members also made contributions in Jan's honor to the WYN Legacy Fund - a permanent endowment fund established to help provide stability and security for the organization over the long term. As incentive to build The WYN Legacy Fund, an anonymous donor has offered to match in 2015 up to $4,000 of gifts made to The WYN Legacy Fund. Thus far, gifts made in Jan's honor total $3,755.

If you would like to make a contribution to The WYN Legacy Fund, please visit http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/the-wyn-legacy-fund

Alcohol Awareness Month

Western Youth Network encourages parents and guardians to observe Alcohol Awareness Month during the month of April. Since youth are 5 times more likely to be alcohol abusers if they use before the age of 21, and drinking during adolescence has been shown to cause permanent brain damage, it is important that parents and guardians begin the conversation about alcohol early in a child's life.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), parents and caregivers play a critical role in children’s decisions to experiment with alcohol. Studies have shown that parents have a significant influence on young people’s decisions about alcohol consumption, especially when parents create supportive and nurturing environments in which their children can make their own decisions. In fact, around 80 percent of children feel that parents should have a say in whether they drink alcohol.

SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You." campaign helps parents and caregivers start talking to their children early—as early as nine years old—about the dangers of alcohol. "Talk. They Hear You." aims to reduce underage drinking among youth by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to start addressing the issue of alcohol with their children early. The Campaign focuses on:

·         Increasing parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking;

·         Equipping parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking; and

·         Increasing parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking.

If you're unsure of how to begin talking with your child, you can use SAMHSA's "Start the Talk" interactive tool to help you learn the do’s and don’ts of talking to your kids about underage drinking. Using avatars, you’ll practice bringing up the topic of alcohol with a teen; learn what questions to ask; and get ideas for keeping the conversation going long after the initial talk has ended.

You can learn more and utilize dozens of "Talk. They Hear You."  resources by visiting http://www.samhsa.gov/underagedrinking/

WYN Increases Community Health Initiatives

WESTERN YOUTH NETWORK INCREASES COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES

Boone, NC – Western Youth Network (WYN) received $5,000 in funding from the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant to begin implementing comprehensive health initiatives in the after school program. This funding has allowed WYN to offer healthy snacks and nutrition education for all of the students enrolled.

This program serves an average of 30 Watauga County students in grades 6-8 from all 9 elementary schools. These initiatives are a part of WYN’s holistic, preventative approach for this population. Evidence suggests that when youth are involved in an after school program that provides a variety of healthy activities and options, it increases their protective factors and helps prevent or delay the onset of drug and alcohol use.

In a time where healthy options are limited for low-income, rural populations, WYN believes that every member of the program deserves at least one healthy snack option per day. Fridays are the kids favorite snack day. They have the chance to build their own trail mix with options ranging from seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. After school leader, Deanne Wesemann, commented “I have been surprised that the kids have adapted so kindly to the healthy snacks. There are many days that they want seconds.”

Margie Mansure, from the NC Cooperative Extension, teaches a nutrition workshop for the youth once a month. She prepares food in front of the students to demonstrate healthy cooking and teaches them the importance of incorporating whole grains, vegetables, and fruits in their diet. After each workshop, each student is sent home with a nutrition packet to look over with their parents. Margie insists that, “the parent’s role is vital because they are the gate keepers of health.”

Western Youth Network has an ongoing partnership with Bare Essentials Natural Market. All of the snack ingredients have been bought at this local, natural grocery store. Most of the products are organic, which increases the nutritional density of the snacks. A group of students from WYN will take a field trip to Bare Essentials in April to tour the store and learn about the differences between conventional and organic food.

WYN intends to implement best practices in order to sustain the program and enact policy change. The program is modeled after a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and staff members have identified ways to continue offering healthy snacks and nutrition education for years to come. A youth enrolled at after school expressively commented on the impact of the program saying that, “the healthy snacks help me nourish my body better and help me build strong muscles.” WYN believes that the program will not only impact the youth immediately, but encourage them to change behaviors and continue making healthy food choices throughout their life.

Kickin' it for WYN!