Wait List Little Buddy: Lily B. 

Age: 8

Favorite Activities: Snowboarding, making cookies, & dancing

Favorite food: Grilled cheese and tomato soup

When I grow up . . . "I want to be a scientist!"

LILY HAS BEEN ON THE WAIT LIST FOR OVER 7 MONTHS.

Can you INVEST a few hours each week to be Lily's Big Buddy and make an IMPACT in her life? Currently, there are over 40 youth on our wait list, especially in the Mid-Valley area. Please call 970.927.1001 or fill out an application to BECOME A BIG BUDDY!

Dare to dream.                                                            2011 D.R.E.A.M. DAY CAMP

Restructure your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes.

Engage your mind, body and emotions.

Act now! Step outside your comfort zone. Confront your fears.

Maintain a positive attitude. Select realistic & achievable goals.

Smiling faces could be found at the end of each day of this summer's Buddy Program D.R.E.A.M. Day Camp, held the first week of August at Basalt Middle School. Twenty enthusiastic young people, ages 10-13, joined the Buddy Program as we challenged one another on climbing walls, hiking, and high ropes courses. Participants also had the opportunity to experience farm life at Rock Bottom Ranch, moving chickens, harvesting eggs, feeding the animals and even making delicious goat's milk ice cream! The week-long camp was designed to expose the participants to an array of new experiences, many of which challenged them to set goals that brought them out of their comfort zone. Each morning was dedicated to checking in with participants, giving them the time to share with their peers how they were feeling and what they were going to bring to the day (smiles, encouragement, and thoughtfulness, to name a few), followed by yoga to wake up our bodies with stretching and breathing and to focus on goals for the day. Whether it was an art project that made the kids think about what they need to succeed in life or walking the shaky ladder atop the high ropes course while being cheered on by their new-found friends below, our D.R.E.A.M. Day Camp participants learned to build confidence in themselves. It was an incredible week, for campers and counselors alike, and the Buddy Program looks forward to offering this week of challenge and growth for years to come!

Back to School

As the summer days wind down and our Valley's youth go back to school, the Buddy Program staff is hard at work matching new Buddy Pairs in our School-based programs in Aspen, Basalt, and the Carbondale schools. In this site-based program, an adult volunteer mentors a child in the elementary or middle school. Once a week during the Little Buddy's lunch period, they eat lunch, play games, do arts & crafts activities and get to know each other. Last year, we launched the School-based Program in Carbondale schools with great success. Mentoring increases a child's self esteem and their interest in school! If you are interested in becoming a Big Buddy in one of our School-based programs, please call 970.920.2130. Stay tuned for information about our very popular Peer-to-Peer programs, which will re-launch in September!

BUDDIES WILL MEET MICHAEL FRANTI

We're excited that JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS is giving our Buddy Pairs the privilege of going backstage to meet Michael Franti for a photo opp and then enjoy the concert as a group at the Labor Day festival next weekend! We feel honored to be able to expose some of our Buddies to Mr. Franti's positive energy and outlook. Don't miss Jazz Aspen Snowmass's  BIG NIGHT event - all proceeds benefit the Get JAS Initiative! Click here to learn more about the
BIG NIGHT!

Come visit us on First Fridays at the 3rd Street Center in Carbondale from 5:30pm - 8:00pm on September 2 and learn about our many volunteer mentor opportunities!  

www.buddyprogram.org