Ben & Jerry's Community Action Team Spends a Day at Laraway

Johnson-based Laraway Youth & Family Services’ recently hosted seventy Ben & Jerry’s volunteers for a day of service.  The Vermont super-premium ice cream makers proved most adept at tackling projects on the agency’s 39-acre site to make ready for summer programming for kids and families.

With Laraway staff as team leaders, Ben & Jerry’s folks fell into groups, each assigned a specific task for the day.  Working with diligence

and tenacity, they built a bike shed, weeded an extensive perennial garden, planted the vegetable garden, cleared brush along our walking trail, planted a vast number of trees, dug an impressive fire pit and built a bread oven.

“We are grateful for our new friends at Ben & Jerry’s and appreciate their interest in supporting our important work with kids and families,” said Greg Stefanski, Laraway’s Executive Director

Laraway Youth Art Featured in Installation on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

     One Million Bones is a national social arts project to raise awareness of ongoing genocide and atrocities in places like Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Burma.  Project participants, from across the United States, created bones to symbolize lives lost to political violence.  Youth in Substitute Care, Laraway's therapeutic foster care program, crafted clay bones to become part of the installation.
     Vermont-made bones were featured in an installation at the University of Vermont in April; they will be part of a national installation on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 8-10.  For more information about the project, please visit www.onemillionbones.org.  Kudos to our Laraway activist artists!

Greg Stefanski to be featured on WLVB Radio

     Greg Stefanski will be interviewed by Roland Lajoy on WLVB Radio, 93.9 FM, on Thursday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m.  Tune in to hear Greg's updates on Laraway's exciting summer programming and and the "Journey to Fatherhood" parenting class he'll be co-teaching.  For more information about Laraway, please visit www.Laraway.org.  For more information about the class, which begins June 6th, and/or to register, please contact the Lamoille Family Center at 888-5229.  The class is free.  The book costs $15; scholarships are available.

Laraway and Salvation Farms Host AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer

              Laraway Youth and Family Services and Salvation Farms are partnering to host Marcella Houghton,  an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer.  Houghton recently graduated from Middlebury College, earning a degree in Environmental Studies and Geology.  She will support agricultural, educational and outreach initiatives at both organizations.

“Laraway and Salvation Farms started working together in 2006,” said Theresa Snow, Executive Director of Salvation Farms.  “We’ve always been supportive of each other’s missions.  The Americorp opportunity came at a vital time and will serve to strengthen our shared interests in protecting Vermont’s agricultural landscape.”

“Marcella’s presence will bolster Laraway’s ability to further integrate agricultural activities into the services we provide for children and youth,” observed Cornelius Murphy, Laraway’s Farm Steward.

              Laraway responds to the needs of at-risk kids and their families by offering innovative, strength-based services through alternative education, therapeutic foster care, and public school based behavioral intervention supports.  Salvation Farms’ mission is to build increased resilience in Vermont’s food system through agricultural surplus management. 

Laraway Staff to present at VCORP Training Academy

     Laraway staffers Greg Stefanski and Rhonda Stuart will present a workshop entitled "The Four Pillars of Wellness" at the 1st Annual Residential Staff Training Academy sponsored by the Vermont Coalition of Residential Providers (VCORP).  The Academy will be help on Friday, May 3rd in Burlington.  Greg, Executive Director, and Rhonda, Human Resources Director, will guide participants in exploring the connection between between wellness, supervision, professional development, and self care.
     For more information and registration information, please visit http://vcorp.eventbrite.com

Laraway receives Green Mountain Fund Grant

     Laraway recently received a generous grant from the Green Mountain Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation.  This fund, over the years, has made grants for recreational items and experiences for the children and youth we serve.
     Staff members shared some of the ways the Green Mountain Fund makes a difference in our work:
     "Field trips to the Fairbanks Museum, Green Mountain Audubon Center, and Burlington City Arts provided our students the opportunity to engage in learning activities in the community that celebrate local Vermont culture and history."  Julie Landry, Laraway School Director
     "Benefits of planned group events include team-building, enhanced peer relationships, incentives for positive choices and exposure to new experiences.  This is beneficial for all children.  This is particularly beneficial for youth in foster care."  Morgain Raleigh, Activities Coordinator
     We remain grateful to the Green Mountain Fund for their generosity!

iKIDarod Comes to Laraway!

     Alaska has its famous trail sled dog race---the Iditarod.  Laraway has its iKIDarod!  Four teams comprised of kids and staff from Laraway School built homemade sleds from old skis and pieces of wood.  They raced along a snowy trail on our property.
     Team members took turns pulling their "musher" while stopping and changing roles at designated stops.  Each stop presented an obstacle, a task to be completed---solving a math problem, completing a crossword, and even quick-changing socks---before racing to the finish line.
     "We do it because it's a great way to build school spirit," says Dave Ward, Laraway's Outdoor Adventure Education Teacher.