Trailblazers: Fr. Rick Swanson and Tim Heath-Swanson hike to create a scholarship for Laraway youth & recent alumni

     Trailblazers. Two hikers. Three weeks. Two-hundred-seventy-three miles. Rick Swanson, rector of St. John’s in the Mountains, and Tim Heath-Swanson are on a quest to create a scholarship fund for at-risk youth, and recent alumni, from Laraway Youth & Family Services pursuing post-secondary education.

     “Laraway is a valuable local organization,” Swanson said. “They help the  children they educate and the families they serve become rooted in their own strength. Tim and I are proud to support furthering the educational opportunities for Laraway youth.”

     The hikers will host a trail-themed Photo Reception to support the Trailblazer Scholarship at Laraway Youth & Family Services on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 275 Vermont Route 15 West, Johnson, Vermont. Please RSVP by September 12^th to Katherine at 802-635-2805 x 106 or Kstamper@Laraway.org. For more information, please visit www.Laraway.org.

Unexpected Gifts

     "I made this for you."
     The youth held out a piece of art. He transformed a well-worn skateboard, one he'd spent many hours riding, into a unique artwork. The piece was emblazoned with a "thank you" in artistic script emulating a skilled tagger. Urban art is art, too.
     He was expressing gratitude for a grant received to replace his old---and cracking apart---skateboard for a new one. The money came from a unique fund set up by St. John's in the Mountains Episcopal Church which provides grants of up to $75 for youths' basic and recreational needs. The fund has paid for snow boots and kitchen items for young adults starting out on their own. It's also paid for skateboards---a plethora of skateboards---for youth who find the athletic activity a great way to focus and, sometimes, just let off steam. Skateboards are serving a genuine therapeutic purpose at Laraway, promoting physical and emotional well-being while fostering positive social skills. Teaching is happening on our playground as older youth teach younger youth how to ride---supported by Laraway staff.
     One doesn't work at a place like Laraway anticipating "presents" from the youth we serve. It's actually the "presence" of the youth in our lives that is the "gift" of working in human services. We see their struggles. We also see their strides. We are there to help them dust themselves off and move forward when they take a tumble or life sends them a curve ball.
     I was delighted to share this piece of art on a recent visit to St. John's in the Mountains to thank congregants for their support of our work with at-risk children and youth. I was humbled by the expression of generosity from a Lararway youth who is juggling so much on his plate, and yet, he recognizes the importance of a simple---yet beautiful---thank you.

The Duck Whisperers

     

     Ricky* is twelve years old. He enjoys four-wheeling and fishing for bass and catfish. He prefers catfish, “because they taste better.” He likes to mow the lawn. He’s partial to baseball caps. He enjoys being outdoors; it shows in his deep tan, freckles and sun-bleached, blond hair.

     Ricky is enrolled in therapeutic foster care, known as Substitute Care. He’s also an awfully kind kid. It was on an after school outing with staffer Wade Anderson that Trevor helped save the life of an injured mallard duck.

     “I picked Ricky up from school and we drove to Berlin Pond to go fishing,” Wade recounted. “We got out and Ricky said, ‘Hey, look over there.’”

     “There” was a muddy area across the parking lot. Ricky noticed a distressed duck. Its body was folded over, its head partially submerged. Every once in a while it stirred, a little. It was too weak to quack.

     “What should we do?” Ricky asked.

      The answer was clear: they needed to help the injured fowl. As they walked to the bird, a woman was removing a raft from her car.

     “Ricky took the initiative to tell her about the duck,” Wade said.

     She explained she was trying to rescue the duck to bring it to the Vermont

Institute of Natural Science’s (VINS) avian wildlife rehabilitation facility in Quechee.

     “We can help you,” Ricky said.

     Ricky and Wade helped the woman maneuver her raft; Ricky held it steady as she rescued the injured duck. Wade watched from the shore. The female mallard was entwined in fishing line, trapped, like a fly, in a web.  Line wrapped around her head, wings, feet and torso.  She was afraid. She was exhausted. She trusted her helpers.

     Fishing line was gently cut away; the duck was wrapped in a soft towel and secured for safe transport. Contact information was exchanged between rescuers. About a week later, Wade was contacted by the woman to say the duck was healed and ready for release at the pond. She asked if Ricky wanted to perform the release.

     “It (the duck) was heavy in the box,” Ricky said. “I could feel it moving around and quacking.  Once I opened the box, it just took off.”

     Ricky received a certificate from VINS, thanking him for his role in saving a duck...in the wilds of beautiful Vermont.

*NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY

And now, a story from Laraway's Fisher Cats Team

       For our morning meeting game, we wrote a story one sentence at a time taking turns around the circle. This is what we came up with:

       One day at summer camp, we went on a hike.  We saw a bear.  We also saw a deer.  The bear and the deer started talking to us.  They said "What a great morning!" They asked if we wanted a fire to make s'mores.  But, the animals were tricking us because they really wanted to eat us.  The bear brought out a big cauldron, filled it up with water, and put it over the fire.  Then, he added carrots and onions. The bear told the Fisher Cats that it was a hot tub, and they were excited to try it. 

      All of a sudden, a helicopter flew over their heads and a line came down. Alyssa, Melissa, Vinny, and Alex came down the line.  Alex said, "They tried this yesterday! Get out quick!"  Everyone climbed up the line to escape the deer and bear.  We flew to McDonald's because the smell of the carrots made us hungry. 

      Then, Vinny took us all fishing and we caught a big fish.  Afterward, we all ate blueberry pies and lived happily every after.  Until... the next group went hiking. 

"...the best thing I've gone to in my life"

   
     "This is the best thing I've gone to in my life!" said an enthusiastic student.  The young man then proceeded to give the presenter a hug.
     Jan Reynolds---writer, photographer and world traveler extraordinaire---visited with students at Laraway School as part of our summer program. Her presentation captured images of faraway mosques, deserts, camels and hot air balloons floating through clouds.  She transported her audience to the Himalayas with its crowning peak---Mount Everest.  Her camera's lens introduced the marketplaces brimming with spices in varying hues and, more importantly, the people with whom she sipped tea while learning about their culture.
     "We (Americans) invented plastic and styrofoam," remarked Reynolds.  "There is no such thing as trash for the indigenous peoples I visit.  They use everything."  She offered the example of the yak's importance among Himalayan peoples.  The animals provide meat, milk, cheese, carrying-power and blankets.
     Reynolds has worked for National Geographic Magazine and is the author of the Vanishing Cultures  book series.  She's a graduate of the University of Vermont and was a member of the U.S. Biathlon Team in 1983 and 1984.  She's a skilled mountaineer and skier, having crossed the New Zealand Alps on cross country skis in 1979.
     Reynolds has achieved extraordinary heights in her career.  Her story is inspiring and loaded with important messages for our students...about setting goals and working towards them.  For more information, visit www.janreynolds.com.

 
   

CLiF Grant brings Vermont author David Martin to Laraway

        

    Vermont author David Martin recently visited Laraway Youth & Family Services (Laraway) to read some of his books aloud to students. His visit was supported by a Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) Summer Readers Grant. Martin’s lively presentation was followed by a generous book giveaway of brand-new children’s books.

     Martin, author of a slew of books for children, including Shh! Bear Sleeping, enchanted his audience with his dramatic reading style and a little bit of juggling.

     “CLiF’s presentation was awesome,” said Adria Dube, Operations Manager for Laraway’s Backpack Program.

     CLiF’s Summer Readers Grant helps keep kids reading during the summer.  As part of the grant, each child present chose two books which they read and keep. Laraway is delighted to work with CLiF to foster a love of reading.

     CLiF is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1998. Its mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural children in New Hampshire and Vermont. Over 18 years, CLiF has inspired 180,000 young readers and writers through literacy program grants and has given away more than $4 million in new, high-quality children’s books. For more information, visit clifonline.org or email clif@clifonline.org.

"It keeps me from playing video games..."

        "It keeps me from playing video games..." is how one youth in Laraway's Backpack Program explained his desire to attend a summer field trip to the Pump House Water Park at Jay Peak.  Backpack coordinates a 5-week, multidisciplinary summer program encompassing academics, volunteerism and good old-fashioned fun in the sun activities.  The trip to the water park has become a staple, a much-anticipated highlight of summer.
     The trip is funded by a small fund allowing each and every youth at Laraway to apply for a $75 grant.  The fund in generated by gifts from Laraway's generous donors.  The grants most commonly cover recreational activities that help youth grow as individuals.  Some youth apply for grants for basic needs such as clothing for a new job or outerwear when the weather chills.
     It's a bit of  a tradition for Backpack youth to apply for a grant for the water park trip en masse --- all together ---- and to take the day trip together, accompanied by Laraway staff.
     A quick review of the youthful applications reveals the former "reasons" stated for their water park requests.  One of our younger Backpackers opted to draw a picture (see above) to make her case for the grant.

• "Going to Jay Peak helps me be part of the group"
• "I like the bus ride because I can sit with friends"
• "This will help me by meeting new people and making new friends"
• "It's a good place to go to get away from the stresses in my life"
• "It will help me try new things"
• "It will give memories of having fun"
• "I don't really get out of the house a lot, except when I'm with Laraway" 

     Teaching young people to ask for what they want is important as is teaching them to work for what they receive.  We are grateful to Laraway's donors for the gifts they give which, in this case, allows a group of Backpackers a fun-filled day splashing about while also building social skills