U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Native American Programs

Newsletter for Native Youth

2011 vol. 2

Boys & Girls Club Mentoring Programs Recognized at National Mentoring Summit
Dean, a 7th grader and member of the Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota traveled to Washington, DC in January for the National Mentoring Summit. He represented all youth in Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas mentoring programs at the event. Dean was joined by his mentor, Coby Rabbithead, a Boys & Girls Club staff member and mentor. Dean is very active in the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes, is a member of several sports teams, and serves on the N.A.T.I.V.E. Youth Council and Torch Club. Coby has been a mentor for over four years and coaches Deans basketball team. First Lady Michelle Obama gave a speech during the Summit. During her speech, Dean and Coby sat on the stage behind her! Mrs. Dean and Coby sit behind First Lady Michelle Obama Obama inspired the nearly 500 people who were there. "Having a during her speech at the National Mentoring Summit mentor is more important than ever before. And that's because, in many ways, being a kid today is tougher than ever before. And then when you add in the age-old struggles of just plain old growing up the anxiety, the confusion, the academic and the social pressure you've got an entire generation of young people truly in desperate need of a friend, someone they can trust, an example they can follow. And that's where all of you come in," she said. After her speech, the mentor match listened to a panel of Cabinet members talk about their mentoring experiences. Dean and Coby discussed their Clubs mentoring program during a special meeting for summit participants. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!

Club Members Connect With Ancestors through Jewelry

Club members at the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley in the Gila River Indian Community have been taking a class to learn about an art practiced by their ancestors many years ago. The Yuman Pee-Posh Clay Work and Beading Class teaches youth how to make traditional Maricopa clay pieces and jewelry. During the class, Club members are able to construct, design, and produce clay pieces. They also make Pee-Posh coil and Colorado River Indian cape necklaces from beads. The youth are having lots of fun expressing themselves through this traditional art form. Their pieces will be shown in a Club art collection reflecting the phrase Great Futures Start Here. Each member will make a piece that represents the beginning of their great future. The Clay Work and Beading Class has helped Club members reconnect with their roots while strengthening their minds.

Extra, Extra, REad all About Them!!

1. flowers 2. rain 3. kite 4. puddles 5. umbrella 6. Easter 7. butterfly 8. sunshine 9. birds 10. bloom

Club Member Spotlight

Club member, Cheyenne from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tahlequah won the Soroptimist Club of Tahlequah's annual Violet Richardson Volunteerism Award. As part of the award, she received $300 that she plans to put in her savings account for college. Below is her essay. Congratulations! Giving Back I believe that everyone should give back to their community. Volunteering shows that a person is generous, compassionate, and good-hearted. A volunteer is kind enough to give up a few hours of their time to better Cheyenne receives the Violet Richardson their community. They also serve others from the President without expecting to get anything in return. Volunteerism AwardClub of Tahlequah of the Soroptimist Volunteering not only helps and benefits ones community but, it benefits the volunteers themselves. For instance, I believe volunteering makes a person feel worthy, as if theyve accomplished something because they made someone elses life better or they made a change in their community somehow. I am 16 years old and a junior at Sequoyah High School. I am involved in many extracurricular activities like National Honor Society, A.I.S.E.S, F.C.A, Varsity Golf, and the Cherokee National Youth Choir. However, I have recently started helping out with the Boys & Girls Club. When I get out of school I proceed to Tahlequah Middle School. I help with a group of 6th grade students. The first hour we have class, where the kids do homework or get help with work they are having trouble with. Im very good with mathematics so that is what I mainly assist with. After homework hour the kids go to their choices. Choices are fun activities the kids may sign up for like guitar, computers, Wii, and various others. I usually help with the kids who go to the gym or outside. My job is to roam around and play with the kids and make sure they arent doing things that will get them into trouble. Boys & Girls Clubs mission statement is To inspire, educate, and empower all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens, in a safe and fun environment. I first decided to volunteer because my school requires 10 hours each year and I was just trying to get my hours out of the way. However, I guess I have become fond of the kids. I like helping and spending time with them, and just being a good role model. I have accomplished so much through volunteering. I have gained job experience, leadership abilities, new friends, and personal growth. And I can only hope that I have made an impact on someone. I am required to do community service, but instead of looking at it as having to do it, I now look at it as a challenge. I challenge myself to make a difference in my community. The best way to experience success is by overcoming my set challenge. Ill let my creativity shine through and discover new ways to help and volunteer in my community.

Answer Key for puzzle on the back page.

Special Programs Promote Health and Culture

Club members at the Little Earth Unit of the Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities have been enjoying two special programs. They love learning about healthy eating through the T.R.A.I.L. diabetes prevention program. They are also learning the Ojibwe language through the Anishinaabe Language Program. T.R.A.I.L. teaches youth how to prevent type 2 diabetes through healthy eating and exercise. During the program, Club members learn how to cook healthy meals and snacks. Using the recipes they learned in class, participants created a healthy cookbook to share with their families. They also invited their families to the Club for a healthy dinner.

Boozhoo! (Hello!) is one of the words Club members have learned in the Anishinaabe Language Program. The program is taught by an Ojibwe language speaker. Club members are learning to speak the language through practice and videos. Many of the youth can already say phrases and give answers to questions. Program participants also engage in traditional activities such as singing, drumming, and burning sage. Youth recently made cultural collages using pictures and words from the Ojibwe language. Ojibwe words are posted all over the Club to help kids learn outside of the program, too.

Club members proudly display certificates after completing the T.R.A.I.L. program

Music Production A Class Act!

The Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida offers a fun and exciting Music Production Program for its youth. This program started at the Big Cypress unit. It had an immediate positive response from both the youth and parents. The Seminole Tribe of Florida recently opened a new Club at the Brighton Reservation Charter School. This Club wasted no time in starting the Music Production Program. The Club is proud to offer this fun-filled, challenging and educational program in music and media production. It is designed for youth ages 5-18. Each session lasts an hour and a half. It is located at the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School and the Ahfachkee School. This program makes it possible for youth to gain knowledge of music production, builds self-confidence and promotes the ability to work with technology.
Club members practice their DJ skills

Participants learn a wide variety of skills including DJ skills, voice dubbing, performance, and music marketing. Youth also learn the proper use of music production equipment, group responsibility, cooperation, and time management skills. Students work together as a team. They each take a turn at every role in the production. This learning opportunity can increase academic skills and open the door to future career options. The music production program has been a favorite with the Boys & Girls Club members. Due to their enthusiasm, the program is now being expanded.

The Dog Days of Winter

Bois Forte Band member Maurice Champagne and Boys & Girls Club of the Northland Nett Lake Branch Director Donald Chosa, Jr. wanted to bring dogs and sleds to the youth in Nett Lake. They thought the youth would have fun while learning about the important role dog sledding plays in the Bois Forte culture. "In the 1800's, dog sledding was a big part of our culture. This is another way to get the kids outdoors, away from video games and TV, said Champagne. Chosa worked with the Nett Lake School Principal to create a dog sledding program for the youth in grades K-6. Besides getting to ride the sleds, the youth learned about the life of John Beargrease. John delivered mail to villages by dog sled. The Nett Lake youth enjoy a day of dog sledding youth also learned that dogs can travel 30 to 40 miles in a day, which is a lot further than what is possible through canoeing, paddling or snowshoeing. Champagne said he wanted the youth to know that dogs are a gift from the spirits to teach us, and to offer protection and help. Their senses, particularly their eyes and ears, are better than humans, and that's why the Creator provided them as a friend for people.

Nordic Kids Skiing the Barnie

The Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles in Wisconsin offers a winter program for youth called Nordic Kids. This is a combined effort with the Hayward Community. Youth participants learn various styles of skiing from local amateur and professional athletes. Nordic Kids allows members to learn the basics of both classical and skate skiing. The program takes place every Sunday for eight weeks. About 100 children, ages 6-12, including several Club members participated this year. After each lesson there was a potluck of healthy snacks.
Youth skiers on the day of the Barnie

The Nordic Kids program prepares youth for the annual Barnie. The Barnie is a fun youth skiing event that imitates the Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski race. It is held in Hayward, Wisconsin, every year. The Barnie is the kick off to the weekend leading up to the American Birkebeiner. The youth ski down Main Street with hundreds of viewers cheering them on. At the end, they are all awarded a medal. The Club is honored to have such an exciting event right in their very own backyard every year. The American Birkebeiner was first created by Tony Wise, a Hayward native, with the support of Lac Courte Oreilles Elders like Pipe Mustache and tribal friends like Ernie St. Germaine. Wise designed the ski race after the Birkebeiner Rennet, which had been held in Norway since 1932. He started the American Birkebeiner in 1973. The Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles is proud of its skiers.

from the Nations

Gila River Indian Community Komatke, AZ Youth and teens from the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley Komatke Branch are learning a lot about the negative effects of drugs. Club members, ages 9-12, are participating in a 16-week program called Too Good for Drugs. Teachers from Education Outside the Box, Inc. visit the Club for an hour every week. They discuss topics such as meth abuse and suicide prevention. They also learn about goal-setting, risks, consequences, bullying, personal strength, and team-building. Club staff share that youth enjoy the class and what they are learning. The Club is very grateful to have the program and staff look forward to hearing about what the youth have learned every week. Pomo Nation Nice, CA Native Hawaiian Honolulu, HI at the conference, they visited Walt Disney World, toured the University of Central Florida, and gave a makeover to a local Florida elementary school. They also saw some of their favorite performers in concert such as J. Cole, Minor Behavior, and Ashanti! Some of the youth had never been out of the state before this trip. The Club members want everyone to know that they will never forget the amazing experience. Congratulations to the First Nation Keystoners!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii celebrate a successful Pro Bowl Recycling Project event

Youth pose for a picture with a local police officer and his police dog

This January, over 90 youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii Nanakuli Unit and six other Clubhouses took part in the 2011 Pro Bowl Recycling Project during Pro Bowl weekend. Youth and Club staff arrived bright and early to Aloha stadium to get ready for game day. The goal of the project was to collect recyclables from fans that were tailgating. They handed out plastic bags for recyclable items and picked them up at the end of the day. Club members learned about how to separate the items and worked as a team to sort thousands of cans and bottles! Thanks to their partnership with the NFL, the money earned from the recyclables is being donated to all of the Clubs. Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Pembroke, NC The Keystone Club of the First Nation Boys & Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina recently reached Silver status! This March, eight of the hard-working Club members attended the 2011 National Keystone Conference in Orlando, FL. These youth were invited because of their dedication to community service, education, and career preparation projects. While

Keystoners from the First Nation Boys & Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina attend the 2011 National Keystone Conference

continued on page 6

The Boys & Girls Club of the Pomo Nation held an Open House for the local community during National Boys & Girls Club Week. During the Open House, community members learned about Club activities and the services offered to children. There was also a book fair, spaghetti dinner, and lots of fun family activities. The Club shared that the local Sheriffs Department visited with two of their friends their police dogs! Officers showed youth how the police dogs help and protect them.

News from the Nations (continued from page 5) The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Warm Springs, OregoN Club members at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club got a treat when a local Kohls store donated 160 Hooey stuffed dolls to the Club. To encourage reading, the staff created a Dr. Seuss reading program where youth could win a stuffed animal just for reading Dr. Seuss books. After completing five Dr. Seuss books, they received a Hooey doll. The Club members liked reading so much that they began to read to pre-school age members to help the younger kids win a Hooey doll. The Dr. Seuss theme continued with youth completing word searches, mazes, coloring sheets, and watching movies. The program ran until Dr. Seuss birthday on March 2nd. To celebrate the end of the program, Club members read the book Green Eggs and Ham, and ate it for breakfast too! Tulalip Boys & Girls Club Tulalip, WA ForT Washakie, WY The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming now has a brand new $1.7 million, 22,000-square-foot Club! The Marilyn Roberts Youth Facility opened its doors on December 11, 2010. Today, it serves 300 Club members. Lon and Nancy Lewis made a $1 million endowment, the largest donation ever made to a non-profit organization on the Wind River Reservation. Eastern Shoshone Business Council Chief Ivan Posey says that the new facility is a dream come true! Now the kids have a new, safe place to go. The Club has many different areas for the youth to enjoy. There is a teen center, arts and crafts room, game room with kitchen/caf, media center, large gymnasium, and locker room! Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe

Fun Run participants show off their t-shirts

To celebrate completing the T.R.A.I.L. program, youth from the Warm Springs Branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metropolitan Area held Penny Carnival Week. The Club set up game booths at the carnival such as a ring toss, mini bowling, a dice game, veggie race, a small and large hoop shoot, a duck pond, bean bag toss, hop scotch, ball toss, and jump rope (phew!). Youth chipped in and helped plan, set up, and work all of the booths. For each game, youth earned points. Based on the number of points they earned, they could choose a prize from the prize table. At the end of the week, the Club held a party and a Fun Run for the Club members, parents, volunteers, and community members. Everyone that participated in the Fun Run received a special t-shirt. It was a great week!

Missouri River Youth Put Family and Community First

Youth from the Wagner and Marty Units of the Boys & Girls Club of the Missouri River Area are having a great time taking part in the Kimberly-Clark Corporations Family PLUS (Parents Leading, Uniting, Serving) program. The program is very popular because the kids enjoy spending quality time with their parent(s) or mentor. They also feel good about giving back to the community and getting the community involved. Youth honor a relationship with a parent or adult mentor who has made a difference in their life. They do this by performing an act of service, kindness, and generosity in their community. For their community service project, youth from the Wagner Unit spent a day cleaning up Wagner Lake. Youth from the Marty Unit took time to clean up the housing area and the Club grounds. The Club also held a Family PLUS Cook Off. Three families were given a recipe with the same ingredients. They only had a set amount of time to prepare the recipe. It was a very close call, but the judges were able to select a winner. The Family PLUS program has made a huge impact on youth, parents, mentors, and the community.

Diabetes Prevention Corner Making Healthy Choices!

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Club members at the Boys & Girls Club of Dine Nations Crownpoint Unit in New Mexico are learning life skills with Kid's Kitchen. Youth are learning how to cook simple, healthy meals and snacks instead of junk food. They are also learning about keeping the cooking area clean, kitchen safety tips like how to use a knife, and recipes from different cultures. So far, participants have learned to make tamales, pizza, Cuban black beans, fruit salad, lemon pie, blue corn mush, taco salad, fried rice, fruits kabobs, Waldorf salad, apple salad, carrot salad and veggie kabobs. Every Friday, about 15 Club kids cook with Gloria Yazzie, the nutrition educator from the New Mexico State University Extension Office as part of the local 4-H project. Participants have even made the recipes from Kids Kitchen at home with their parents. The Kids Kitchen members say taste-testing is their favorite part! Recently they learned how to make simple vanilla ice cream in a plastic bag using milk, vanilla and ice. Homemade ice cream is healthier than ice cream you buy at the grocery store because you can choose the ingredients. Making your own ice cream is also an easy, fun activity. Give it a try!

Club members shake the ir bags to make ice cream

Try this yummy recipe!

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Materials: 1 pint-size plastic food storage bag 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag 2 trays of ice cubes 6 tablespoons rock salt 1 tablespoon sugar

cup milk teaspoon vanilla

Preparation: Fill the big bag half full of ice cubes, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, about 5 minutes. Wipe off the top of the small bag; open it carefully. Enjoy! Note: You can add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder for chocolate ice cream. Suggested toppings: Fresh or frozen berries, banana slices, jam, walnuts, pecans, peanut butter, or coconut. Use your imagination!

Painting in the Rain!

Who says rainy days have to be boring?
Materials: Cardstock 2 Washable Markers Instructions:
1. Draw on cardstock with washable markers, and then place the papers outdoors in the rain until the colors have run. 2. Bring the paintings back inside and put them on a flat surface to dry.

Spring Word Scramble

Answer on page: 2

Why did the whale cross the road?

Answer: To get to the other tide!

1. sfowerl 2. rnia 3. itke 4. uddeslp 5. abemrull

6. raestE 7. telufytrb 8. snesuinh 9. idsrb 10. omlbo

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Club Notes
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