Schools: Student Mentoring Program Launched at CHRHS

Student Mentoring Program Launched at CHRHS

March 2, 2012 --- A new activity-based mentoring program associated with AmeriCorps called “The CREW” has been launched at Camden Hills Regional High School. The program involves volunteers from the community who participate in group-based activities with the young people. ”The CREW” stands for Connect, Respect, Experience and Wisdom, all goals of the program.

The Camden Hills Regional High School Child Find team had seen a need to reach those students who seemed to be lacking a connection to school. Last year, they identified an opportunity to address that need through an AmeriCorps grant. The school received the grant in the spring of 2011 and currently has two AmeriCorps members placed at the high school. Brystle Noble and Gretchen Scales are both members of Great Strides, which is is an AmeriCorps program coordinated by Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. Great Strides members are placed in rural schools throughout Maine, New Hampshire and northern Vermont and engage students by providing mentoring, service learning opportunities, academic support, and access to community resources. Currently Brystle and Gretchen are providing academic and organizational support to students during school hours and designing and coordinating the CREW mentoring program after school.

The CREW is an activities-based mentoring program. Every other week for two hours a group made up of both high school students and adult community members meet to take part in activities together, building relationships along the way. All members have made a one-year commitment to the CREW. The group started meeting in January and so far has participated in numerous teambuilding activities, coordinated by both AmeriCorps members and outside professionals. The CREW ventured out to the Snow Bowl for tubing, where everyone was brave enough to participate, even if there was some screaming involved. They have created a contract that they agree to follow describing the expectations when they are together and proudly displayed on a group created banner in the room. The CREW has recently brainstormed and voted on activities that they would like to participate in. They have decided that between March and June they would like to participate in archery, paintball, making super heroes, candy making, swimming at the YMCA, mountain biking, volunteering at the animal shelter, racing remote control cars and helicopters, playing flag football, and holding a Wii video game tournament, all while focusing on building relationships within the group.

Participants have enjoyed getting to hang out and participate in the CREW. Word of the program is spreading and students are asking when they can become a part of the CREW. The program is looking to expand and start a new group in the coming months. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Brystle or Gretchen at the high school.

Brystle Noble brystle_noble@fivetowns.net, Gretchen Scales gretchen_scales@fivetowns.net 207-230-7800 x328