The YWAP Basketball season has begun. The team took a hard fought victory over the Hope Center. Thank you Urban Christian Ministries for being faithful to the young people of Buffalo. With every game, scores of young folks are actively involved in a healthy activity. It's going to be a great season for young people all over Buffalo.
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Another incredible week of LOVEBUFFALO BREAKOUT 2014. The YWAP Directors were Site Managers for two houses on Buffalo's west Side. The young people came from all over Western New York through their church youth groups.
They painted, scraped, picked up trash and formed relationships with neighbors - both young and old. Seeing young folks serve with smiles on their faces will light a fire in your heart. Many people attend churches and stay inside the four walls. This was not about a church or religion - this was about people forming relationships of love through neighborly service. To all the young people who shard their summer with LOVEBUFFALO BREAKOUT 2014 - Thank you. JESUS LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE! MENTOR FORCE TIP of the WEEK Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com Monday, July 14, 2014 Sea Otters, Mentors & The Adolescent Ecosystem My wife and I watched a program last night about sea otters. Along the coast of California, the sea otters have made a comeback after being hunted to near extinction. The absence of a creature that only grows to about six feet or less can change the balance of an entire ecosystem. Small things make a big difference. Sea otters need to consume mass quantities of food in order to survive. They live in waters ranging from 35* to 60* F and are sometimes referred to as a "swimming furnace." Their high metabolisms that help to keep them warm are fueled by the consumption of up to 30% of their body weight. Otters are carnivorous and eat sea urchins among other creatures in the deep green sea. By eating sea urchins, the sea otter is contributing to the over all health of the ecosystem. All creatures play a valuable part on planet earth. Kelp and algae are the main foods consumed by the sea urchin. Without the predatorial influence of the sea otter who eats the sea urchin, the kelp and algae that are needed by an abundance of marine life will be depleted by the urchins appetite. Kelp does not have any roots and is secured to the sea floor by a "holdfast" which is a root-like mass that secures the plant to the sea floor. They aren't true roots because they don't carry nutrition to the plant. Healthy marine life depends on balance and the sea otter keeps the population of sea urchins in check thereby ensuring an adequate kelp canopy as habitat for other species of fish. Even though the holdfast does not carry nutrition, it provides a foundation for the kelp and shelter for for an innumerable amount of creatures. Young people need a root system that gives them a foundation from which to be fed sustenance that will balance their mental, physical, emotional and social growth. A growing child needs a healthy balance of emotional and social nutrition. If the child's ecosystem or family structure breaks down, a child can be influenced by the lack of emotional support. Many children are starved for attention and acknowledgement. A mentor/teacher who knows how to build relationships with children can help them build their self confidence. Children grow as high energy sponges - soaking in their surroundings. Their decision making ability does not reach full maturity until they are in their early twenties. By giving young people the understanding of how to balance their social and emotional ecosystems, a mentor/teacher helps to create and protect the "Adolescent Ecosystem." Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Bob Kuebler Founder / Mentor Force Mentor Force is an organization of initiators. We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives. We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences. MENTOR FORCE TIP of the WEEK Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com Monday, July 7, 2014 THE NEW PARADIGM of MENTORING Mentor Force - A bridge between children and the community. The new paradigm of mentoring is cooperation based and ever evolving to meet the needs of an increasingly expanding education community. Traditionally, mentoring has been accepted as a developmental relationship between an older, experienced person and a younger person who is lacking life experience. In this new cooperation based paradigm shift, mentors have stepped into the role as a team member with teachers. The increased expectations placed on teachers through higher learning standards have diminished the teacher's ability to adequately cover life skills. By partnering with a ClassroomMentor who reinforces the regular core curriculums as well as introducing life skills, the students will be better prepared academically and socially. Different Types of Mentoring Programs. Definitions LGM - Large Group Mentoring (Assemblies that are connected to other ongoing mentoring programs.) CRM - Classroom Mentoring (In school during regular class time.) SGM - Small Group Mentoring (After school or in the community.) IM - Individual Mentoring or one on one mentoring. There are different types of Mentoring Programs. Large Group Mentoring is done through assembly programs that are related to other ongoing character education efforts within the school. A good way to jumpstart any life skills program is through an assembly that generates interest, understanding and enthusiasm. A good assembly leader will introduce the benefits of students respecting each other and their uniqueness. Classroom Mentoring (CRM) happens generally during the school day. A trained Mentor becomes a Team-Teacher with an Educator from the school. Life skills taught through a Mentoring Curriculum are combined with a Health Class (or any other class.) The Mentor helps to reinforce the Educational Curriculum while combining it with Life Skills instruction. Another phase of Mentoring is the Small Group Mentoring (SGM.) Examples of SGM would appear in After School Programs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth groups etc. The third phase is an Individual Mentoring relationship (IMR) is a one on one match between individuals. Mentoring is helping schools give their students more opportunities to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Bob Kuebler Founder / Mentor Force Mentor Force is an organization of initiators. We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives. We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences. Posted by Bob Kuebler at 5:39 AM MENTOR FORCE TIP of the WEEK
Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com Monday, June 30, 2014 WHEN A MENTOR IS STARVED Conflict is an inevitable part of any relationship. Discipline and teaching are synonyms that will become wisdom when they applied. Mentoring children over a long period of time will reveal the character flaws of both you and your mentoree. That might might shock you to think that you might have a character flaw. Children learn at different speeds and mature at different ages. A simple concept for you might be like a rocket science equation for them. Your patience will be tested as you try and grow your mentoring relationship. Let me describe the garden where conflict is most likely to grow. Let's use the word: "STARVED" as the acronym for our garden, The following conditions can cause conflict; you need to examine your reactions to each condition before you react in an adverse manner. S - Starved
T - Tired
A - Angry
R - Revenge
V - Vegetate
E - Ego
D - Depressed
You will do things that you have to apologize for. A child will learn how to apologize by watching you. The imperfection in you works together with your apology to create a nugget of learning in a child's heart. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Bob Kuebler Founder / Mentor Force Mentor Force is an organization of initiators. We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives. We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org The River of WNY gave a group of youngsters the opportunity of a lifetime this weekend. Through a partnership with Xertion Youth/Xertion C.R.U (Community Restoration Unit) and Youth With A Purpose Inc. we used a weekend to climb the mountains of life.
Three words would aptly describe our Wilderness Adventure Experience: "Thorns, Buds & Roses." We struggled, hurt,and pushed ourselves beyond our previously known limitations. We learned about new character building possibilities. We had fun and smiled a lot. In the midst of a mountain hike, there is a lot of groaning and complaining. The pictures of smiles tell the truth. This was the hardest thing that any of these young folks had ever been asked to do - AND THEY DID IT! They helped to cook, clean up and speak positive words to each other. "Positive words only are spoken. Negative words make people feel broken." We had some struggles, disagreements, and disrespect; among all of us as we all have room to grow. Sometimes young people confuse discipline with disrespect; they begin to think that an adult does not like them, in most cases that is not true. The directors in charge of this Trek; Daryl Boss, Linda & Bob Kuebler have experienced the heartbreak of children on a regular basis; we watch kids get hurt as they hurt each other. Sometimes they go to jail or die, we love them so much that we will go to great lengths to help them become all that God has meant for them to be. That's why we help young folks climb the mountains of life. Many folks contributed to the success of this trip. We'd like to thank Ken & BG Metzger who donated a copy of Ken's Book: "The Potter's Perfect Piece" to each young person on the trek. We used a quote from the book to let each camper know what God thinks of them: "We are each unique---special, loved and perfect for God's plan for our lives." Pastors Mike & Jennifer Derrick from The River of WNY provided the bulk of the funding to make this life changing trip happen. Thanks Mike & Jen you have planted everlasting life growing opportunities in the hearts of young folks. There are many other folks who contributed to the programs of YWAP and we appreciate you. Your efforts are keeping kids alive long enough for them to figure out what God's plan for their lives is. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we Local Author and All-Around Good Guy - Ken Metzger was kind enough to donate one of his books to each of our Adventure Trekkers. We are leaving this morning for the trip of a lifetime for some young folks. They will learn how to climb the mountains of life as they hike up one of the tallest mountains in New York State.
Ken's book is a one-of-a-kind rarity. It's like an adult book in a children's style with an easy to read story that is gripping and life changing. Thanks Ken for caring about some young people and their future. They will learn that "We are each unique, special, loved and perfect for God's plan in our lives." Jesus loves you and so do we. Twas the night before the mountain trek and all through the house,
All the campers were packing, in search of a bug repellent blouse. Clean clothes without stains were folded fresh from the wash, Would soon bear the colors of the mosquito they would squash. Riding for six hours they would soon be in the woods, Adjusting to silence away from their neighborhoods. In the morning they will climb mountains in the Adirondacks, Becoming a team, learning how to watch each others backs. Yeah, we be climbin' the mountains of life. The mountains of life are not easy to climb. The view from a climbed mountain is spectacular. It's a life accomplishment that sets the stage of hope and confidence for the next life mountain. We leave on Friday morning (6-27-14) for our next mentoring adventure in the mountains. If you would like to send young people up and over the mountains of life, please pick up the phone and call eight. 830-8240. JLYASDW MENTOR FORCE TIP of the WEEK Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com Monday, June 23, 2014 MENTORING ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF We live in the age of testing. Our education system has been reduced to test taking. If a child fails a test, are they a failure or did they choke under pressure? If they choked, are they a failure or a choke? Many children who fail begin to feel inferior and quit school. Quitting is like jumping off the cliff instead of hanging in there and seeing potential. Does a persons performance under pressure give a true representation of their intelligence, learning or test preparation? What does all this mean for a Mentor? Professional athletes have been known to choke under pressure. Until they have "won the big game" they will be known as chokes. If a child repeatedly gets less than satisfactory grades, they will be labelled as a poor or mediocre learner. The Teacher of that child will be viewed professionally through the lens of a child's failure. There are many things that affect test scores. Injustice is something that visits all people indiscriminately. When it happens to a child, the pressure will affect them adversely. Is a Mentor responsible for helping a child get better grades? ABSOLUTELY! The role of a Mentor is similar to the role of a gardener. A better description might be to call the Mentor a "Heart Farmer." The heart of a child is a garden; it grows with plants and weeds amongst rocks and thorns. The neighborhood where a child lives may be bully patch of thorns. A walk home from school may be painful or dangerous. The boy or girl next door may be a gang member attempting to spread the weeds of their illicit business into the life of a child. An absentee dad is a stumbling rock. Your role as a Mentor is to help a child understand that injustice happens to everybody in some degree. Some children seem to suffer more than others. Learning to do your best in all circumstances is a skill that can be taught. Conflict is a normal part of the growth cycle. Learning how to deal with conflict will help a child weather the storms that might cause choking and failure. As a Mentor, here are some key words to study and teach:
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Bob Kuebler Founder / Mentor Force Mentor Force is an organization of initiators. We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives. We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences. |
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