Camp Scott just finished up their 2022 Enrichment Project and shared some of the fun activities the campers participated in!

Thanks, Snow-Redfern Foundation for making it possible for these experience and others we were too busy to photograph!

Campers were able to experience custodial tasks since cleaning is both a future employment possibility—and an everyday life skill.  They practiced safe food handling, vacuuming rugs, cleaning floors and mirrors and bathrooms.  They also explored cleaning vehicles!  Some funding provided basic squeegees and cleaner.

Campers went to Monument Car Wash to learn new skills and enjoy a fun, soapy water experience. That was a favorite.  Owners provided this learning opportunity at no charge!  Bright lime green safety vests were purchased to become the professional uniform when they practiced custodial skills and visited sites in the community—hotels, the zoo– every business and home cleans!  The “uniforms” can be reused next year.

Keith West Productions gave a private magic show which allowed for accommodations for camper needs.  For many youth, being in a huge crowd at the public library show would be overwhelming.  The magician could personalize the show to help us enjoy it more.

All campers got to swim in the YMCA indoor facilities on two Fridays.  It includes a heated therapeutic pool helpful to some campers.   Campers need extra supervision and seldom get to swim unless they have the support of counselors.

YMCA Trails West was used for an overnight sleepover experience. Older campers enjoyed the outdoor pool, cooking their own supper, playing games, exploring nature and the sleep over experience many had never been able to do before.

The last day of camp, children went to the Gering Pool—which had a slide for our bravest mobile kids to enjoy.  Gering swim time was done during open swimming time so kids could be introduced to swimming when other people are around.

When campers visited the Carpenter Recreation Center, they enjoyed activities in the gymnasium and fitness rooms, but it was extra fun to get to be on the soft mats, trampolines or jump into the foam pit. Tumbling classes don’t usually accommodate kids with physical challenges, but that day the campers were gymnasts! Carpenter Center also did the tour and experience  at no charge!

A statue of a chimpanzee feels like a safe way to look closely!  Riverside Discovery Center and Zoo enriches in so many ways—all those animals, habitats and nature!  There is even a splash zone—so fun to get sprinkled!  At the petting zoo area, one camper was even nipped by a baby goat! That is taking sensory experiences a little too far—but he wore that band-aid like a badge of honor. Quite a story to tell mom.

Zwetzig Skate Park helped every child find a way to participate in movement to music. Skating is tricky but a support system helps.  Some kids rode scooters or bikes or twirled in their wheelchairs to the music.  Of course, the bounce house was popular with everyone.

Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy gave our children the opportunity to ride horses with support of a physical therapist and volunteers.  Both campers and horses enjoy being given tasks to complete.  Children who cannot ride at all still get to be up close to make friends with the horses.

Classic Lanes offered us the chance to go bowling and learn about their business.  They have adaptive equipment so everyone could participate.

Snow-Redfern funds allowed us to purchase official culinary aprons to help campers feel more professional as they took culinary lessons three times a week.   Funds also  purchased basic kitchen equipment to  allow campers to explore cooking as essential life and career skills. The major focus was on spread, slice, measure, and mix. And—of course—taste new foods! Counselors reported that by the end of camp, kids were reporting to the kitchen with clean and sanitized hands—that was progress!

The food they prepared looked simple, but it is difficult when you have challenges! Most kids learned to hold the item down while they spread—some kids needed an adaptation such as putting a dab of frosting on the plate to hold the cookie while they spread frosting on the top. They got to spread strawberry and grape jelly in stripes to make flag bread, sliced vegies for dip and made pancakes on the new griddle.  Campers even pulled the pork roast for the sandwiches served at the family picnic.

With the help of the Snow-Redfern Foundation help, campers were able to attend the children’s movie at Mid-West Theater.  It was so fun to see the art deco murals and sit in the dark with our snacks and our new camp friends!

Thanks so much , Snow-Redfern Foundation,  for making it possible for Camp Scott to have so many learning experiences this summer!

Hey soon-to-be seniors and parents!  Are you making preparations for your future?

Board member and Outreach Services Manager for Education Quest, Andrew Hunzeker, shares a few tips on how you can use your summer wisely in preparation for the fall!

 

The summer before your senior year is flying by.  These are some ways to use your summer to prepare you for the fall.

Volunteer Hours

Community service is a great opportunity to build your activities resume to make you look better for scholarships.  Something as easy as helping your church with vacation bible school or cleaning up a park in your community can give you better chances at receiving scholarships.

ACT Practice Tests

Something else you can do to prepare you for the fall is to take ACT practice tests online. Putting the time in with practice tests are a critical (30%+) part of a good ACT study program and will improve your chances of a higher score. Check out more pointers about practice tests at:ACT Practice Tests: What They Can and Can’t Do (prepscholar.com)

Colleges look at ACT scores for scholarships and sometimes admission.  The practice tests you take should be free, steer clear of scams that charge you.

Research Jobs of Interest

Now is the perfect time to research different jobs that may interest you.  Ask employers if you can shadow the job you like to see what all it entails. You may be considering various career paths that require diferent levels of education or certification, so knowing what you will need to secure a job in that field is imperative to planning.

Check out Colleges with Programs of Interest

Once you have an idea of what career interests you, search for colleges that have the program for that.  Keep in mind, in-state colleges are typically less expensive.  If you can go visit a college, even better.  By visiting a college you will get a better feel for the college and if it’s the right fit for you.

Also begin considering all college options, which may be only a certification program, an assoicate degree from a community college, or a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate from a sate college, private college, or university. This may even include a combination of colleges to acheive your final goal, such as completing your general education hours at a community college and transfering to a state college, for instance.

Your Senior Year

When fall arrives, you will feel more prepared for all of the next important deadlines and tasks that will mark the end of your highschool career and the beginning of a college career or your chosen industry career.  With many things to consider about your future goals, now is the time to put thought into what intersts you so that you can dive right into planning in the fall.

Learn more and get resources and support at: MyEducationQuest – EducationQuest

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher and Snow-Redfern Board Member, Jenny Lanik, is not only an early childhood Special Education Teacher, she is a busy mom with lots of love and experience.  Jenny shares her early childhood expertise with parents on how to keep little ones engaged this summer!

Keep Your Litte Ones Engaged

Learning doesn’t stop when the final bell rings signaling it’s summertime. Summer can actually be an enriching time to build background knowledge through experiences and refresh skills that were acquired during the school year. Parents can use everyday experiences to continue learning.

Visit the Grocery Store

Going to the grocery store has so many possibilities for learning. When walking down the produce aisle, you can categorize fruits and vegetables. Play “I Spy” with the store items which will promote the use of descriptive language. See if your child can recognize any letters on the cereal boxes or words using environmental print. These activities can also be a distraction when it comes to your child “needing” many unwanted items at the store.

Blow Bubbles

Blowing bubbles is a fun summer sensory activity. Parents can help children make their own bubble solution allowing for some science discovery within the process. Once the bubbles are ready to be blown, have your child count how many bubbles they can pop. Parents can turn the activity into a language/math experience by encouraging them to pop all the big bubbles first, medium ones next, and small ones last.

Catch a Sunset

Catch a sunset while on a bike ride or walk by engaging your child’s gross motor skills and mind. Look at the colors in the sunset and see if they can identify them. This would also be a good opportunity to invoke some higher level thinking by asking, “Why do you think the sunset is that color?” or “Do you think the sun sets in the same place each night?”

Opportunities to Think Critically

As a parent you aren’t necessarily looking for a perfectly correct answer, but you are giving them the opportunity to think critically. Read, read, read, and read some more! Local libraries usually have a summer reading program, so join one. Children who are read to have a better vocabulary, easier time learning to read, and develop a greater love of reading compared to those who aren’t read to.

Finally, summertime is supposed to be FUN. Don’t forget to enjoy and have fun with your child. Children are only in your home for eighteen summers and they sure go fast so make the most of them.

Creating Confidence

“Billy nervously walked toward the horses, and he instinctively stuck his hand out to greet the closest horse. His shoulders and arms were rigid. His hand was a tightly closed fist. The horse walked away. The following day, Billy’s arm and shoulder were less rigid. However, the hand remained tightly clasped. The horse backed up a few steps but did not walk away. On the third day, although Billy was still a bit hesitant, he took several deep breaths (without being prompted) before he approached the horse. As a result, the tension in his body dissolved. As he moved forward, the horse extended his nose to smell (greet) his open hands,” shared Nancy.

Success Comes in Unexpected Forms

Nancy Lyon, who operates LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning program in Kearney, Nebraska, shared that she sees successes that come in unexpected forms. one of the first tasks they ask of the children (no matter the program topic) is to build a relationship with a horse by introducing themselves to the horse.

LyonHeart has been awarded grant funds from Snow-Redfern Foundation for serval years, which have, in turn, been translated into family scholarships for individual/private sessions. The work Nancy does with children and horses helps kids develop confidence to creatively solve academic and life challenges, develop and consciously choose to positively regulate emotions in stressful situations by becoming aware of non-verbal communication, and to learn to identify & utilize their network of support.

Target Population

The target population that they serve are children and youth between the ages of 5 and 18.  The children enrolled are vulnerable and/or at-risk, based upon parental behavior ratings. LyonHeart reported that 18% of the kids they serve have behavior concerns, 12.5% experience anxiety, 15% experience anger, and 7% are in an adoption or foster care situation. Other indicators documented include the in incidence of single parent households, academic challenges, depression, low parental income, and involvement with Individual Education Plans.

As of June 2022, Snow-Redfern grant funds have funded twelve scholarships for individual/private sessions and a three-day summer group program, and another thirteen scholarships just for the summer group program.

Thanks to the dedicated work of LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning Program, many kids can develop confidence and life skills and we are proud to be a partner in their work.

In the spring of 2022, the KM Dahlstedt Memorial Scholarship was organized by the Dahlstedt family, after the death of Kevin Michael Dahlstedt in 2007.  Employed with BNSF for nearly was the vice-local chair for the UTU as well as serving as councilman for the Alliance City Council.

He was passionate for the culture, the history, and the work of railroading. For him, it was truly more than a job. Kevin was also a history enthusiast, and an avid reader.

His widow, Kevin Leigh, and their three children, Wren, Mara, and Conrad, want to extend Kevin’s generosity by encouraging students to pursue a career in high-demand trades, and possibly, find a lifelong passion.

Snow-Redfern Foundation received multiple scholarship applications for these funds, and ultimately awarded $5,000.00 scholarships to four students graduating from Alliance High School. The awarded students are all enrolled for fall classes at various colleges.  The majors include nursing science, powerline program, criminal justice, and veterinary science.

We are thankful to the Dahlstedt family for their commitment to the community and to the young people that are pursuing education, training and ultimately, careers in Nebraska.

“Honoring a family member through a scholarship fund is a wonderful way to not only extend a legacy, but also to have a positive impact on the life of a young person”, shared Snow-Redfern Executive Director, Sara Nicholson, who encourages more families to consider this charitable and loving option for giving.

We are honored to announce that eight (8) High School Seniors have been selected as scholarship recipients for the Snow-Redfern Foundation managed scholarship funds.

Hempel Family Scholarship

Three young people were selected by the Snow-Redfern Foundation to receive the Hempel Family Scholarship in the fall of 2022. Braelyn Shrewsbury, of Alliance, will be pursuing a degree Veterinary Technology from Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Emma Wood, of Alliance, will be attending University of Nebraska at Omaha for a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and master’s degree in School Counseling. Julie Johnson, of Hemingford, will be attending Western Nebraska Community College to pursue a degree in Social Work.

K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship

Four students were selected for the K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship, to be awarded for the fall of 2022. Zane Stoike, of Alliance, will attend Western Nebraska Community College to pursue a degree in Powerline Construction and Maintenance. Braelyn Shrewsbury, of Alliance, will be pursuing a degree Veterinary Technology from Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Abigail Burr, of Alliance, will attend University of Nebraska at Kearney in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Luna Gonzalez, of Alliance, will be attending the University of Nebraska- Omaha in pursuit of a Nursing Science degree.

Horn Scholarship

The sole recipient of the Kevin Horn Scholarship was Liliana Cuevas, of Hemingford. She will be attending Western Nebraska Community College to pursue an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.

Preference for these three scholarship programs is given to young people attending Hemingford or Alliance Public Schools, with plans to remain in Nebraska following completion of their higher education.

“We are honored to offer this opportunity, which pays tribute to the memory of Edward M. and Eda S. Hempel and K.M. Dahlstedt, and honors or former board member, Kevin Horn. We are pleased to award this scholarship to students, such as Braelyn, Emma, Julie, Liliana, Zane, Luna, and Abigail- all whom possess impressive qualities, including leadership, service, and dedication to academic studies,” commented Sara Nicholson, Executive Director of Snow-Redfern Foundation.

Sharing Family Legacy

“We have been blessed with the opportunity to award the ongoing generous gifts honoring Mr. and Ms. Hempel, who were consistently generous contributors to Snow-Redfern Foundation, formerly the Nebraska Boys Ranch. Mr. Hempel was a long-time board member and he and his family supported the youth at Nebraska Boys Ranch through service and contributions intended to impact the lives of the youth placed at the Ranch,” shared Snow-Redfern Foundation’s Grant & Scholarship Committee Chairperson, Andrew Hunzeker. “This year we were also honored to received two additional scholarship gifts and are thankful to the Dahlstedt family and Kevin Horn for supporting the future success of these students.”

Snow-Redfern Foundation believes in the power of opportunity and invites those interested in creating impact for youth to Join them in investing in the good life for kids.

Join us by investing in the good life for kids – https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/snow-redfern-memorial-foundation/donor-campaign

 Snow-Redfern Foundation provides financial support to nonprofit partners that offer programs and services that make a life-changing impact for kids in need. As the former Nebraska Boys Ranch, Snow-Redfern Foundation has a rich history in advocating for, protecting, and encouraging youth in need of hope and healing. Though we no longer provide direct care, our commitment to equipping
young people with the skills they need to be successful and live a good life remains.

Various Panhandle partners have been coming together to determine how they can join forces to answer an important question:  What is the best path forward in creating a sustainable spectrum for a frontier-based career pathways framework?

A career pathway is a defined service model that is delivered in partnership with education and workforce that helps individuals advance educationally and economically. Career pathways are intended to encourage and expand the number of students, jobseekers, and workers who earn industry-recognized, postsecondary credentials that correspond to the skill needs of employers in high-demand industry sectors.

Though varying models of this systemic approach to improving outcomes for students and employers have been around for decades, there remains a necessity for individualization accommodations based on geography, resource availability, culture, and need.

In April, a group of individuals were invited to a facilitated discussion to determine first steps.  Next steps include a consensus workshop scheduled for June 1st in Scottsbluff.

“We need the voice, input, and knowledge of as many system partners as possible to ensure the plan we develop is comprehensive, outcome- focused, and impactful for all affected populations and industries”, said Snow-Redfern Foundation ED, Sara Nicholson.

Though the partners involved have fluctuated over the past two years, included in planning have been the local school districts, WNCC, UNL Extension, Twin Cities Development, Scotts Bluff and Box Butte Economic Development, ESU 13, Department of Labor, and local businesses such as Paul Reed Construction, Aulick Industries, and Murphy John Deere.

Want to be involved?  Email us at [email protected] today!

There are all kinds of creative and educational opportunities blooming for kids! One of the grants that we awarded last year was called the Outdoor Nature Classroom.  The City Sprouts hosted classes for Home Grown Kids, their youth education program for homeschooled children, throughout the chilly spring weather.

“Support from Snow Redfern made it possible to provide educational garden beds and a vermicomposting center for the children to learn from year-round outdoors in our Geodesic Greenhouse. Kids are able to learn about nature through hands-on experiences growing food, composting, cooking, and more”, shared Katie Kresha, Executive Director of City Sprouts.

The space is also used to host field trips and other educational programs for youth and adults and this year we funded this cool learning opportunity in Scottsbluff!

Learn more about the outdoor classroom, educational opportunities, and upcoming events at www.omahasprouts.org!

Help us invest in the good life for kids!

Mental health problems affect 1 in 5 young people, but two-thirds of those who need treatment do not have access to it. Lack of access to supports can have a serious and lasting impact across all areas of a child’s life.

Leaving children without support contributes to school drop-out, unemployment, and involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system. In addition to loss of short- and long-term opportunities, there is also loss of life with suicide as the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 24 (Mental Health America).

Discussing Mental Health Was Uncommon

Board member, Donna Jones, grew up in a time when mental health was not something openly discussed. She recalls that it was seen as something shameful, uncommon, and something you did not seek out help for and that it was a condition in which services were rarely available. If services were available, however, they were not accessible. Over the years, Donna recalls how this led to people in her life that self-medicated with drugs and alcohol to cope with their mental health concerns.

Good Mental Health IS Important

Donna shared that she did not realize, nor was she able to acknowledge until later in her life, the vast importance of good mental health. She confidently believes that if mental health had been openly discussed and de-stigmatized, that she would have seen these individuals thrive, instead of struggle, with untreated mental health concerns.

Later in life, Donna experienced the most unfathomable loss. Something no parent or person should have to experience. Her teenage son, Logan, died by suicide.

“Logan was extremely strong and brave as he sought help for his depression. He did not feel shame and was willing to be open and honest about his struggles. He even gave a speech in school about it,” shared Donna.

Even though Logan’s story ended too soon, the fact that he was able to speak up and help take away some of the stigma surrounding mental health care gave Donna the drive to continue his fight.

“Logan will live on through me and my passion to help youth overcome their struggles with mental health.”

When Donna was approached to be a board member for Snow-Redfern Foundation, she believed it would be an amazing opportunity for her to work collectively to help positively impact her community around youth mental health.

Prevention, Early Identification, and Access to Services

We know that most people who will develop mental health disorders experience symptoms by age 14. Identifying these early signs and providing appropriate supports can improve the child’s life, mitigate worsening symptoms, and improve mental health in the future. According to Mental Health America, three universal strategies should be used to combat this serious issue: Prevention, Early Identification, and Access to Services.

We are honored to have Donna serve our community and help make a difference in fight to improve mental health services and supports.

Help Donna and Snow-Redfern Foundation to honor Logan and positively impact communities by creating awareness about children’s mental health related issues.

The kids are already counting down the days until the end of school. But before they are let loose for the summer, you do have to prepare them for upcoming summer break. Try these suggestions to see if they help the year runs smoother!

  1. Start a “summer kick-off” calendar at home. Remember Advent calendars that are used to help children know how when Christmas is coming? It’s the same idea. You can also use the same type of calendar during the summer to help children prepare to head back to school when summer is over. I threw together this easy countdown printable to place in an extra picture frame we had. Just use a dry erase marker to customize it to your countdown
  2. Your child may be nervous about missing their friends. One way to alleviate this stress is to make acquaintances with the parents of your children’s friends. Exchange telephone numbers or emails and plan to meet for play days every so often during the school break.
  3. Rather than throw structure out the window when the last day of school is over, it is important to maintain it. Some kids have difficulty with sudden changes. It may be helpful for them to get up at the same time for the first couple of weeks and then slowly allow them (and you!) to sleep in. One benefit of maintaining some sort of structure during the summer is that it will make it easier when it comes to back to school time. We try to stick to a summer schedule. It’s a loosely based schedule but it also helps us figure out what to do each day!
  4. Plan activities for the summer so your children have something to look forward to. Get the kids involved and discuss different activities you can do as a family, from simple crafts to helping you cook or specific day trips to the zoo, an amusement park or a day at the beach.
  5. Check in with your child’s teacher. Ask them if there are any areas your child needs to work on during the summer and what types of fun activities you can do to help. Remember, however, you want to keep the activities fun so your kids don’t feel like they are still in school. Also, it’s really important to keep your kids reading over the summer.
  6. Stock up on bug repellent and sunscreen. Also make sure your first-aid kit is well-stocked and available for the bumps, bruises and scraped knees that are sure to happen. Remember, summer skin care is important.

This blog was adopted from the blog, A Grande Life.