Child Protection United States Project #4433

Wonder: A "first" for kids in foster care

by Sierra Forever Families

Project Report | Apr 8, 2011
April 2011 Project Update

By Julie Gustafson | Program Coordinator

Fun times during campfire songs & skits!

Thank you for your ongoing support! Since November, you have helped to provide:

5 more “first” experiences in the areas of arts, sports, nature, dining out, volunteer service, and music.
2 more “firsts” for a child in a sit-down restaurant with their mentor. One match wrote about their outing, saying “…we went to Chili’s for dinner – Josh’s* first time in a restaurant – at least that he can remember. He ate a chili-cheese fries appetizer, a giant hamburger and a fudge brownie sundae. The food server and the people at the next table were amazed…”
Ongoing support of the program with an additional $275 in donations. This will help to support the 14 new Guides who just graduated from training and are being matched with children and beginning their journeys right now!

As we turn the corner of Spring and prepare for Summer, we are gearing up for our annual trip to Camp Wonder in August. Last year, 40 mentoring matches attended a weekend camping trip where they had the chance to share a common bond with other children in foster care and mentoring matches, experience the outdoors, play, explore, and be filled with joy! Here were a few of the special moments from previous Camp Wonders:

“When I picked Tony* (Explorer) up for camp, I asked him if he was ready for this. He said ‘I have been ready my whole life!’ He then asked if we were going to have s’mores because he hadn’t ever had them but knew they would be good because he has seen them on tv.”

“…camp was the best experience for us…I think his connections with others will pay great dividends for us in our relationship. We are both more willing to try new things and be spontaneous and silly which feels great. During the trip, I kept thinking about how much I saw Bobby* smile…more than any of our times together….not one ‘sad’ time that I could tell.”

The goal of Camp Wonder is to deepen the existing mentoring relationship and to continue to support them in developing a strong, healthy connection. A Coach with Wonder, who checks in regularly with program participants and helps to monitor matches, noted her observations of one match in particular, saying: “She (Guide) talked again about the value of Camp in her relationship with Sarah*(Explorer) and how it brought them closer and ‘bonded’ them. She said Sarah* shows her increased bonding with hugs and smiles…She (Guide) talked about a timeline that Sarah*did for school and put a photo of the two of them together and when asked about who (Guide) was, she said, ‘my mentor, best friend from Wonder!’ (Guide) was super touched by this.”

With your help, we will provide this experience again this year for 45 mentoring matches. Camp Wonder costs $16,500 and we have raised some of the funds, but are still in need of $9,000 in order to provide this experience to our mentoring matches again. Please help us to create more lifelong memories for our children! Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Dec 6, 2010
November Project Update

By Julie M. Gustafson | Wonder Program Coordinator

As a result of your continued support, we are excited to share additional progress and positive outcomes with you. Since August, you have helped us to provide: 2 matches with a “first” experience in the arts, sports, music, or nature; 2 matches with a meaningful outing of their choice; and an additional $1,075 for ongoing support of our program and helping meet our vision that no child goes through foster care alone.

Since our last update, we had 40 mentoring matches attend a weekend trip to a camp where they were able to see a frog for the first time, brave the waters and kayak in a beautiful valley setting, run and play with other children in foster care, learn how to do archery, and sing and cuddle around the campfire with their new-found friends, all while surrounded by caring, supportive adults.

In addition, we just completed and matched 20 more children in foster care with an adult mentor. For the first time ever, we were able to match every child on our wait list for the Fall class! We now have more referrals of children coming in to the program and are hoping to match each of them as well when we hold another training class in early Spring 2011. We have our 2011 activity calendar ready to go and hope that you will continue to support us in helping our children thrive and have the opportunity to experience childhood “firsts” while matched with a caring, consistent adult mentor. We want to leave you with some quotes, or “Wonder Moments” as we call them, of the real-life experiences that your support is helping to provide…

One mentor (Guide) wrote about her first outing in the community with her mentee (Explorer): “…we went to Chili’s for dinner – ‘John’s’ first time in a restaurant – at least that he can remember. He ate a chili-cheese fries appetizer, a giant hamburger and a fudge brownie sundae. The food server and the people at the next table were amazed…”

One Guide wrote: “Camp Wonder was wonderful! ~ Kayaked, archery, swimming, basketball, horseshoes, laughed, sang, danced, and met lots of new friends. Returned home happy, content and full of lots of wonderful camp memories. She (Explorer) drew me a picture on the way home that said it all ‘BFF – Best Friends Forever! ~ Lisa (Guide) rocks.”

After 3 months of being matched with his mentor, one Explorer said to his Guide: “You are the best person I have.”

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Aug 19, 2010
August Project Report

By Julie M. Gustafson | Wonder Program Coordinator

We have great news to report and all in thanks to you! Here are just a few of the "Wonder Moments" and terrific updates we have to report as a result of your ongoing support:

Thanks to your donations...

- Two more matches have been supported in choosing a meaningful outing of their choice in the community - $1,075 went to continued support of our current mentoring matches and Journey program - Ten more mentors were recruited, screened, trained, matched, & began their journeys with a child in foster care

In addition, we share with you some "Wonder Moments"...those moments when our mission and vision come to fruition as we see and hear about the magical moments that happen when a child has a caring, consistent adult mentor in their life and someone who supports them, cares for them, and helps them continue to thrive...

- One Guide (mentor) wrote that about one of her recent outings with her Explorer (mentee): "'Jessica' and I both expressed how much we like and appreciate the other. 'Jessica' said I make her life easier, and I said that she makes my life more fun and more interesting. We both feel we are better people because of our connection. Thanks, Wonder!" - Another Guide wrote about the strengths and progress she sees in her Explorer, writing: "'Sarah' is quite competent at figuring out how things work. She probably knows how to adjust more things in the interior of my car than I do. She is also quite good with the digital camera. On our last visit of the month, 'Sarah' and I were playing at the park and she started giggling. I think this is the first time I have heard her giggle. If it wasn't the first time, it is the first time in a long time."

We look forward to continuing in our efforts to ensure that no child goes through foster care alone and thank you for supporting and joining us in this journey! We are excited because as we approach the Fall we are preparing to train another class of mentors and match the more than 20 children currently on our wait list.

Please join us in helping support our current matches and recruitment of new matches to meet the needs of the children in foster care who can benefit from a caring, consistent adult in their lives. If you have time, money, or both, we welcome you to contribute in whatever way you can. If you want to be a friend and mentor to a young child, we encourage you to join us at one of our orientations in September. If you prefer to give in the form of a donation, we welcome and appreciate your contributions. Thank you!

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