CCISD: What a Year!

DSCF1591May 7th marked the last day of Youth Odyssey-Corpus Christi Independent School District’s programming for the 2014-15 academic year, and what a year it was!

The CCISD partnership consists of 90% of Youth Odyssey’s programs during the school year, with a presence at six different middle schools. In the fall semester, Youth Odyssey had 62 site visits or trips with 115 youth. This number increased in the spring semester to 67 site visits with 124 youth. Of those youth, the majority consistently attended the weekly program held at their school. The site visits include eight adventure wilderness trips, 10 ropes course visits, and two kayaking trips. During these site visits and trips, youth worked on six core life skills: communication, goal setting, teamwork, problem solving, trust, and leadership.

As facilitators, both Brian and myself were able to see unruly, unfocused, and uncommunicative youth learn how to successfully work with one another and form themselves into tight knit teams.

IMG_3092From Brian, “One of my favorite moments was when I was working at Martin [MS], the group liked to fall back to talking about various things and not really focus on the activity I had for them, as a result, they weren’t able to play the really fun games they wanted to. One day we were playing chocolate river and they kept having problems and trying to do it themselves. We talked about what their problem was and they said they weren’t able to do the activity because they weren’t talking to each other and weren’t working as a team. So, they took a few moments and talked to each other, formed a plan, and finished it with little to no issue. They were very proud of themselves after that. I remember one of them said, ‘We can do anything, as long as we work together and don’t mess each other up.'”

TeamworkPersonally, one of my favorite moments was at Haas Middle School. At the end of each program we have what is called an appreciation circle, where one youth stands in the middle and the rest form a circle around them and say what they appreciate and admire about the youth in the middle. Haas MS was a difficult program and there were often times I worried about whether I was getting through to them. The students had a hard time working as a team, yet I could see it really click during the last couple of weeks of programming. During that appreciation circle, students shared how they appreciated each other’s humor, personal drive, smarts, loyalty and kindness. Each youth was moved by their peer’s feedback, and, at the end of the circle, I saw one cohesive group where before there had been ten individuals straining against each other.

Youth parents also saw changes in their children because of the program:Fearless

“My youth has learned that a group stays together in any circumstance. He has learned to speak up when something is wrong and to take a different approach.”

“My youth is more organized, talkative when there is a family gathering, and has less angry outbursts. He has improved his leadership skills, self confidence and is more respectful.”

“I see [my youth] more sociable with others who do not speak Spanish. Youth Odyssey has been so helpful and fun for my boy. Thank you so much.”

We’re proud of the impact we have made with CCISD youth and look forward to a summer full of meaningful activities for these amazing kids!

Written by Naomi Tice, Program Facilitator