In this issue, you'll read:
3rd Annual Punkin' Fest--Saturday, October 25
After School--Taking it to the Streets
Group Mentoring
Dance Marathon
WYN Wisdom
Get Involved
Calendar of Events

3rd Annual Punkin' Fest--Saturday, October 25

The third annual Punkin' Festival is the perfect way to spend an autumn day. This family festival will take place at the Mast General Store Annex in Valle Crucis on Saturday, October 25th from 11am-4pm. Kids will enjoy face painting, apple bobbing, and other old fashioned games. Parents will love the fact that the pumpkins are already gutted and ready for carving! Everyone will enjoy the live bluegrass music, bake sale items, food and beverages, and atmosphere that this autumn event has to offer. Please plan to join us!

After School--Taking it to the Streets

WYN After School students at the West (Cove Creek) site will be participating in the "The LEAF in Streets and Schools" program the week of October 13th-19th in Asheville.

ASU faculty member, Sarah Bergstedt initiated this partnership with WYN in the late summer, and as a result, WYN after school participants will have the honor of hosting Masankho Kamisi Banda, educator, African dancer and storyteller. Masankho will be visiting the Western after school site each day during the week and helping the students prepare a performance to be presented at LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival) in Asheville on Sunday, October 19th.

WYN after school participants also walked in the ASU homecoming parade on October 4th, joined by a Yosef mascot, which they made completely of items that have been thrown away. Their message of conservation was well-received by all parade-goers.

Keep your eyes open for WYN participants around town. They are on the move!

Group Mentoring

Early this year, WYN's Mentoring Program was invited to pilot a Group Mentoring Program on behalf of the State Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. WYN agreed to accept this invitation, and with a little creative thinking and partnership, it is now underway!

The group mentoring participants began meeting on September 15th, and the group includes four participants, all of whom are being raised by their grandparents. The group will meet together weekly at WYN for a 12-week period to discuss various topics to include: making friends, study skills, career exploration, and community service. The youth are also free to discuss a topic of their choice with the group. After a healthy snack and group discussion, the participants split up to work on homework with one of the staff.

The group, which is run by Angela McMann, Angela Grimes, and AmeriCorps Promise Fellows, Anna Baker and Katie Richards, is seeing a tremendous amount of success already, as the participants' families tell us that this is something the kids look forward to all week! The youth involved all say they feel accepted and they are enjoying getting to know new people from other schools.

WYN's Mentoring Program is very excited about this expansion of mentoring to serve youth on the waiting list for a one-on-one volunteer. The youth in the group have all been waiting for a mentor for over a year. It is very nice to serve these youth with this new facet of mentoring.

Dance Marathon

The ASU-sponsored Dance Marathon will take place November 15th and 16th, 2008 at Legends on the campus of ASU. Brave ASU students agree to dance from 9am on the 15th-9am on the 16th, all in the name of helping High Country youth and families. Both WYN and the Parent-to-Parent Family Support Network of the High Country receive the funds. It is fundraiser that is critical to the success of both agencies' missions and programs.

Here's how you can help:
1. Odd Jobs Board: Do you have a task that you just don't want to do? Raking leaves, collecting litter on your street, and other annoying chores take up your time, and Dance Marathon committee members are ready to take that task off your hands! For a donation to WYN on behalf of the Dance Marathon, you can get that annoying chore done and support WYN and Parent-to-Parent at the same time! Call Lauren Large at 704-264-7966 or contact her via email at largele@appstate.edu to get the job done!

2. Each dancer must raise $240, and they could use your help! Go to www.westernyouthnework.org to make an on-line donation using PayPal. Indicate that your donation is for Dance Marathon. It is tax deductible and will make a world of difference for these two agencies.

WYN Wisdom

When a child misbehaves, an adult can decide to either punish or discipline. The purposes of these two actions are different, so they produce different results. We punish a child for past choices; we discipline to shape future ones. Whereas punishment comes out of frustration and rage, discipline comes from love and concern. Although both actions may use similar techniques, the emotional atmosphere of the two is different.

Get Involved

Goodsearch
If you frequently conduct internet searches (most of us do), please consider using GoodSearch. This search engine works just like Google, and it pays WYN 1 penny for each search you conduct. Visit www.goodsearch.com and type in "Western Youth Network" in the "Who do you search for" box. These pennies add up quickly!

Donate!
Being a young person is something that each and every one of us understands. To help WYN help this generation of young people, we need your assistance. To make a tax-deductible donation to WYN, visit our website at www.westernyouthnetwork.org and use PayPal, or mail your check to: 155 WYN Way, Boone, NC 28607.

Mentor!
Help shape the life of a young person and enhance your own at the same time by becoming a mentor. The commitment is only 2 hours a week and it literally makes a lifetime of difference. Contact Angela McMann at mcmanna@westernyouthnetwork.org to find our more.

Calendar of Events

Check out our upcoming events!
http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/calendar/month.php