Program Overview

• Weekly Mentoring Program. Kindergarten through middle-school-aged children from the housing developments are paired with college student volunteers in one-on-one, consistent, long-term relationships . Each week, students bring the children in the program to their college campus for a combination of group and one-on-one activities. Group activities are age-appropriate, and the individual activities are tailored to the specific needs and interests of each child in the program.
  
  Besides these fundamental Friday mentoring activities, which include everything from canoeing, to arts and crafts, to playing on the Internet, or going visiting local organic farms, DREAM mentors have assisted AmeriCorps members in developing activities for the other days of the week as well. Additionally, other members of the surrounding community have become involved with the children in the housing developments. For example, a number of Greek organizations have hosted haunted houses, cookie decorating activities, meeting facilities, sports events, and various Class Councils have sponsored such events as the renovation of an onsite community library.
  
  
• Culminating Experiences. The weekly mentoring program builds to a culminating experience at the end of each season. Culminating experiences can take many forms such as a group day of skiing, a field day, or a trip to Boston. One program organized a four day trip to Washington DC to meet President Bush. Culminating experiences are highly anticipated events by all DREAMers and enhance important skills such as goal setting and attainment.
  
  
• Summer Program. The Summer Program is designed to establish continuity between school years for the children, as well as to provide opportunities for intensive team and self-reliancy development. Groups of children and college students work together throughout the year to fundraise and prepare for outdoor High Adventure trips to a place of the children's choosing (past trips have gone to Colorado, Utah, and California). The DREAM Program Central Office staff helps advise the trip's itinerary and curriculum, provide trip leader training, and run support during the trips. All children in DREAM ages eleven and up have the opportunity to earn their way on a summer High Adventure Trip. Please visit the Summer Program page for more details.