The Guys Only (GO) Program

Slide 1: The GO! Program (Guys Only!) A program from Northfield & Roxbury Drug-Free Communities, in partnership with Norwich University.

Slide 2: What is GO!? An empowerment program for at-risk young men, grades 7-10, designed to reduce and prevent substance abuse.

Slide 3: In the Spring of 2007, for 13 weeks, the GO! Guys met weekly with Norwich University students and staff, and community volunteers to learn about healthy behaviors and challenge themselves both mentally and physically.

Slide 4: The GO! Guys of 2007 (and volunteers) ready to go on their retreat

Slide 5: Weeknight activities included: – Snowshoeing – Indoor rock climbing – Swimming – Team-building activities – Workshops on healthy behaviors

Slide 6: The Program finished with an overnight camping retreat, which included outdoor rock climbing, rappelling and hiking.

Slide 7: Quotes from the GO! Guys: “I learned that you don’t have to use your fists to solve stuff.”

Slide 8: “I learned that you have to work with people to get things done.” “I like Go! because we get to do team building activities that helped us get to know each other.”

Slide 9: “I learned that teamwork, communication, cooperation are the key ingredient[s] to success.” “I like GO! because it is fun and it teaches us stuff about life.”

Slide 10: GO! is an Asset Building Program The program was developed using the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets as a framework. These “assets” are like “building blocks” for healthy student development. (www.search-institute.org)

Slide 11: The GO! Program focused specifically on developing 18 out of the 40 Assets:

Slide 12: Other Adult Relationships Youth receives support from 3 or more non-parent adults.

Slide 13: Adult Role Models Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.

Slide 14: Positive Peer Influence Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior.

Slide 15: High Expectations Both parent(s) and teachers [and other adults] encourage the young person to do well.

Slide 16: Creative Activities Young person spends 3 or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or other organizations in the community.

Slide 17: Integrity Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.

Slide 18: Honesty Young person “tells the truth even when it is not easy.”

Slide 19: Responsibility Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.

Slide 20: Restraint Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.

Slide 21: Interpersonal competence Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

Slide 22: Cultural Competence Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Slide 23: Resistance Skills Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.

Slide 24: Peaceful Conflict Resolution Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

Slide 25: Personal Power Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”

Slide 26: Self-Esteem Young person reports having a high self-esteem

Slide 27: Sense of Purpose Young person reports that “my life has a purpose.”

Slide 28: Positive View of Personal Future Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

Slide 29: What Do GO! Guys Really Do? Go! Guys Overcome Challenges

Slide 30: On Norwich University’s Challenge Course

Slide 31: E a c h of th e m , took th e ir turn, fa c ing th e uniq ue c h a lle ng e s .

Slide 32: Th e y le a rne d to c om pe te with one a noth e r re s pe c tfully.

Slide 33: Th e y le a rne d a b out a s king for h e lp from a n a dult.

Slide 34: Th e y took ris ks to h e lp one a noth e r ove r th e roug h s pots .

Slide 35: And le a rne d h ow m uc h th e y re a lly c ould ove rc om e .

Slide 36: What Do GO! Guys Really Do? GO! Guys Learn from Special Workshops

Slide 37: Workshops Topics Included: • Dealing with Anger (Tony Moulton, Northfield Boys & Girls Club) • Positive and Negative Peer Influence (Suzanne Jolly, Northfield & Roxbury Drug-Free Communities) • Domestic Violence and Healthy Relationships (Meg Kuhner and Stephen from Battered Women’s Services and Shelter)

Slide 38: Th e y G O! G uys work in g roups to s ort out wh a t a re ne g a tive , pos itive a nd ne utra l b e h a viors .

Slide 39: Me g Kuh ne r a nd S te ph e n Mc Arth ur te a c h a b out h e a lth y re la tions h ips a nd dom e s tic viole nc e .

Slide 40: What Do GO! Guys Really Do? GO! Guys Eat a n d le a rn a b ou t h e a lth y e a tin g

Slide 41: Th e y “do c h ow” (in th e Norwic h Unive rs ity dining h a ll.)

Slide 42: a nd pic nic out on th e la wns .

Slide 43: GO! Guys Learn to Work Together to Succeed

Slide 44: Th e y le a rne d to s h a re th e h e a vy b urde ns ,

Slide 45: E ve n b a la nc ing le a de rs h ip role s a m ong s t th e ir te a m m e m b e rs .

Slide 46: Th e y trus te d th e ir te a m m a te s to g uide th e m th roug h pre c a rious s itua tions .

Slide 47: What Do GO! Guys Really Do? GO! Guys Swim at Norwich University’s Pool.

Slide 48: Th e y le a rn h ow to ta ke ris ks …

Slide 49: a nd h ow to pus h th e m s e lve s s a fe ly.

Slide 50: But the GO! Guys Couldn’t Have Done All of This Alone They needed the guidance and encouragement of the GO! Volunteers to see their way through.

Slide 51: Ma ny th a nks to th e G O! Volunte e rs for th e ir h a rd work: Da vid Ma ida , S te ph e n Dunn, P a ul C ia m pa g lia , Kyle R ob ida s , Ala n C h a ndle r, F ra nk S te e nb urn, J e ff G re e ne , G uy B ouc h e r (not s h own) a nd J on Ha tc h (not s h own).

Slide 52: Partic ular thanks to the fe arle s s c o o rdinato r: Majo r Alan Chandle r GO! never would have happened without his enthusiasm and dedication!

Slide 53: The GO! Program is sponsored by: • Northfield & Roxbury Drug-Free Communities • Norwich University • PetraCliffs Climbing Center But needs further sponsorship for 2008.

Slide 54: For more information on the GO! Program Suzanne Jolly Northfield & Roxbury Drug-Free Communities (802) 485-8081 drugfree@trans-video.net Northfield & Roxbury Drug-Free Communities is a program of the Greater Northfield Coalition Council (a non-profit organization). It is a federally funded program from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration.