256 – Total number of kids served 218 – Number who came to a program 3 or more times 6 – City schools represented in SCYM programs 28 – Kids who gave at least 10 hours of service with SCYM 80 – Percentage of kids surveyed after attending SCYM programs who said that “what God […]
Seven-year-old Michael* has been attending the STARS After-School program for over a year. Like many kids we meet, Michael has difficulty focusing, sitting still, and acting appropriately with his peers – and, no surprise, frequently finds himself in trouble. Recently during STARS chapel time, director Jeff Nelson had to take a “STARSbuck” away from Michael […]
The Jones* family joined us for the first time at Westside STARS After-School Program in the fall. They have four children attending twice a week. Recently, I spoke with their father, who told me that they love the STARS program, and the kids love it too. He said that his oldest son, Brian (6th grade), […]
A few weeks back at Kids Can! Summer Day Camp, I helped some kids learn how to make candles. Hot wax + no air conditioning + active little kids = as much excitement as you’d expect. (The kids did a great job, and their business, Downtown Candle Co., made a great product.) On one of […]
“Small” Business Owners Combine Faith and Entrepreneurship Looking like typical 7- and 9-year-old brothers, Anthony and Alex (names changed) came to Kids Can! Summer Day Camp excited to have fun, make new friends, and become entrepreneurs in their own small businesses. Not so typical is the fact that Anthony and Alex’s family is struggling with […]
I’ve really enjoyed being the team leader for the photography business at Kids Can day camp. Part of my job is to take the kids out in groups to take pictures which we will be selling at the end of camp (please come and buy!). I’m amazed at how beautiful it is to see an […]
There were many times I wanted to quit. Some weeks it seemed the kids didn’t even care if we were there. My first year working with SCYM was full of ups and downs as we tried to earn the trust and respect of the teens. But they seemed so inconsistent, and it was hard to […]
Hello, my name is Amber Smith. I’m 16 yrs. old and a junior at Springfield High School. I have two younger sisters, Rebecca and Megan. I’ve been a STARS participant from the first year it began. I started as a student and am now a volunteer. I came back as a volunteer because I wanted […]
We have been discussing the ministry, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ in our STARS program. In each bible study, the students have been very interested about the life of Jesus. I have been impressed with many questions and discussion that the students have brought up. We have had many opportunities to discuss salvation […]
There are kids in middle school that even I can be intimidated by. Often they are more mature both physically and emotionally (kind of), and they make it clear that they want nothing to do with you. Recently I started a new Wise Guys group at Clark Middle School and invited one such guy, “D” […]