Perspectives on Prevention
Last week, we launched a series called, Perspectives on Prevention. This substance misuse prevention program draws upon important people and their unique, ‘perspectives on prevention.’ Through the series we will hear from a retired police chief, the loved one of a person in long-term recovery, a person in long-term recovery, and an MLDAC.
Zachary introduced the series, discussing the importance of a community effort when it comes to preventing substance misuse. He touched upon the role of high school and middle schoolers in these efforts.
Our first perspective was from retired Police Chief Kevin Sanzenbacher. Sanzenbacher served in many roles during a long and productive career in law enforcement. Having moved to New England, Sanzenbacher has many roles including that of a director-at-large on the KYC’s Board of Directors. His wife, Estelle is one of our program volunteers.
Chief Sanzenbacher spoke about law enforcement’s evolving role through his 40 year career in law enforcement. He told us about a time when law enforcement’s main role was to arrest individuals who were involved with illegal drugs. While this role is still essential, he spoke about proactive approaches aimed at long-term community betterment.
He used three legs of a stool as a metaphor: the first leg is substance misuse prevention; the second is treatment; the third leg came in the form of drug courts, which could find more proactive solutions when people were convicted of drug related crimes.
Sanzenbacher spoke about the impact that a family member’s substance misuse can have on a family. He reminded us that some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction. The best way to avoid addiction is to never start misusing in the first place.
Sanzenbacher spoke about the importance of saying no, and the conundrum, ‘how do I say no, but still stay cool:’ There are certainly ways to do this; one can say they tried it and it just made them sick. He noted that under the best circumstances, the behavior of those who are under the influence is laughable and embarrassing.
Sanzenbacher identified substance misuse prevention as one of the biggest challenges of his career. He noted the long way we have come in addressing these problems, as well as the great need. His best advise: don’t start!
Thank you Kevin Sanzenbacher! We are fortunate to have a community that is rich with resources and individuals and agencies that are devoted to substance misuse prevention. By working together, we can make a difference. On Wednesday, we will get further perspective, hearing from a the loved one of a person in long-term recovery.
Leadership With Darrin
Last week we offered ‘Leadership with Darrin!” Our neighbor Darrin visited to share his expertise on leadership. Thanks Darrin!
Some tidbits:
“Leadership is all about influence!”
“Failure doesn’t make you ‘a failure.'”
“Who you are is more important than what you accomplish!”
Ice Skating!
Last Friday in a BTAS! (beyond the afterschool) program we went ice skating! What a fun night!
We had a great turn-out for this fun program!
Thanks to the generosity of Pop Whalen, we had the ice to ourselves! Thank you Pop Whalen!
Some KYCers were on skates for the first time, others had lots of experience on the ice. Everyone did great!
When we fell, we picked ourselves back up!
As with all of our BTAS! programs, this was a great way to spend out of school time with friends!
Big thank you to our volunteer, Shelly for joining us and helping to make this event possible. Another huge thank you to Pop Whalen!
Brain Teasers!
Yesterday we posed brain-teasers to our group. Members did a great job solving them! Number 10 proved to be the stumper! Check them out below and then scroll past the photos for the answers!
1 What can be seen once in a minute twice in a moment and never in a thousand years?
2. I’m not alive but I have 5 fingers. What am I?
3. I’m tall when I’m young and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?
4. Which word is written incorrectly in the dictionary?
5. A house has 4 walls. All of the walls are facing south, and a bear is circling the house. What color is the bear?
6. You are stuck in a small room for 24 hours. Who would you rather be stuck with a pack of hungry wolves, a flesh eating air borne virus, or two alligators who have not eaten in a year.
7. You walk into a room with a match, a kerosene lamp, a candle, and a fireplace. Which do you light first?
8. A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays for three days, then leaves on Friday. How did he do it?
9. How many months have 28 days?
10. A train leaves from Halifax, Nova Scotia heading towards Vancouver, British Columbia at 120 km/h. Three hours later, a train leaves Vancouver heading towards Halifax at 180 km/h. Assume there’s exactly 6000 kilometers between Vancouver and Halifax. When they meet, which train is closer to Halifax?
11. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
12. Two mothers and two daughters went out to eat, everyone ate one burger, yet only three burgers were eaten in all. How is this possible?
13. You walk across a bridge and you see a boat full of people yet there isn’t a single person on board. How is that possible?
14. I am an odd number. Take away one letter and I become even. What number am I?
15. What word looks the same backwards and upside down?
16. A boy fell off a 30 meter ladder but did not get hurt. Why not?
17. What invention lets you look right through a wall?
18. What 5-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?
19. I have a large money box, 48 centimeters square and 42 centimeters tall. Roughly how many coins can I place in my empty money box?
20. What belongs to you but other people use it more than you?
21. What do the numbers 11, 69, and 88 all have in common?
Answers below. Don’t peak until you’ve given some thought to each teaser!
Okay, lets see how you did. The answers:
1 The letter ‘m.’
2 A glove.
3 A candle.
4 Incorrectly.
5 The bear is white, as it is a polar bear. If all four walls are facing south, the house is on the north pole.
6 The alligators, as they are dead due to having not eaten in a year!
7 The match.
8 The horse’s name is ‘Friday.’
9 All 12 months have 28 days.
10 (This was the stumper at the KYC, let’s see if you got it) The trains are both equal distance from Halifax when they meet!
11 If ‘you take two,’ you have two.
12 It’s a mother, a daughter, and a grandmother.
13 Everyone on board is married.
14 seven(take away the ‘s’ and you have ‘even’)
15 SWIMS
16 The boy fell of the bottom step.
17 A window.
18 Short
19 Only one, as then it is no longer an empty box.
20 Your name.
21 They are the same when written either backwards of upside-down.
Life-Skills! Mock Job Interviews
Last week in our life-skills program, we hosted mock job interviews.
Four participants ‘stepped up to the plate,’ and offered to be the interviewees(Zachary acted as the interviewer). The rest of the group was tasked with rating each interview based on specific criteria. The winner got a prize!
Interviewees had to ‘step into the office’ and greet the interviewer.
Peers observed and rated the interview from one to five on the following:
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Show that they’re familiar with the job and the company.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____Sat Straight and demonstrated engagement through positive body language.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Not chew gum.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Greet the interviewer by title and name (e.g. Mara or Zachary).
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Give a firm handshake.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Make and maintain eye contact.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Speak clearly, avoiding lots of “ums” and “likes.”
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Show enthusiasm for the job and smile.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Answer all the questions.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Describe strengths, skills, and/or achievements.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Discuss previous experiences as they relate to the job.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Ask good questions about the job.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Say thank you at the end of the interview.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____Total each column
“Would you please tell me a bit about yourself?”
“Why do you want to work at[Best Buy]?”
“Please tell me about your work experience.”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Everyone did a great job. With practice, KYCers will be naturals when it comes time to interview for employment!
BTAS! Pick-a-Project
Last night in our BTAS! (beyond the after-school) program, we offered ‘pick-a-project!’ Students who stayed until 7:00 PM chose between painting, jewelry making, woodworking, and baking. A very fun afternoon!
A variety of beads and materials allowed for limitless jewelry making possibilities.
Painting wooden hearts for Valentines Day!
Nice! These will make great gifts, or additions to our own jewelry collections.
Several students worked on small wood projects.
As a team we completed a bigger community project; a clothing rack for the KYC Kloset!
Working together on our clothing rack.
Measure twice, cut once!
Working together!
Teamwork made for ‘short-work’ in building our clothing rack!
Painting was the last step.
Well done KYC’ers! (Just missing the mettle hanging rod, which was inserted once the paint dried).
Others worked in the kitchen baking!
Pumpkin Pie and Blondies for desert. Lasagnas on the bottom were our dinner.
What a fun (and busy!) evening! Thanks to all who participated.
Substance Free Me! Essay Contest
Substance Free Me! Essay Contest
This is your entry form! essay contest entry form
Please print or pick up at the KYC, sign, and turn in with your entry (either drop off at the KYC or scan and email).
Substance Free Me! Essay Contest
Sponsored by White Horse Addiction Center
Hosted by White Horse Addiction Center and The Kingswood Youth Center
Students in grades 7-12 in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District (home school students from GWRSD towns too!), this is your chance to get in the running to win a $100 Visa Card and be an honorary guest at White Horse’s Freedom Event Dinner on April 6, 2018.
Write a 300-700 word essay answering the following:
- Why do you/ will you choose to be substance free?
- In what ways will your life be better because you choose to be substance free?
- How can you help your peers choose to be substance free?
White Horse and KYC staff will judge your work based on your ideas and inspired/ thought-provoking response. Writing quality will be secondary and will be weighted based on grade level (we realize that a senior has had five more years of English class than a 7th grader and won’t hold that against a 7th grader!). The most important thing is that you think hard about the questions and write your essay in a way that lets the judges understand your ideas.
- Due Date: March 5, 2018 5:00 PM
- Must be your own work. Absolutely no cheaters!
- Drop your entry off at the KYC or email it to associatedirectorkyc@gmail.com
- Your entry may be word processed or hand-written (keep in mind that it will be hard to win if the judges can’t read your essay!).
- You and your parent or guardian must sign this form and turn it in with your entry, indicating that you agree to the following:
By signing this form, I am promising that this is my (my child’s) original work and is not plagiarized or written by anyone other than the student whose name and signature appear below.
By signing this form, I am giving White Horse Addiction Center and The Kingswood Youth Center permission to quote, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use my (my child’s) work, through means to include, but not limited to, publication in print and online.
By signing this form, I am agreeing to allow my name (my child’s name) to be announced if I am (he or she is) selected as the winner.
Student’s name: ____________________________________________________
Student’s signature: _____________________________________Date:___________
Parent/Guardian signature: __________________________________Date:_________
BTAS! Snowshoe to Kinghts Pond
We’ve just returned from a snowshoe adventure to Knights Pond! This was one of our BTAS! programs (those programs that take place in the evenings, weekends, school vacations, and holidays).
Knights pond is such a beautiful spot. Perhaps even more so in the winter!
We continued along the trail around the pond.
There are many fine viewpoints along the way!
KYC initials on the shore of the pond! Nice!
What a great way to spend a Friday afternoon. After the hike, we headed to the KYC for pizza. Thanks to all who participated. Our next BTAS! program is ‘pick a project’ on Wednesday evening!
Teen Council Led Scavenger Hunt on Snowshoes!
Last week our Teen Council led an activity for the entire group. The Teen Council is a group of student leaders who choose to take on extra responsibility and help to make the KYC a better place.
We used our snowshoes to get around the KYC’s property in deep snow. It was a good chance to practice using our snowshoes, as we use these to walk trails, climb mountains, and to reach beautiful places in the winter.
Some Teen Council members and their peers. This was their challenge:
Directions: Groups of 3 or 4, make sure one group member has a camera. At least one group member must wear snowshoes for the outdoor parts. Complete as many tasks on the list as possible in 30 minutes. Student leaders will judge and a prize will be awarded to the group who completes the most!
- Help at least one member put on snowshoes (more than one member may, but make sure there’s enough for other groups). Get any warm clothes your group members need.
- Find a Pine Needle
- Find a stick shaped like a Y
- Walk the KYC trail
- Take a “good photo” (Teen Council Judges and awards points!)
- Take a photo of a bird
- Take a photo of a maple tree
- Take a photo of animal tracks; guess what animal made them
- Find a rock shaped like the state of NH
- Write down the mission of the KYC
- Find a Pine Cone
- Each group member hang two pieces in the KYC closet
- You may NOT use any electronic device for this question. How far away is the moon?
It was a nice warm day.
This was a great way to enjoy time outside in the winter. Thank you Teen Council for planning this activity. The Teen Council will meet again today!