After School Buddies (ASB) has offered leadership development opportunities for college and high school female students by serving as mentors for younger girls since 2003. Over the past 20 years, more than 2000 women have participated in programs hosted by ASB.
As of fall 2023 and winter 2024 we will not be offering weekly mentoring programs on a regular basis. We have, however, held a couple of one day events including the ASB Fall Fest. This activity included former ASB Buddies and some family members making “birthday bags” for families serving as foster/resource families for kids in care. We had so much fun filling hand made tote bags given to us by a local quilting guild with birthday party supplies and gifts. Afterwards, the group enjoyed lunchtime goodies and Halloween games and crafts.
Looking Back – Study Buddies 2023
ASB offered a new program for girls called Study Buddies which began Wednesday January 25, 2023. Girls in grades 2-5 needing encouragement with academics, improved confidence and/or self-care were encouraged to apply. Weekly after-school 2-hour tutoring sessions included homework and academic skills support accompanied by time spent developing social and emotional skills through a variety of fun, interactive conversations and games. Based on curriculum offered by PAWSitive Choices, students learned to make positive choices, solve problems collaboratively, learn from mistakes and set goals. Small community service projects including arts and crafts will also be a part of the curriculum for all ages.
Study Buddies volunteers are women and teens committed to helping young girls become strong, resilient and confident – socially, emotionally and academically. Each child enrolled will be assigned an adult and a high school mentor (“Big Buddies”) for the program. During the weekly sessions she spends time with her mentors as well as other girls (“Little Buddies”) similar in age.
Our curriculum was based on Lindsey Kealy’s PAWSitive Choices book Bear’s Amazing Brain. Students led by our marvelous Big Buddy team learned how to solve problems, set goals, learn from their mistakes,
talk about feelings, make healthy choices and much more. In addition to lessons about social/emotional skills, Buddies worked together to serve others in our community including the elderly, cancer patients, homeless veterans and more.
A bit of history BEFORE the pandemic of 2020…
Due to the changes in the school day hours at all levels of public schools in Bend as of fall 2019, ASB was not able to offer after school programs as done in previous years. We did offer a few activities/programs during school breaks for elementary through college-aged students in an effort to maintain connections throughout the community but the change in school hours prohibited us from offering programs as we had done for many years.
Beginning January 2020 – we prepared to initiate new programs led by local university or college students pursuing degrees related to human development and family sciences, teaching, human services, counseling, liberal studies, early childhood development. The G.I.F.T Baking Program for middle school girls was ready to start mid April 2020 however the COVID 19 pandemic forced the closure of all Bend Lapine schools. This resulted in the cancellation/postponement of this fun new opportunity.
To understand what we HAD offered for the past 17 years in Bend – read below. It was an amazingly successful program changing the lives of thousands of teens and young girls since 2003.
After School Buddies programs me weekly from November until May offering an awesome variety of activities. “Big Buddies” (teens or college students) are paired up with younger students (“Little Buddies“) for homework time, character development lessons, arts and crafts, small group communication, exercise, dance, nutrition or community service projects. Field trips and reaching out to others in need make for a wonderful weekday program for all ages!
Elementary programs met in various locations throughout Bend, Oregon. Big Buddies started at 3:00 with elementary girls joining them at 3:30. Elementary programs ended at 5:15 with leadership training and planning sessions for Big Buddies continuing until 5:30.
Middle School Buddies ( THRIVE!) met on Wednesdays at Christian Life Center on the east side of Bend. Girls from all of Bend’s middle schools or home-schooled girls are invited to join amazing college-aged Big Buddies for a rocking afternoon of relationship building, arts, crafts, exercise, music, cooking, outreach projects and more.
The programs were FREE for all participants and have been for the past 17 years we have served girls in Bend!
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Three elementary programs were held up through the 2018-19 school year. Elk Meadow Buddies meet on Mondays, Buckingham Buddies meet on Thursdays and Juniper Buddies also meet on Mondays. Enrollments were taken on a first come/first served basis. Your child did not have to attend the school where the program was held.
BUCKINGHAM BUDDIES ASB Info BUCKINGHAM 2018_19
Serving 4th and 5th grade girls, ASB met in the Buckingham School since 2003. For Fall 2018 ASB Buckingham will met on Thursdays in the Music Room starting October 25.sBuckingham School is at 62560 Hamby Rd. Bend, OR 97701
ELK MEADOW BUDDIES ASB Info ELK MEADOW 2018_19
Big Buddy teens and young adults met at Elk Meadow School in the library on Brookswood Blvd. in SW Bend on Mondays starting on October 29.
Elk Meadow is at 60880 Brookswood Blvd, Bend, OR 97702
JUNIPER BUDDIES ASB Info Juniper 2018_19
ASB Big Buddy teens and young adults meet at Juniper School in NE Bend on Mondays. – classroom/building location TBD. Juniper is at 1300 NE Norton Ave, Bend, OR 97701
ASB MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM – THRIVE!
ASB is the answer to early release blues for Wednesdays! THRIVE! girls meet weekly to build relationships, learn life skills (cooking!!! among others), exercise, crafts, community service and much more. Girls from 6th-8th grade are invited to participate in fun self-esteem and confidence building activities led by committed, amazing adults and college-aged students.
To learn more – click on this link and read the flyer. THRIVE! 2018_19 Info Then – share with a friend!
Students/parents must complete the application and contact Charlene Schulz at 541 390-3046 to make sure that your child is enrolled and that Bend Lapine school transportation has been arranged for her.
For further information about these programs email afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com.
