Having options is essential in life.
Early exposure plays a critical role in understanding your options. If you have never seen what’s possible, you may never realize it’s an option.
During the Wayzata Public Schools spring break this year, Interfaith funded an outing for nine students from Gleason Lake Elementary in grades 3 through 6 who reside in local housing communities supported by our Neighborhood Program. Collaboration is one our three core values, and this collaboration provided youth in our community with opportunities to experience new and exciting activities.
Sue Strom, an achievement interventionist at Gleason Lake, and Zach Bucheger, Interfaith’s Neighborhood Program manager, invited students to participate in a woodworking project with Urban Boatbuilders and an iFLY Indoor Skydiving experience.
The iFLY experience was likely the first time many of these young students got to “fly.” Now, they know that flying is an option. It could be flying on an airplane or becoming an astronaut, skydiver, or pilot.
The woodworking class taught students how to build things like chairs with their hands, offering exposure to different trades – and also building confidence. Zach told me, “The pride of accomplishment from the kids in completing the woodworking project was as tangible as the chairs themselves.”
Our job as a supportive community is to continue providing kids with access to and opportunity for exposure – and the ability to soar because they’ve been exposed to infinite possibilities.
Through collaboration and partnership, anything is possible!
Your Executive Director,
Kevin Ward
