January 11-12 - You Go Girls!

Buckingham elementary kids learned about the importance of respect this week as part of our You Go Girls series. From respecting others to repecting themselves, Big Buddies Lindsey and Katie helped the 4th and 5th graders to explore a variety of sitations where they could respond with either disrespect or respect.. .and guess which the kids liked more??? Nice job ladies and Happy Birthday Lindsey! You Go Girls!!!

On Wednesday after homework time and super healthy fruit and vege snacks - our middle school Buddies explored the concept of encouragment.. not only how to funtion as encouragers but also what each needed to experience encouragment. We worked on our Buddies motto taken from the book of John.. "love others as I have loved you"... our key to ultimate encouragement.

We ended the day after a fun round of skits demonstrating encouraging behaviors (with lots of laughter) followed by a crazy game of Taboo.

We have more room in our middle school program for both mentors and middle school girls so PLEASE let us know if you want to join us by writing to afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com.

We are waiting for an update from the Grace Baptist program to share their news of the week. Check tomorrow for an update! Char

Plans for Jan 11 & 12 - Buckingham & Middle School Group

I have decided to start using this blog to post plans for the upcoming weeks of two of our Buddies programs. That way others that are considering becoming a part of ASB will see what we do and hopefully be inspired to jump on board to help touch the lives of younger girls in our community.

This week at Buckingham, after homework time Lindsey and Katie will share activities centering around respect. This is certainly a virtue that everyone needs to focus on even more than ever .. it's so easy to blast through life and not even realize how disrespectful we are behaving... to others and even to ourselves.

We read in the New Testament in 1st Peter to "show proper respect to everyone". Have you been treated with disrespect by others before? How does it make you feel? Do you think that you might be able to fine tune your interactions with others in your family, your school or your work to help show more respect? What does it mean to respect yourself? How do you think God views people that function with respect? These are all questions we should consider before meeting at Buckingham this week.

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Our middle school group of new 6th grade Buddies and returning 7th and 8th graders will learn the importance of encouraging others. As we continue to focus on "You Go Girl!" we are reminded in the book of Thessalonians to "encourage one another and build each other up". Isn't that the truth.. who doesn't need that in their day to day lives? John Maxwell, a well known author, said "Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul". I like that - we most definately need oxygen to breathe.. and I can sure use a dose of encouragement daily.. how about you?

Middle schoolers will continue to build on their new relationships with the young woman in leadership by playing team games including Taboo and Guesstures. Be ready to be challenged and to encourage those on your team and in our group. Team captains Haley and Kate will be joined by our other leaders to help middle schoolers understand how much it means to God when they encourage each other and build each other up!

Buddies off to a Great Start in 2011

The first week of January found lots of elementary, middle school girls, teens and women gathering at our three locations to celebrate life and "You Go Girl!" with After School Buddies. We learned that to Go - we will be Giving of Ourselves in all kinds of ways.

Programs focused on friendship and learning about each other as Big Buddies were paired up with Little Buddies for the first time in 2011. We have almost a full program at Buckingham with 11 Little Buddies and 10 Big Buddies starting off the season. Grace Baptist's group (serving girls from 6!!! elementary schools - outstanding!!!) started with 8 elementary girls and 6 teens.

Middle school opened with 11 6th-8th graders with more to come next week. We had a great group of adults and teens to work with them as well.

Having said that.. we still need MORE of you teens and young adult women to search their hearts and see if God is calling you to make a wonderful difference in the lives of these young girls. Think about what life was like when you were in middle school or almost there.. don't you think that you can do something to share the love of Christ with these girls to help them weather the storms that blow around them day after day? Check in with Char at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com to see how you can join in this amazing program! You won't be sorry!

Buddies 2011 Coming Soon!

Hey Ladies.. it's just around the corner. Time to sign up for After School Buddies 2011. Whether you are a high school or college student - contact Char at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com to apply to be a Big Buddy.

Are you a parent of an elementary girl? 4th & 5 grade girls meet on Tuesdays at Buckingham or Wednesdays at Grace Baptist Church starting the first week in January. Enroll by contacting Char at the address above.

Middle School girls meet at Christian Life Center on Wednesdays also starting the first week in January. Bus transportation from all 4 middle schools in Bend should be available. So - enroll your daughter now to be a part of this amazing group.

Young girls and teens can and will make a difference as we love others as we have been loved! You Go Girls!!!!

Camp Was Amazing.. Truly a Whole New World

It's been two months since Buddies Camp 2010 finished with an amazing performance by the more than 20 Little Buddies attending this year. We had 44 participants with the help of 15 adults helping to discover God's Whole New World for us.. From delightful dance to "Colors of the Wind", to magnificent music and dazzling drama our girls put together a wonderful performance for parents. It's hard to determine which was the most fun.. the games, snacks, water play (Slip 'N Slide), chapel sing-a-longs or the performing arts workshops.. they were all terrific. Our Big Buddies were over the top wonderful in their leadership and creativity. Just check out a few of these photos!

We're Getting Ready! ASB Day Camp - August 2-5 2010

The word is out.. ASB Summer Daycamp 2010 is just around the corner! Our Disney-themed camp, "A Whole New World", will be just that for the lucky girls that choose to attend...

We are converting our Buddies campground to four amazing Disney-themed lands.. Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square.

Big Buddy teens are gearing up to offer our 4th-8th grade students a chance to explore a whole new world with Christ as their guide.

For more information or to enroll in our camp, contact Charlene Schulz at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com or call 541 390-3046.

Bags of Blessings - Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day talent show candidates... The girls loved filling blessing bags for the homeless and sampling Green Goodies.