Summer Appeal 2024
Dear Friends,
I recently wrote in our Corral about a young woman named Anne who was presented with the opportunity to travel across the country to attend the National 4-H conference. I would like to take a moment to give you an update:
Anne’s trip opened her eyes to a plethora of new opportunities and experiences that she could pursue as she transitions into adulthood. Initially, she did not know if she would fit in with the group, but she soon realized that her preparation prior to the trip paved the way for a learning process that was very positive and one she enjoyed.
While she was in Washington, D.C., she found a new interest in history. She was deeply impacted by her visit to the Holocaust Museum and spent her money on history books so she could continue to learn more. And visits to the national monuments opened her eyes to the impact individuals had on forming our country. Additionally, she attended a career fair that presented her with internship and employment opportunities that she did not know existed.
Unfortunately, opportunities like the one Anne had are not always available to all of the kids that we serve. In years past, when funds were available, we took all the residents on a summer trip to a National Park. These trips gave us the opportunity to not only provide an educational opportunity about the many different landscapes and historically significant monuments within our nation, but to also expand their horizons and show them how much the world has to offer to them. They learned new skills like managing in a large group while traveling; learning to function in unfamiliar environments while sharing with other people who are also experiencing the uncertainty of navigating new social settings; learning patience and understanding when you don’t necessarily enjoy all the activities that the group is involved in, etc.
We have not had the opportunity to offer this trip in more recent years due to a multitude of factors, but it is a topic of conversation that is almost always present in conversations with the former residents who were in our program when we took these trips. They frequently talk about all the interesting things they learned while having a good time.
Currently, we are very aware of the cost of such a trip, and we are committed to finding the most reasonable way possible to provide this opportunity – including traveling shorter distances and simple ways to provide the learning opportunities without excessive cost.
I am hopeful that, with your help, we can once again make this educational opportunity available in our program and provide these young people with a larger view of the world in which they live. Many of our residents have never left the state of New Mexico and your support in the past has changed the lives of these young people who have had limited opportunities to experience life outside their hometowns. For this we are very grateful. Please help us make this experience available to the residents this year.
Sincerely,
Mikela Kull – President
Your Support Will Make All The Difference!
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