August saw Josh successfully complete programming at RGH and earn discharge to his home. He had maintained our level 4, our highest level, for an extended period of time prior to his discharge on August 27^th. A true graduate of our program, we are all very proud of him. Nice Job Josh! He will be a senior at DCE High School this fall, and will continue his job at East Bay.

The rest of the boys are preparing to return to school again. We’ll have boys at Wausau East, Horace Mann Middle School, Storefront Alternative School, and North Central Technical College. We’re looking forward to another busy and productive school year. It’s always good to get back and re-kindle school relationships, for students and staff alike.

August was a typically busy month, and afforded the boys some extra recreational time before the start of school. Staff member Joe Koenig files the following report on two such recent excursions:

Camping Trip of August 16-18.

On Friday August 16^th the young men of Reynolds Group Home departed for a camping trip. The boys made camp at Council Grounds State Park outside Merrill, WI and began to set up camp with the assistance of staff members Joe and Sarah. Setting up tents was a chore, but afterward the boys went for a swim and then began to enjoy some fishing. As the tale goes, one resident lost a large fish and came back to the site with a story and a smile.

The group enjoyed an evening meal of burgers and brats cooked over an open fire. While the meal was delicious, one boy found the wire baskets used for cooking the brats could also cause a burn when touched! Other than that the evening went great.

Darwin arrived as the overnight staff, and found what would be a very interesting night. In the early morning hours the group was woken by thunderstorms that caused one of the tents to collapse and the other to fill with water. Everyone took shelter in the Big Blue Bus (van) for the remainder of the night.

Day Two started early with Darwin actually getting no sleep at all! Everyone was still anxious to continue north to Minocqua for a day of fun at the lake. We were met with a windy and overcast day, but no one let the weather deter them from waterskiing or taking turns being pulled on the kneeboard or tubes. One of the boys even to a shot at barefoot skiing! The boys have made a lot of progress in the waterskiing skills this summer, and showed it. They capped off that round of fun with another meal grilled over the fire by Joe and Darwin.

After lunch one of the boys requested some instruction in basic Scuba Diving technique, so the boys were all given a lesson in the fundamentals. Each boys had a turn at being attached to a staff member and trying a shallow dive. This method allowed the boys to experience the fun of Scuba Diving without the safety risk of diving without supervision. The staff person used the same air source and controlled the dive. One boy actually found a fishing jig that had become attached to a log. He worked it free and used it to "underwater fish", catching a bass with his newfound tackle. Others took up the underwater adventure and all found enjoyment in their newly acquired skill.

The evening brought yet another adventure with the boys going the St. Germaine area to enjoy a game of laser tag, and a fast trip around the Go-Kart track. One of the boys blew a tire on the track but got the Kart in for a quick exchange for a Kart with four good tires. The track was a challenge and the Karts were fast! The group then went for snacks and returned to the Council Grounds for the night.

Sunday morning was upon us all to quickly. Sarah rejoined the group to help pack up their gear and return to RGH. Many of the boys have shared with staff that a key to staying free of drugs and clear of problems has been due to staff guiding them into healthy recreational activity.

Joe Koenig, Youth Worker

Rainbow Fall Trip of August 26

Through the generosity of donated admission tickets from the management of Rainbow Falls Water Park, the boys enjoyed a day of fun at the water park.

The group visited on a late summer day with the temperature in the 80’s and a bright clear blue sky. The boys had no complaints!

The boys spent the day on the water rides, wave pool, Go-Karts and finished off the day with a round of Mini-Golf. They also took time to enjoy the lunch they had brought with them. Everyone had a great time, and no one wanted the day to end. The group closed up the Park and returned home a little tired but happy.

Both trips seem to have brought out the best in our guys. They showed leadership and the ability to enjoy recreational activity as a group. They also demonstrated their ability to act appropriately in public. Good job guys!
Joe Koenig, Youth Worker

Starting this month we’ll be featuring a Web Site of the Month that has proven to be useful to the staff and/or residents of MYS. If you have suggestions of sites, please forward them for mention, and inclusion on our web site (www.marathonyouthservices.org) links page.

This month I would recommend checking out the site for The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. They can be found at www.wccf.org. Anyone with an interest in the needs and issues surrounding children and families will find useful information at this site. Certainly worthy of a bookmark and an occasional visit.

Their site is currently featuring a Question and Answer session with the candidates for Governor in the upcoming elections. Issues of great importance to kids and families are addressed. You’ll probably want to know where the candidates stand before casting your votes in the primary (September 10) and general (November 5) elections. Check it out!