Listed below are just a few of the opportunities that Friends of the Children provides to our youth. Please click on the corresponding link to learn more: One-on-One Relationship | Study Dog | Camp Friends | Teen Space and Friday at Friends CHOICE | Summer Internship | Fast Friends Scholarships

The activities that Friends and children do together are unique to the child’s individual needs,abilities, interests and talents. Friends engage in activities with our children that foster social and emotional development, making positive choices and school success, as well as nurture each child’s passions and talents. These activities take place in the child’s school, home and community, and may include working on homework, cooking healthy foods, practicing an instrument, playing sports, performing community service, visiting the library, museum, OMSI or attending a concert. We introduce our children to positive options for their life and extend their community of support. Back to Top To ensure that each child develops essential reading skills, all kindergartners entering the program enroll in StudyDog, an innovative, online, phonics-based literacy program available at our Friends’ Center. Youth participate in the program until they complete the 3rd grade level of StudyDog. The percentage of our 3rd grade youth meeting or exceeding reading standards has increased 75% since the addition of StudyDog to our program. Back to Top Camp Friends, made possible through partnerships with George Fox University, Oregon Children’s Theatre and OMSI, prepares our youth for the upcoming school year. Camp Friends consists of the following three components which address the academic needs of our program youth: • Elementary Camp Friends is an education-enriched, themed, fun two-week camp held at the Friends Center in Northeast Portland. Graduate students from George Fox University create and teach the curriculum in coordination with our program staff. During camp, the first half of the day is classroom-learning based, while the second half of the day focuses on hands-on learning activities. • Performing Arts Camp is a two-week camp for youth entering 4th - 8th grade utilizes the dramatic arts to help children gain confidence and poise, as well as language and public speaking skills.  Performing Arts Camp is made possible by a seven-year partnership with Oregon Children’s Theatre.  Youth play theatre games, practice improve, and write and stage dramatic sketches which are performed for families and staff on the final day of Camp.  • Outdoor Expedition Camp is a one-week experiential education camp that engages middle school youth in learning about our natural environment by getting them out of their daily surroundings and into the outdoors. Oregon’s outdoor beauty is as world that, despite its proximity, is rarely accessed by our youth. Being removed from the stress and noise of their daily lives to a quiet natural setting for a whole week is something that many of our youth have never experienced, and it can often have a transformational and lasting impact. • Camp Jumpstart provides intensive academic support for program youth who are entering grades 6 - 10 and are significantly behind in basic academic skills, particularly literacy and math. Students in this age group who have fallen behind their peers are at the greatest risk of not returning to school in the fall. This intensive camp, also led by George Fox University MAT Students, is intended to give struggling youth an academic boost in a safe, supportive environment, and give them the confidence needed to resume school in September. Back to Top Teen Space provides adolescents in our program and their friends with a positive, safe space to relax, access resources, and connect with peers and mentors. Teen Space includes: • A computer lab for learning basic computer skills, completing homework and accessing information related to college, career, housing and social services. • A resource library with reference materials, college and career information, and ACT/SAT preparation materials for youth to use at their convenience. • A Study Club offering reading, math and science resources, tutoring and a book club. Friday at Friends provides positive and fun weekly group activities for our youth and their peers. Activities have included talent shows, sports nights (playing and attending), game nights, movie nights, laser tag, bowling and dances. Back to Top CHOICE stands for "Creating Higher Options in Careers and Education". CHOICE consists of a series of workshops and experiential learning opportunities in conjunction with community partners to assist our 9th through 12th grade youth in developing life skills, job skills, and college preparation. Back to Top Our Summer Internship Program provides program adolescents with career related skill-building workshops and internship placements at local non-profits and businesses. The program has grown from providing 11 internships in 2004 to 26 internships in 2007 at local businesses such as BodyVox Dance Company, Blue Hour Restaurant, eROI, The Lippman Company, Tonkon Torp Law Firm, and Windermere Realty. Back to Top As the students finish the formal Friends program, many of them want to further their education by attending college or a trade school.  We have come to the realization that we should be helping these kids reach their long-term goals. Fast Friends is a group of FOTC supporters committed to assisting students who have completed our program in paying for tuition and expenses at traditional four-year colleges, community colleges and trade and vocational schools. Back to Top