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Local Program Gets Kids Thinking About The Future - 7/26/2010

For most middle schoolers, Summer is all about relaxation, fun and ... future plans?

A local program is giving kids something to do during vacation, and think about for the years to come.

Danielle Kelsey has had problems at school.

Kelsey says, "I got in trouble a little bit for mouthing back to the teacher and stuff."

Dazriel Martinez spent a lot of time home alone.

Martinez says, "My mom, she'd go to work during the day and my brother would barely be home...so I would come here."

The George F. Johnson Dream Center's Dragon Slayers program helped change the girls' situations.

Organizers say it's aimed at gang and dropout prevention and has helped some students turn their lives around.

Cardin says, "We heard from the school district that they were engaged in sports, healthy choices, they weren't ending up in the principal's office as often."

This is the first year the program's been offered in the summer.

Kids play games and get to hang out with friends, but also take part in activities that work on self-esteem and team building skills.

Interns say discipline is another characteristic kids have already started to develop.

Carlisle says, "We're not having to blow our whistles as many times, just the little things is what we've seen a difference in so far."

Organizers also want kids to start thinking about their futures by taking them on field trips to local colleges.
 
"We want them to be physically on a college campus so that it's not some great nebula when they hear the word 'college.'  They can visualize it, they can see it as a goal," said Martinez.

A goal they can carry with them long after summer days have passed.

***FOX 40'S SARAH BLAZONIS REPORTING***

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