What happens when Laraway’s psychologist and land steward meet? They

realize they’ve a shared interest in fly fishing which, in fact, is a recognized

therapeutic activity. Matt Sadowsky and George Swanson plan to offer fly

casting workshops to our youth, beginning this summer.

“Fly casting is a calm, meditative activity,” Swanson said. “You cast the line

with your right hand and control the line with your left hand.” Swanson also

sees opportunities to teach youth about entomology and how to make flies

with feathers, tinsel and thread.

If you’ve an interest in supporting this activity, contact George Swanson at

gswanson@Laraway.org.

Note: Such activities are used in Eye Movement Desensitization and

Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for survivors of trauma.

June 2017

Board Members

Anne Smith, President

Matthew Baughman, V. Pres.

Sarah Squirrell, Treasurer

John Connell

Ellen Hill

Emma Marvin

Mary Moulton

Greg Stefanski

Executive Director

Going Fishing...Fly Fishing, that is!

From Greg’s Desk...Let Your Light Shine

One of the most exciting things

about Spring is longer days and more

sun. As living creatures, we love light

and long for the warmth, brightness

and nourishment they provide. We

relate to the seedlings and plants that

stretch their leaves to capture more of

the sun’s rays.

Prophets and poets remind us

there is also a light within us. We are

told “you are the light of the world”

and to “let your light shine.” As human

beings, we sometimes focus on our

problems and mistakes. By doing this,

we cover up our light. Imagine what

the country and our community would

be like if we focused on honoring the

light within others while letting our

own light shine. What a wonderful

world this would be!

We’re counting down to our

Graduation and Recognition for

Laraway School on Tuesday, June

20, at 10:45 a.m. Roland Lajoie

from WLVB will let his light shine as

our graduation speaker. We hope

you can join us as we honor and

celebrate the light within our young

people here at Laraway!

Please give me a shout if you are

interested in a visit or further

exploring what “letting your light

shine” looks like here at Laraway!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From Greg’s Desk

Going Fishing

Micro Residential

Program

Thank You's

Alumni Profile

Daydreamers’ Sugar Rap

Empowering Youth

Strengthening Families

Building Community

Businesses / Organizations

Art of the Carve

Concept2

ECHO Lake Aquarium &

Science Center

G.W. Tatro

Construction

Hannaford Helps

Schools

Morrisville Rotary Club

Riverbend Market

St. John’s in the

Mountains Episcopal

Church

Stowe Rotary Club

In Memory of

Elise Braun

If your name was inadvertently

omitted, please contact

Katherine Stamper at

802-635-2805 x 106

KStamper@Laraway.org

Thank you to our

supporters!

Individuals

Warren Azano & Judy

Pendell

Pat & Rich Albrecht

Amy Breen

Matthew Baughman

Gail & Peter Bourne

Scott & Susan Cavell

Elaine & Carl Fortune

Lois Frey

Ken Harvey

Kate Lamb

Ted Lancaster

Joanne & James Martini

Cindy & Jeff McKechnie

Ken Moore

Scott & Sandy Noble

Pat & Nick Racheotes

Theresa Snow

Marina Turco

Louise von Weise

Charles & Pam Witherell

Page 2

What our

clients say…

“I wasn’t too happy

in the beginning to

have a BI.* It turned

out to be a really

good support system. My BI

helped me buckle

down and do my

work. I became a

better student.”

~DC

Class of 2017

Backpack Client

His part-time job

becomes full-time

upon graduation

from his public

high school

*Behavioral Interventionist

Micro Residential Program...a home away from home

Laraway’s Substitute Care Program operates two

micro residential homes, Foote Brook House in Johnson,

Vermont and Westfield House in the Northeast Kingdom

town of the same name. These homes away from home

for youth provide an in-between place when youth are

transitioning from more structured to less restrictive care.

Our micro residences are staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365

days a year. The home setting creates opportunities for youth to practice key

life skills. Meals are planned and prepared on site. Youth learn about

communication, budgeting and why it’s important to be civically aware and

engaged. Chores are communal and house meetings are frequent.

“Youth in Laraway’s micro residential program are given the opportunity to

grow independently, learn and lead by example,” said Corey Cayton, Foote

Brook House’s Residential Case Manager. High preference activities include

skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, climbing and fishing.”

As youth gain confidence in themselves, they are empowered to make

better choices for their futures.

Laraway presents “Thru Our Eyes”

Photo Contest

Youth, staff and board

members submitted

photos to our Gallery

Space. Scott Noble,

of Green Mountain

Fine Art Gallery and

Mickey Myers of the

Bryan Gallery, served

as judges.

Check out the

album at https://

www.facebook.com/larawayyouth

Your donations in

action…

Thank you from a

youth who applied for

a grant supported by

our Annual Appeal:

“I really enjoy working

on small engines. My

goal is to make that

my career. These tools

are important so I can

perform my work and,

hopefully, become a

tech.”

CONGRATULATIONS

JOSH SMITH WINNER OF OUR

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

BEAR RAFFLE!

Alumni Profile: Pizza-Spinning Dad of All Trades

Page 3 June 2017

C.E.’s easy smile complements a quiet

self-assuredness. He teaches Hip Hop, Jazz

and West African dance locally and has trained

with the Brooklyn Ballet. He spins pizzas at a

local restaurant while pursuing a social work

degree at the University of Vermont. He is a

co-founder of GYST (Get Your Stuff Together),

a mentoring group for young men. He is a

33-year-old single father raising his

7-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

“Our life is organized chaos,” C.E. said with

a laugh as he recounted his ability to operate

on relatively little sleep.

C.E. was a 12-year-old runaway in trouble

with the law when he arrived at Laraway.

“My mother was a single parent, going to

school and working,” he said. She was busy,

trying to raise four kids. She was

doing the best she could. My dad

wasn’t really present.”

C.E. found himself drawn to the

streets of Morrisville, Vermont, his

hometown. He fell in with a group of

older kids. He experimented with

alcohol and marijuana, landing on

juvenile probation. Fortunately, he had a

caring adult in his corner, his mother.

“I was walking down the street in Morrisville

and remember my mom pulling up beside me

and saying, ‘Get in the car,’” C.E. said. “I was

hesitant. She told me she had to bring me

‘somewhere.’ I was angry, but I got in the car.”

‘Somewhere’ ended up being Laraway Youth

& Family Services. C.E. spent ten months in

Laraway’s residential program while attending

Laraway School.

“It was a bit of a shock for me,” C.E. said.

“It was so different from my public school. I

remember doing a lot of fun things---hiking,

swimming, camping trips. We did this winter

expedition where we were out for days.”

C.E. was not only having fun. He was

connecting with teachers while honing

emerging English, math and social skills.

“The way the teachers treated us students…

they gave you special attention and respect

when it was needed,” C.E. said. This allowed

him to apply his gifts for learning.

C.E. returned to public school and, later,

served time in prison. He accepted a plea

deal; a shortened sentence would allow him to

return to the community and his children.

“I hit rock bottom,” C.E. said. “That’s what

did it for me.” He resolved to make changes

upon release…and he did. Taking classes at

the Community College of Vermont was

a positive step. “It (CCV) was a great

experience. It changed my view on

education.”

C.E. thrived at CCV, gaining transfer

admission to the School of Social Work

at the University of Vermont.

“I have this desire and ability to help

people,” C.E. said. “I’ve always been this way,

even as a kid, it just took me time to realize it.

Because of my own life experiences, I feel I

have a something to offer in the field of social

work.”

With all that he juggles---school, work,

teaching dance, spinning pizzas---C.E.

remains an active and involved father. And

what about his mother who picked him up on

the sidewalk that day? She works with kids---

as a TEACHER.

P.O. Box 621

275 VT Rte. 15 West

Johnson, Vermont 05656

Phone: 802-635-2805

Fax: 802-635-7273

E-mail: admin@laraway.org

www.Laraway.org

Laraway...It’s about the kids Pouring the sap

Through the dap

Tappin’ the trees

I’m feelin’ the sugar breeze

For this rap

I’m feeling tapped

It’s a sticky situation

With sugar and all of dat

Sap drips slowly from the spout

Ain’t no little bucket that’s short or stout

Sap is boiling sweeet not salty

And my name ain’t faulty

So pour on the syrup

This is Laraway!

Pouring the sap

Through the gap

Tappin’ the trees

I’m feelin’ the sugar breeze

For this rap

I’m feeling tapped

It’s a sticky situation

With sugar and all of dat

Daydreamers’ Sugar Rap

I love my maple syrup yo

It comes from the maple tree yo

You pour it on your waffles

Or French toast yo

Pouring the sap

Through the gap

Tappin’ the trees

I’m feelin’ the sugar breeze

For this rap

I’m feeling tapped

It’s a sticky situation

With sugar and all of dat

Maple candy is so sweet

And delicious

Girls call me sweeet maple daddy dee

But it’s all because she is so A grade

Fancyyyyy

Source: Daydreamers Team,

Laraway School

Laraway is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to identifying and building on the strengths of

children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges, through

alternative education, therapeutic foster care and public school based behavioral

intervention supports.

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