TeenTalk journals

Since we began, our volunteers have created journals for youth in Clark County. They knew what scientific research has verified: there are multiple benefits to consistently writing your thoughts in a journal. Journaling can even boost your immune system (Murray 2002).
 
In summer 2017, our volunteers created the latest version of the TeenTalk journal. With an inspiring quote or hopeful challenge on each page, it is a teen-friendly place for young people to put their thoughts to paper. Journals are one of the most popular supports we share. Order a free TeenTalk journal.

Peppy Penerson cheerleader kits

In 2018, we found a new way of spreading support and encouragement: Peppy Penerson cheerleader kits. Each bag has a Peppy, some slips of paper, and a pipe cleaner. To create a friend, you'll wrap the pipe cleaner around Peppy under the clip. Then you need two or more supportive messages on slips of paper. You can write them to yourself or ask someone you like or love to write them. Then you'll roll your supportive messages up tight and wrap them in Peppy's pipe cleaner hands.

Peppy cheerleaders have become an instant hit! Order a free Peppy cheerleader kit for yourself so you can remind yourself how awesome you are. Or you can make one for a friend to remind them how much you believe in them.

Our mentoring programs

We value partnering with others in the community to bolster mental illness awareness, work toward suicide prevention, and increase the well-being and self-esteem of young people. Toward these goals, we work with two youth mentor programs on an ongoing basis.
Renegades Have Big Hearts for Little Bears Mentor Program
Our program coordinator and the school counselor at Hayes Freedom High School created a program where high school students have lunch with elementary school students, and work on activities focused on self-worth, confidence and dealing with struggles.
Trappers4Trappers
Our staff worked with staff at Fort Vancouver High School to develop a program where juniors and seniors come together with freshmen and sophomores in small groups. Together, with adults from the school and the community, Trappers4Trappers focuses on inclusion, building trust, and trying to help students feel safe, valued and celebrated.

Quotes from youth mentors

"I wish I had this when I was in first grade."
​– Renegades, 2018-19
"My little buddy LOVED me!" 
​​– Renegades, 2018-19
"We need to change how Trappers think about themselves. All strong and proud." 
​– Trappers4Trappers, 2018-19

What we're doing in 2020


COMING SOON!!!

What we did in 2019
  • Made a box for sixth graders at Cascade Middle School and filled it with 418 handwritten notes to put a smile on their faces and remind them how awesome they are.
  • Handed out 162 Peppy Penerson costume kits to Spudders at Ridgefield High School during classroom presentations our program coordinator gave about youth mental health.
  • Made two pages in Discovery Middle School's Find Your Good coloring book, which were created for 900 wildcats! One page listed resources at their school and in their community where these awesome middle school students could go to find their good, and the second page listed 98 things they can do for fun.
  • Gave out 45 very special Peppy “Love is Love” treats at the Queer ‘Couve Youth Summit and Saturday in the Park PRIDE.​
  • Hosted a resource table for 332 youth at STASHA's annual Prevention is a Party at Firstenburg Community Center's Teen Late Night on April 19 where we also made Peppy costumes, and gave out journals and prizes.
  • Gave out 90 Peppys with Valentine wishes to students at Fort Vancouver High School.

Special outreach projects

At the beginning of each year, we brainstorm four or so groups of youth we think could use a little love and we try to do something special throughout the year to support them. In 2019, we wanted to reach out to youth with anxiety, youth experiencing homelessness, youth who were pregnant and/or parenting, and youth recovering from substance use. These are the things we did for them.
  • Youth with anxiety
  • Youth experiencing homelessness
  • Youth who were pregnant or parenting
  • Youth recovering from substance use
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COMING SOON!!!
COMING SOON!!!
COMING SOON!!!
COMING SOON!!!