After School Buddies

Practicing Kindness

2012-01-31T21:44:00.000-08:00

Southside Buddies practiced kindness by making friendship bracelets for an orphanage in Rwanda, Africa. Many of us had to use last week's virtue, patience, while learning how to tie special patterns with the string. During our group discussion, one Little Buddy explained that kindness can also be shown in simple ways like smiling or giving a friendly hello. You girls rock!

Southside Buddies at Elk Meadow

2012-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

Big Buddies, Claire and Jamie, taught the group about the virtue of patience. During our group discussion, Little Buddies and Big Buddies alike agreed that patience is an important virtue that allows us to interact with others respectfully and create a peaceful environment. Everyone put their patience to the test by doing an art project with very limited supplies and playing a fun variation of "Red Light, Green Light".

Buddies 2012 Starts the 1st Week In January

2011-12-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

It's the season of fun and friends with young women connecting with and mentoring young girls all over Bend.

Are you or your high school/college daughter/friend wanting to positively change the lives of 4th-8th grade girls?

Does your elementary or middle school girl want to belong to a really fun and motivating girls group? Do you want to help them SURVIVE and THRIVE??? Enroll them in After School Buddies!

We have 3 elementary programs for 4th-5th grade girls.

Eastside Buddies - Buckingham School - Tuesdays from 3:00 -5:30 (students come 3:30-5:15)
Midtown Buddies - Grace Baptist Church - Wednesdays from 1:30-5:00 (students come from 2:15 or so -5:00)
Southside Buddies -Elk Meadow School - Wednesdays from 1:30-5:15 (students come from 2:00-5:00)

Our middle school program meets on Wednesdays at Christian Life Center on the east side of Bend from 1:30-4:30. Bend schools provides bus transportation from Sky View, High Desert and Pilot Butte Middle Schools. Car pools may be available from other schools.

The programs are free for students. High school girls earn community service credits towards graduation. Adult women will gain unbelievable satisfaction in knowing you can truly make a serious difference in the future of a young girl.

To learn more, contact Char Schulz, Executive Director, at www.afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com or call 541 390-3046.

Buddies Camp 2011

2011-06-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

Time to start thinking about tropical weather and island paradise scenes.. and Buddies Camp 2011. Our theme this year is "Under the Sea".. exploring the world of "Living Waters'.

Day Camp 2011 promises to be another amazing experience of relationship building, FUN water play, camp crafts, games not to mention the amazing devotional time getting to know God and His love for you!

If you are interested in participating as a teen/young adult mentor/leader or to register your 4th-8th grade daughter as a camper - email Director Char Schulz at

afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com.

Summer is here.. and that means it's Camp Time!!

Spring Fun with Buddies

2011-03-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

All kinds of great things happen when you are a part of After School Buddies. From learning about the virtures of perseverance and diligence to experiencing the joy of trying out new activities - Buddies 2011 are loving life together. Spring has included lessons on the Chinese language and culture presented by Big Buddy Hailey, learning to experience and share joy while trying out Zumba with Joy, sharing compassion while serving at the Bend Community Center, and bountiful blessings celebrating Saint Patrick's day with Irish dancing. Students were inspired by Dr. Kittie to believe in themselves and reach for their goals. Even an all-Buddy swim party added to the fun of the season. Our girls continue to share great experiences each and every time they spend time together - learning to love each other and others as they have been loved by God.
Want to be a Big Buddy? It's not too late! We would love to meet you and see if Buddies is for you! Email me at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com. Hugs!

Middle School Girls Help Out School Kitchen

2011-02-19T20:56:00.001-08:00

Recently our middle school Buddies paid a visit to Bend High School's Nutritional Services kitchen to help prepare some of the hundreds of breakfast sandwiches needed for morning meals. Buddies learned the ins and outs of mass production of school lunches. Hopefully they will appreciate the work it takes to prepare so many meals each and every day!

Giving to Others

2011-01-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

This past week Buddies explored the virtues of kindness and thankfulness. Buckingham girls used online tools to donate dog food with freekibble.com - a program started by a middle school girl right here in Bend.

Middle school Buddies prepared Italian pasta casseroles which were given to the Shepherd's House homeless shelter. Acts of charity helps us to honor God by being kind to the needy.(Prov. 14:31).

Grace Baptist girls celebrated the importance of being thankful in their everyday lives. I bet most of us could use an extra reminder about that principle!

January 18 - Focusing on Charity and Kindness at Buckingham

2011-01-17T10:14:00.001-08:00

Lisa will be leading this week focusing on the virtue of charitable kindess. Teen Buddies will discuss the importance of treating others the way they would like to be treated which is not to be selfish, sarcastic or rude. Buddies are encouraged to be charitable towards others to make them feel loved and cared for.

We will be focusing on use of the Internet to send support emails to our Troops throughout the world. We are so grateful for all that our men and women give and want to let them know. And we will be exploring opportunities to extend charity to others in need including animals using web sites including www.freekibble.com and www.freerice.com!

Welcome to our new Big Buddy Shay from Summit High. Thanks for being a part of our ministry to Buckingham girls!

January 11-12 - You Go Girls!

2011-01-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

Buckingham elementary kids learned about the importance of respect this week as part of our You Go Girls series. From respecting others to repecting themselves, Big Buddies Lindsey and Katie helped the 4th and 5th graders to explore a variety of sitations where they could respond with either disrespect or respect.. .and guess which the kids liked more??? Nice job ladies and Happy Birthday Lindsey! You Go Girls!!!

On Wednesday after homework time and super healthy fruit and vege snacks - our middle school Buddies explored the concept of encouragment.. not only how to funtion as encouragers but also what each needed to experience encouragment. We worked on our Buddies motto taken from the book of John.. "love others as I have loved you"... our key to ultimate encouragement.

We ended the day after a fun round of skits demonstrating encouraging behaviors (with lots of laughter) followed by a crazy game of Taboo.

We have more room in our middle school program for both mentors and middle school girls so PLEASE let us know if you want to join us by writing to afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com.

We are waiting for an update from the Grace Baptist program to share their news of the week. Check tomorrow for an update! Char

Plans for Jan 11 & 12 - Buckingham & Middle School Group

2011-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start using this blog to post plans for the upcoming weeks of two of our Buddies programs. That way others that are considering becoming a part of ASB will see what we do and hopefully be inspired to jump on board to help touch the lives of younger girls in our community.

This week at Buckingham, after homework time Lindsey and Katie will share activities centering around respect. This is certainly a virtue that everyone needs to focus on even more than ever .. it's so easy to blast through life and not even realize how disrespectful we are behaving... to others and even to ourselves.

We read in the New Testament in 1st Peter to "show proper respect to everyone". Have you been treated with disrespect by others before? How does it make you feel? Do you think that you might be able to fine tune your interactions with others in your family, your school or your work to help show more respect? What does it mean to respect yourself? How do you think God views people that function with respect? These are all questions we should consider before meeting at Buckingham this week.

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Our middle school group of new 6th grade Buddies and returning 7th and 8th graders will learn the importance of encouraging others. As we continue to focus on "You Go Girl!" we are reminded in the book of Thessalonians to "encourage one another and build each other up". Isn't that the truth.. who doesn't need that in their day to day lives? John Maxwell, a well known author, said "Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul". I like that - we most definately need oxygen to breathe.. and I can sure use a dose of encouragement daily.. how about you?

Middle schoolers will continue to build on their new relationships with the young woman in leadership by playing team games including Taboo and Guesstures. Be ready to be challenged and to encourage those on your team and in our group. Team captains Haley and Kate will be joined by our other leaders to help middle schoolers understand how much it means to God when they encourage each other and build each other up!

Buddies off to a Great Start in 2011

2011-01-09T20:50:00.001-08:00

The first week of January found lots of elementary, middle school girls, teens and women gathering at our three locations to celebrate life and "You Go Girl!" with After School Buddies. We learned that to Go - we will be Giving of Ourselves in all kinds of ways.

Programs focused on friendship and learning about each other as Big Buddies were paired up with Little Buddies for the first time in 2011. We have almost a full program at Buckingham with 11 Little Buddies and 10 Big Buddies starting off the season. Grace Baptist's group (serving girls from 6!!! elementary schools - outstanding!!!) started with 8 elementary girls and 6 teens.

Middle school opened with 11 6th-8th graders with more to come next week. We had a great group of adults and teens to work with them as well.

Having said that.. we still need MORE of you teens and young adult women to search their hearts and see if God is calling you to make a wonderful difference in the lives of these young girls. Think about what life was like when you were in middle school or almost there.. don't you think that you can do something to share the love of Christ with these girls to help them weather the storms that blow around them day after day? Check in with Char at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com to see how you can join in this amazing program! You won't be sorry!

Buddies 2011 Coming Soon!

2010-11-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies.. it's just around the corner. Time to sign up for After School Buddies 2011. Whether you are a high school or college student - contact Char at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com to apply to be a Big Buddy.

Are you a parent of an elementary girl? 4th & 5 grade girls meet on Tuesdays at Buckingham or Wednesdays at Grace Baptist Church starting the first week in January. Enroll by contacting Char at the address above.

Middle School girls meet at Christian Life Center on Wednesdays also starting the first week in January. Bus transportation from all 4 middle schools in Bend should be available. So - enroll your daughter now to be a part of this amazing group.

Young girls and teens can and will make a difference as we love others as we have been loved! You Go Girls!!!!

Camp Was Amazing.. Truly a Whole New World

2010-10-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

It's been two months since Buddies Camp 2010 finished with an amazing performance by the more than 20 Little Buddies attending this year. We had 44 participants with the help of 15 adults helping to discover God's Whole New World for us.. From delightful dance to "Colors of the Wind", to magnificent music and dazzling drama our girls put together a wonderful performance for parents. It's hard to determine which was the most fun.. the games, snacks, water play (Slip 'N Slide), chapel sing-a-longs or the performing arts workshops.. they were all terrific. Our Big Buddies were over the top wonderful in their leadership and creativity. Just check out a few of these photos!

We're Getting Ready! ASB Day Camp - August 2-5 2010

2010-07-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

The word is out.. ASB Summer Daycamp 2010 is just around the corner! Our Disney-themed camp, "A Whole New World", will be just that for the lucky girls that choose to attend...

We are converting our Buddies campground to four amazing Disney-themed lands.. Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square.

Big Buddy teens are gearing up to offer our 4th-8th grade students a chance to explore a whole new world with Christ as their guide.

For more information or to enroll in our camp, contact Charlene Schulz at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com or call 541 390-3046.

Bags of Blessings - Saint Patrick's Day

2010-03-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick's Day talent show candidates... The girls loved filling blessing bags for the homeless and sampling Green Goodies.

Middle School Chefs for Shepherd's House

2010-02-25T22:30:00.001-08:00

Our girls LOVED the opportunity to grow in their giving to others by cooking for the residents of Shepherd's House in Bend. We made mega burritos and delicious Rice Krispie treats for more than 70!
From chopping onions and olives, to mixing beans or grating cheese - melting marshmallows or posing for photos - Buddies love to be of service to others whenever they can!

Skating at 7th Mountain Resort

2010-02-25T22:19:00.001-08:00

Our own Olympians showed their talents at our annual skate party n Bend. From gold medalists to beginners - Buddies were voted Best on the Ice for having fun!

Happy Birthday Josilyn!!!

2010-02-13T22:07:00.000-08:00

We celebrate Josi's 16th! Such a special girl serving with a team of special girls! Buddies are the best!!!

Valentine's Celebration 2010

2010-02-13T22:00:00.001-08:00

We Love to Love! "Grow to Give" - our 2010 theme was demonstrated in true form this Valentine's day as we prepared gifts for residents at Clair Bridge and Bend's Hospice House. Giving to others allows us to grow relationally.

What amazing Buddies we have this year - I can't say enough wonderful things about these girls and leaders. God is so good!

ASb Big Buddy Teen Get Together Dec 8th!

2009-11-22T22:06:00.001-08:00

Mark your calendar for Tuesday Dec 8th at 3:30 and plan to meet at 416 NE Greenwood Ave. (enter from the back and go upstairs) for ASB planning and Christmas project afternoon. It's time to get ready to meet with our Little Buddies in January. And - there are lots of folks this Christmas that could use an extra dose of your love and attention!
Bring your calendar and your great ideas! Friends who want to be a part of ASB in 2010 are welcome too!

New Web Site for Buddies!

2009-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

It's a big year for us.. we have been "birthed" to be our own non-profit organization (complete with the 5013c blessing from the IRS) and we now have our own web site...

http://www.afterschoolbuddies.org/

Soon application forms for both Big and Little Buddies will be posted online. Teen training sessions will be scheduled soon.

Yee Haw!! Welcome to Thunder Falls!!!

2009-08-11T10:13:00.001-07:00

Day 1 of Camp - UR Love D. 16 teens, 26 students and 8 adults begin the week with amazing weather, friendships, games, crafts and song. We learned how God loves us in so many ways!

Camp is Coming! August 10-13!!

2009-07-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Y’All Come Now!!! Summer Buddies 2009 August 10-13

Who? Girls who have completed 4th-8th grades (“Little Buddies”)
High school girls serve as “Big Buddy” mentors
When? Afternoons - August 10-13
Where? 62595 Hamby Rd. Bend Or 97701 – Char’s home - "Paradise Falls!"
What Time? Mon–Wed 1:00-5:00 pm; Thu 1:00–9:00 pm (Campfire night!)
What? Crafts, games, water play, Bible study, possible field trip to local horse shelter, snacks, FUN!
How Much? Free!!!
Theme? You Are Loved!

During the school year, our ASB theme is to love others as God has loved us. This summer our Buddies theme lets all students know how much they are loved – by God and by others in their lives. Bible study is included as part of our time together – focusing on principles to help encourage, empower, and inspire our girls.

Call 541 385-5050 for further information.

Who Are After School Buddies?

2009-05-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

After School Buddies is a multi-generational program serving teens and students in Central Oregon. ASB meets weekly after school with teen boys or girls serving as mentors to elementary students of the same gender. A middle school program is also available.
This program is uniquely successful due to its focus on tri-generational mentoring and leadership development. Relationship building, study skills, exercise and nutrition discussions and activities, arts and crafts, along with community service projects are all foundations of this faith-based organization.
After School Buddies is a religious non-profit corporation registered with the State of Oregon. It is faith based program but does not restrict participation to any one denomination, church, or organization.
Teen students are encouraged to...
Aspire to discover their purpose, gifts and talents
Share encouragement and hope
Build relationships, healthy minds and bodies, and respect for others.

Our Vision:
Young adults and teens sharing hope and encouragement with younger students, the community and the world!

Our Mission:
To empower and encourage teens to discover their potential and to positively influence younger students in thought, word, and action.

End of Year Thoughts...

2009-05-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

It’s incredible that the Buddies and leaders of ASB have completed yet another season! Where did this year go?

Graduation is just around the corner for our senior Big Buddy Chelsea Z. And our juniors (there are MANY) are finishing up their ACT and SAT tests getting ready for college application season next year. Wow.
Our year of HOPE and GO has lived up to my expectation in so many ways. Our teens and kids prepared gifts of love, encouragement, care and joy to various organizations throughout Central Oregon. Teens shared their passions, thoughts and prayers with Little Buddies all winter/spring long. From teamwork to trust, from faithfulness to friendship, and from compassion to courage our teens presented their thoughts and concerns about numerous virtues and values to our little ones.
HOPE and GO… Help Other People Eagerly by Giving of Ourselves… our 2009 theme. Lots of folks need help in so many ways.. from words of encouragement, to tutoring of math problems… from nutrition/food to clothing – it all helps to show that someone cares.. it all matters.
We each want to be #1 in someone’s life.. we all would love to have a “Big Buddy” to inspire us, to share with us, to build relationship with us. And believe it or not – we do have that very person in our Heavenly Father. I hope that somehow God has used us to inspire other adult leaders and Big Buddies to love those Little Buddies and each other the way He loves us! We DO have a BFF (teen talk for Best Friend Forever!!!)

Bend's Best Easter Buddy!

2009-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Yes Clara.. there is an Easter Bunny... and her name is Kate Armstrong!
Kate looks worried that she won't have enough eggs hid for all of the Little Buddies to find...

Sharing the Joy of Easter

2009-04-27T08:30:00.001-07:00

After School Buddies stuffed plastic eggs to share with less fortunate children for their Easter celebration. Middle school ASB girls decorated Easter cakes for teens at Grandma's house. Offering hope and encouaragment to kids who might not have alot during these economically challenging times is one simple way our ASB kids can and do make a difference.

2009-04-27T08:27:00.001-07:00

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! Artists Naeyli and Brittany rejoice in the success of their "whopper junior" sculptures.. I am not so sure that the burgers taste as good as they look...

Fun in February

2009-04-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

Big and Little Buddies and adult leaders test their courage and balance skills at the ice rink at the 7th Mountain Resort.

Experienced skaters and newbies gave it a shot as they encouraged one another around the ice. Winter fun for all!

2009-04-27T08:18:00.001-07:00

ASB girls prepared Valentines of love for teen moms at Grandma's House, women living at the Bethlehem Inn, and patients and families at the Hospice Center. Our mission to love others as God has loved us was put into action this season! Everyone appreciates being remembered - especially when times are tough.

Happy New Year!!! ASB 2009 Off and Running!

2009-01-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

All ASB programs kicked off this week.. We are so happy to welcome our new teen Big Buddies, middle school Buddies, and elementary Little Buddies!!! All program have room to include more children so if you are interested in having your child participate, contact Charlene Schulz at 541 385-5050.

Our theme for 2009 is Hope & Go!!! Help Other People Eagerly & Give of Ourselves!!! Our focus on loving others as we are loved is off to a great start!

Buddies Starts In January!

2008-12-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

Reminder - After School Buddies groups meet the first week in January. Make sure to enroll your child in Dec before school gets out so we can arrange transportation if needed! Call 541 385-5050 for further info.

Big Buddy Teen Training & Fun - Wed Dec 17

2008-12-10T08:17:00.001-08:00

Sun Mountain Lanes 1:30-4:30

If you are planning to serve with ASB this year - join us for an important afternoon of planning Bring a donation of food, toy or clothing item to share in our Christmas "Basket of Blessings!" if you can. Call 390-3046 if you need a ride or more info!

Join Us - Encourage, Empower & Inspire

2008-10-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

YOU CAN make a difference... in the lives of others - in Bend, OR and around the World!!

If you have a passion to share your heart, your time, your gifts & talents with elementary or middle school students...
if you want to help students with an extra dose of encouragement to become all that they can be...
if you want to have fun, make new friends and try new experiences...
if you want a chance to lead as a mentor...and to offer hope...
then inquire about being a Big Buddy for After School Buddies.

We meet weekly from January - May - Girls ASB groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and boys ASB group on Wednesdays. We need you!!!

To learn more about being a Big Buddy... contact Charlene Schulz at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com.

Summer Fiesta - 2008

2008-09-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

Camp Memories of Fiesta!

2008-09-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

Excited About Camp

2008-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Over 30 students including Big and Little Buddies joined together the first week of August for our annual Day Camp at the Schulz home in Bend. We spent the week learning about what God has in store for us this year - enjoying and exploring all kinds of things from Mexican food, music, and stories. Each of our 5 small groups took on destination resort names from Cancun to Puerto Vallerta!

The Cancun group started off the week sharing ideas about taking care of God's creation. Our "go green" team taught us about recycling and living simply to help preserve the earth for the next generations to come. The Playa del Carmen team taught us about the ways we can serve God by serving others - at home, at school and in our community. A highlight of the week came when playing our "trust game" being led blindfolded around the ranch by our partners... as we learned to lean on one another for support and friendship!

Mazatlan members helped us to understand ways of facing challenges and overcoming the fear of facing change. Campers had a blast as they tuned up their "slip 'n slide" skills during game time.

Puerto Vallerta teammates helped us to understand ways we can turned changes into opportunities while Cabo San Lucas campers helped to show us how we can be excited about growing spiritually.

From our opening welcome chat on "the bridge" to our closing songs around the campfire - we experienced God's love in ways we couldn't have known in advanced.

2008-05-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

We Did It! May 14th - The "Big Reveal"

The rooms are done and ready for others to enjoy now. The results of the Xtreme Makeover are even better than we had hoped... what a great testimony of faith in action! Our team of designers, "janitors", painters, decorators and leaders completed an outstanding redo of the classrooms. Take a look for yourself! God has blessed us with amazing donations completed by the time, talents, and service of a tremendous team of Buddies.

2008-05-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

Xtreme Makeover - We're Getting There!

We're just about ready to celebrate our efforts and shout about what a great community of people we have here in Bend. From paint to furnishings - we have had some wonderful donations which have made the XMO classrooms so much better for all who use them .

Our "Big Reveal" party for parents is this Wed at 4:30. Come see for yourself how much better the classrooms are looking and working!

2008-05-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

See how the Sports Room (green room above) is coming along. Complete with a fooseball table to be used by the youth, we look forward to adding some cool sports photos to make this a fun place to hang out!

This group is in charge of redoing the corner classroom mostly used by elementary children. The new, warmer colors have turned this room into a wonderful place to be together!

2008-04-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Xtreme Makeover April News!

Buddies - Big and Little - from 5 ASB programs are helping to refresh and renew 4 classrooms at Bend's Grace Baptist Church. GBC shares their space with 2 of our elementary programs in addition to other groups from our community. So - ASB is working to improve our painting and redecorating skills to help make GBC even better for everyone!

We are thankful to Newman Brothers Painting, Denfeld Paints, and Rhodda Paints for their generous donations of paint, painters' training, and painting supplies. We love you all!

Young ASB painters and their mentors have done a marvelous job getting the rooms ready for redecorating. Now we could sure use a variety of donations to help the rooms be more comfortable. Can you help with any of these?

Newer couches/comfy chairs (in earth tones) for the youth room

Newer 5' or 6' long folding tables for classroom use

Newer folding chairs for classroom use

Cabinets or bookshelves for storage of materials/books - several could be used

A large (4-6 ft wide) whiteboard for classroom use

A couple of tall lamps for the youth room to make it more "cozy"

$$$ to help us buy what is not donated (smile..)

Someone to volunteer to clean the carpets

Someone to volunteer to wash the outside windows (second story!)

If you are able to help with any of these items, contact Charlene Schulz at 541 385-5050. Your donations should be tax deductable.

2008-02-24T18:08:00.001-08:00

Empower, encourage, excite and enjoy - words to live by when you are part of After School Buddies. You never know whose life you might change by caring...

2008-02-24T17:57:00.000-08:00

Are we having fun yet? Check our out Boy Buddies sharing the joy of being together!

2008-02-24T17:49:00.000-08:00

2008 Buddies shared Valentines with recipients of Bend's Meals on Wheels. We hope that the fun we had making these was exceeded by the joy our Seniors felt when they got them!

ASB Who?

2008-01-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

Teens and young adults

Led by caring volunteers

Serving students

Loving others

Making a difference

Serving youth.. families...community

Learning to study, to cook, to share

Learning to draw, to play, to try

Learning to care...

Empowering, encouraging, inspiring, and enjoying...

Celebrating Life in 2008!!!

That's Right... You See Boys at ASB!

2008-01-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

Your eyes aren't tricking you.. yes.. those darlings in the snow are our newest members of ASB! Young men from Juniper Elementary School are now being mentored by wonderful teens from Bend, Marshall and Mt. View High Schools weekly. Week one found them in a serious snowball fight across the street - I am pretty sure that the Little Buddies one the first battle. But we have only just begun!!! (smile...)
We could use some more help from our teens as Big Buddies for our students so please contact us at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com if you are interested in helping make a difference in a child's life right here in Central Oregon!

We also have a great new program for girls from Juniper School too. Teen girls from both Bend, Summit and Marshall High Schools are helping our newest Little Buddies to improve their academic skills while learning to become the best that they can be.

I am not sure who is having more fun with this program.. the students or the leaders???

Fund Raising for ASB

2008-01-19T20:00:00.000-08:00

The concept of fund raising is never my favorite but at least this one had the operative word "FUN" including. Our friends from The Cause, the non-profit that does the administration of ASB, brought lots of beautiful crafts and creations to sell along with our friend Donna Safley who helped us by demonstrating her Discover Toys. It does take $$ to provide snacks and craft supplies to our almost 90 participants attending After School Buddies in 2008 so this is one way to add to our account...

Christmas Blessings

2008-01-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

Buddies love to bless others... and bless we did! In December some of our teens gathered at the Inn of the 7th Mt. for an overnight retreat and to plan for the new year of ASB. At the same time our Big Buddies tested their creativity with ribbons, bows, glue guns and more decorating Christmas trees and wreaths and skillfully crafting tree ornaments. Hopefully the families at Hospice House of Bend and High Desert Assisted Living felt our love and compassion when they received our gifts.

Gearing Up for 2008

2007-10-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and it is time to start thinking about our new season of Buddies for 2008. We have had good news this week - we are adding two 2 programs for our elementary students - one for girls and a second for boys. Meeting at Grace Baptist Church across from Bend Senior High School on early release Wednesdays - we look forward to serving students from Juniper School as well as local neighborhood kids. If you are interested in volunteering to mentor our amazing kids while reaping the benefits of being a part of this terrific group of people - WE NEED YOU!!! Contact Char at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com for more info.

Camp Update 2007

2007-09-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

"Definately Dazzling Day Camp 07" lived up to it's name as we celebrated becoming all that God wants us to be. With a Paradise Island theme. 15 Big Buddy teens welcomed 12 Little Buddies to our camp at the Schulz ranch in Bend Oregon.

Our Big Buddy teens, under the direction of five adult facilitators, spent time during June and July in leadership training and planned a terrific camp. Small group sessions focused on activites addressing key skills for surviving change. These included tips and tricks for making new friends, learning to resist temptation by making good choices, exploring tools for better "comm-you-nication", and how to strive for strength to overcome fear and anxiety.

As we had hoped - Definately Dazzling Day Camp provided just the opportunity we needed to see God in action. Our hope was to share His love and empower all involved to know how much He cares about us! Thanks to all of you who helped with your time, your prayers, your donations, and your love. Char

Ladies at the Luau

2007-09-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Musicians helped us celebrate with song.

Lovely ladies blessed us with their Hawaiin dance.
Dancing the Bamboo Stick dance and the limbo tested our agility.
Everyone joined in the act with their own rendition of the Hula.

Happy Campers

2007-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

From wooden boats to lovely flip flops - our campers loved the various crafts that made them feel like they were wisked away to a tropical island.

Maui Group

2007-09-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Our small groups were named using four of the Hawaiian Island names. Here is a glimpse of our lovely "wahinis" from Maui...

Camp 07 - "Be The Best You Can Be!"

2007-09-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Our dazzling campers say "Maholo" to all of those who helped make this camp possible!

What a Great Day!

2007-04-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

Your Fearless Leaders!

See Our Lovely Helpers in their finest hour!

Day 1 of our Garage Sale was amazing.. amazing weather, amazing Buddy servants, amazing shoppers, amazing donations, amazing income. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Camp Fundraiser - Garage & Bake Sale Apr 28-29

2007-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

After School Buddies will be hosting a big indoor-outdoor garage/bake sale this weekend (April 28-29) at 416 NE Greenwood in Bend. We hope to raise $$ to support our summer day camp offered in August. Camp is offered at no cost to our students and we expect a lot of them! Just before the sale the middle school Buddies will be baking delicious goodies to sell. And we will have some amazing hand-made purses to sell from Cambodia too.

ASB will be giving 10% of our proceeds to the Tyler Eklund fund to help with his medical costs after his snowboarding accident. So there are all kinds of great reasons to come and see us - 8:00 am Saturday and 11:00 am on Sunday!

We have LOTS of amazing things to sell so we hope if you read this and live in Bend, that you will come and shop. Help us with this great opportunity to train our teens about the "retail" and "customer service" businesses too!

Perfect Pizzas

2007-04-19T22:37:00.000-07:00

The CLC Middle School Buddies perfected the art of making pizzas from scratch. From making hand made dough to the chopping and laying out of the terrific toppings, our Buddies were quite creative with their new art form!

Japanese Day At Buckingham

2007-04-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

This week our Buddies were blessed with a day centered around learning about Japan. Three of our teens, Brittany L., Katie & Kelli shared their knowledge of this land and it's culture. From our wonderful Japanese snacks, to our bookmarks with our names written in Japanese, to our fun times acting out the Japanese numbers and our skit complete with masks - it made for a delightful day for all of us! Can you guess who is behind this disguise?

Spring Fling

2007-04-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Luckily there was one week when the weather was good enough to play outdoors. After homework time at Buckingham, we spent a warm April afternoon playing tennis and challenging each other to fast games of "chicken"??? on the parallel bars. Strong arms and agility help if you want to compete with our girls!!!

Easter "Eggstavaganza" - ASB MS!

2007-04-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Our middle school ladies did their best to find the over 175 eggs hid at Char's ranch. Before taking off for our hunt, we shared the story of the Easter and also made our own version of an Easter basket.. well Easter bucket...????'

Both Buckingham Buddies and the Middle School girls made wonderful Rice Krispie Easter Nests which were shared with Cascade View Nursing Home residents.

Buckingham Teens helped make their Little Buddies their own special ASB t-shirts.

More Mad about Math! Bookmarks for Africa

2007-04-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

Each year our Buddies spend time doing some kind of fun project to let our friends in Uganda at the Otinowaa Orphange know we love them. This year we made bookmarks with math problems to practice with. There are over 80 orphans now in this orphage. We wish we could visit and get to know our friends in person!

Birthday Buddies; March Math Madness

2007-04-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

February was a time to celebrate birthdays - including Kelli's at Buckingham Buddies. March brought us our own version of March Madness - Math Madness that is! A team competition to put together our life sized tan-grams put us all to the test!

Passion - Hip Hop Happiness

2007-02-20T22:29:00.000-08:00

What is your passion? And - how do you express it? Stephanie & Carly LOVE Hip-Hop. And so do the Buddies as we follow our fearless leaders! Our favorite passions range from art, to sports, to God, to dance, to spending time with families - and much more. We thank you, God, for giving us the desires of our hearts!

Annual Spaghetti Dinner at Char's!

2007-02-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

Pink and pretty - hearts, candles, flowers and LOTS OF FOOD - both for our bellies and our brains! Our annual Big Buddy Valentine's dinner was another wonderful night - lots of fellowship and fun celebrating God's love for us and our love for each other.

All About Love! Valentine's Day at Buckingham

2007-02-20T22:14:00.000-08:00

Most girls love hearts, flowers, ribbons and bows - and CHOCOLATE!!! After learning about God's unconditional love for us, we shared "love letters" (hearts) with each other. Maybe someday we will find this heart folded up in a drawer or notebook just when we need to be reassured about how special we are to Him, to our Buddies, and to each other!

Pefecting Potatoes!

2007-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

This past week our ASB/MS students prepared "perfect potatoes " - using the baked skins to make delicious appetizers (that we ate!) and the main pototo to prepare a sensational potato casserole. Our casseroles were shared with a family recovering from chemotheraphy and another with family dealing with loss and grief.

During our sharing time this week our middle schoolers were introduced to the concept of "Humility". Our teen mentors shared a drama demonstrating what being humble means in today's world of a "me first" mentality. We know God calls us to love others and put their needs first before our own. We hope that this message is heard by those who participate in Buddies as well as those who are the recipeints of God's love through us.

There is so much pain and suffering in our midst. We are blessed to to be able to take a basic life skill such as food preparation and turn it into a way to bless families in need of love and encouragement. It is a humbling experience.

For those of you who are so generous in giving financial support to Buddies - please know that your gifts are shared in many ways. We need you, we are grateful to you and we love you!

Remembering Camp

2007-01-29T22:04:00.000-08:00

Last summer we hosted our first ASB Dazzling Day Camp. There were 20 attendees throughout the week at our Evergreen Ranch in Bend. We learned about becoming everlasting encouragers while experiencing the great outdoors in Bend. From creating cool crafts, to a visit to the Caves and a field trip to Crystal Peak Youth Ranch in Tumalo, to our great games day and campfire, camp was a dream come true for many.

Here are some memories from Markayla, a 6th grader at Cascade Middle School... "At camp I remember all the activities that I did with games and making stuff. The end was very fun when we played Capture the Flag and when we all went around the camp fire. We made tie-dye shirts and cool binders and also cool crosses. It was fun to get to go in the water!"

Why Do You Serve as a Big Buddy?

2007-01-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is my second year being a Big Buddy for the ASB program and I have LOVED every minute of it! It has definately taught me to open up and be more of a kid at heart, yet still be responsible with younger girls. I love meeting new people and the interaction that comes with it. I am so blessed to be in this amazing program and I encourage all girls who want to be in this growing experience to do it!!!

Kelli - Summit High School

First Meeting for 2007 - Buckingham

2007-01-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

Today was our first ASB meeting for Buckingham Elementary school. Besides snack time, sharing and the homework session we discussed character virtues chosen by our teens to focus on this year... humility, patience, gentleness, passion, faith, and love.

We had just three Little Buddies attend this week but I am sure that next week the numbers will double! Four out of the six teen volunteers were able to make it today so we were well beyond our 1-to-1 ratio for the first get together. We started making our new name badge necklaces out of macrame yarn and beads - each bead symbolizing the virtues listed above as well as those we serve in ASB - God, youth, families, community and the world! Can't wait until next week! I love these girls!!!

Introducing After School Buddies

2006-12-30T23:36:00.000-08:00

amazing student believers... serving God... youth... families...our community... and the world!

Participation in ASB helps young women and girls to

Experience unconditional love and acceptance
Learn to form healthy relationships with teens, with each other, and with adults
Understand that they can make a difference in the happiness of others – both here in Bend and even around the world.
Acquire and/or reinforce good study habits
Learn to communicate with confidence and respect
Develop coping skills to learn to deal with difficult situations
Learn to value healthy lives – making good choices that affect mind, body and soul
Understand the importance of personal gifts and talents
Learn to live with an attitude of gratitude
Learn to live as an everlasting encourager
Empower them to become all that God wants them to be.

2007 Elementary School Mentoring Program

Starting: Tuesday January 16th
Where: Buckingham School Library
Time: 3:30-5:15
Who: Fourth & Fifth Grade Girls
What: Students – Studying, Sharing, Serving!

Pairing up local high school girls with elementary students, this once-a-week program includes after-school tutoring, exercise/playtime, snacks, and craft/art/drama projects. Community outreach is also emphasized to share our love for others.

Students are paired up in 1-to-1 ratio of teen mentor to elementary student under the direction of 2 adult facilitators. The program is funded by local churches and other charitable sources. Participation in ASB is free of charge however donations are always welcome to offset costs of snacks and supplies.

We accept a maximum of 12 elementary students so contact us right away at afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com if you are interested in having your daughter participate in our program.

2007 Middle School Program - ASB/MS!

Our middle school program provides a fun and inspirational solution for the "early release Wednesday blues". Female students are paired up with female high school graduates and adult facilitators to encourage inter-generational support and communication. This three hour program includes a homework session, sharing & caring time, exercise/games and most importantly - cooking lessons - for a total mind, body & soul-stimulating afternoon retreat! Plus, students reap the rewards of blessing others as we share the food we prepare with less fortunate families!

Cooking time at ASB/MS! includes discussions about proper food handling and nutrition. We provide food to the Ronald McDonald House, Bend’s Bethlehem Inn, Family Kitchen and to others in need. It is our hope that students will learn important life skills while having fun in groups and at the same time serving others!

The suggested donation for the middle school program is $20 per month but studnets are welcome regardless of ability to pay.

Plans for 2007 are for this program to start January 24 at the Christian Life Center. Additional information regarding transportation of students from local middle schools will be available early in 2007. Twelve middle school students will be accepted into the program so early registration is suggested.

For further information, contact Charlene Schulz, Director of After School Buddies, at
afterschoolbuddies@gmail.com or call 541 385-5050.