A Rocksolid Week

By: Leah Shepherd

While the sound of the school bell signifies the end of the day, at Rocksolid, it's just the beginning!

Every weekday, our volunteers eagerly await the arrival of our teens so we can have fun and create lasting memories. Our incredible staff member, Shannon, works diligently to craft exciting schedules of activities for each week at Rocksolid. She says, "I open my Mary Poppins carpet bag and start pulling together activities! I like to maintain a good mix of different things... I also take into consideration special requests and feedback from past experiences."

When asked, "What does a week look like, what would you say?" Shannon replied, "Each day, teens come in after school, stow their belongings, and enjoy a delicious, healthy snack, such as a sandwich with fresh fruit... After everyone has arrived and had a snack, we engage in an organized activity or game. We offer a wide variety of activities and learning opportunities, including fun cooperative team-building games, cooking classes, artistic activities, career exploration, cultural immersion, community service activities, financial literacy, and more."

Rocksolid was designed to provide a safe place for teens to hang out after school, with having fun as the bonus, all thanks to Shannon's creative ideas! Not only that, Shannon goes on to explain that her goal in planning activities is to "improve their interpersonal skills and relationships, increase their self-confidence, and help them develop new life skills and interests." She continues, "Our desire is to give teens a chance to explore new and exciting opportunities, fostering independence and teamwork in a mentoring environment."

When the activities conclude, the rewarding part is not over yet. Shannon describes how much she enjoys hearing reflections on the activities and what teens would like to try next time. She calls it "a humbling experience."

Check out what a week looks like by following along on our Instagram and Facebook pages!