Fifth Graders Grow Through Rotary Young Men in Action Program

Hathaway Elementary School fifth grade boys are provided an opportunity to develop new life skills as a part of the annual Young Men in Action (YMIA) program. 

Young Men in Action, sponsored and staffed by the Camas-Washougal Rotary Club, strives to promote positive behaviors by leading youth from problem behaviors.  The program allows boys an opportunity to interact with peers who are not in their circle of friends and focuses on development of life skills such as friendship, health, decision making, hygiene, money management, careers and manners, while being fun and age-appropriate.

“The program helps to demonstrate to the boys that they have choices in how they react to others and to situations,” said Rotary member and YMIA leader and mentor Blaine Peterson. “The mentors have had to make choices.  We made the right ones for us and now we have fulfilling and successful lives, and they too have the opportunity to make the right choices for themselves.” 

The boys and their male mentors meet for 2 hours and concentrated on a different topic weekly for seven weeks. The curriculum included a field trips to such places such as the Washougal Fire Department and in-classroom instruction and conversations about mature behavior and choices.

“We are getting the chance to do things that we might not do until later in life,” Said fifth grader Evan Schipull.  “We are getting a jump start on learning things and experiences.” 

A recent field trip was to Columbia Ridge Senior Living in Washougal where the boys and mentors sat down to a three course meal to practice dining etiquette and good manners.

“I really enjoy the interaction with the kids,” said YMIA mentor, Larry Keister.  “I am so impressed with their willingness to learn and their enthusiasm.”

“We are learning about how we choose to grow up and how to get to the place we want to be in life,” said fifth grader Jose Alvarez-Cruze.  “We are getting to experience real life things now to help us prepare for the future.”  Alvarez’s favorite activity was going to the fire station.

“I like the program.  It is fun,” said fifth grader student Gavin Dowell.  “We get to have fun learning things that will benefit us in life like how to tie a tie and good manners.”