If . . .

"What if our skates had rockets on them," asked a student riding in the van during one of my first seasons at DinoMights. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn't yet learned the art of conversing with elementary aged students. I just didn't understand the question. "I guess we would be pretty fast," I said with hesitation and confusion in my voice. He was pretty excited. . . about skates with rockets, and he seemed very satisfied with the conversation. Thinking as an adult, it just didn’t seem to matter. We can't have rockets on our skates so why even think about it. But I have thought about the question a lot since then, and I think that I'm starting to catch on to the magic of "if".

Now I am the one asking the "if" questions. I especially like asking the kids if they would rather have one thing or another. For example,

Scott: "If you could have any kind of car in the world what would it be?"
Kids: "Hummer"
Scott: "If you could go to the North Pole or the South Pole where would you go?"
Kids: "South Pole, because there's penguins"
Scott: "If you had to choose pepperoni pizza or sausage what would you choose?"
Kids: "Cheese."

"If" questions are all about dreams. They can be big or small; they can be about real or imaginary things. Having cheese pizza or rockets on hockey skates really represents an awe and wonder at the world, and it represents our great expectations of what we can and hope to experience.

Recently, I asked Tre, an 8th grader, "If you had to name the most important mentor or role model in your life who would you say?" He said, "Justin." Justin is one of the original DinoMights. He grew up playing hockey and going to camp just like Tre. Since graduating from high school he has become a DinoMights coach, and a well-mannered successful young man. In addition, He has given his time to be a mentor to Tre. Justin, like many grown up DinoMights, has testified to the importance of his coaches when he was young. Now he is that important person to someone else. When I told Justin what Tre had said, he was blown away. It is as if Tre was saying, "I dream to be like Justin."

Tre's answer gave me awe and wonder, it gave me great expectations and dreams for DinoMights. It makes me want to ask, "if?" What if one day a student will say that Tre is his or her most important mentor? What if more and more DinoMights' dreams can be reality? What if more and more DinoMights will become that which they are dreaming?

Hoping for Dreams to be Reality,

Scott Harman

This is an online version of the monthly support letter. If you would like to make an online contribution you may click here. If you would like to make comments on the letter or be added to the DinoMights' mailing list please e-mail scott@dinomights.com. Thanks!

Sandy and Joeny recently attended Horse Camp as a part of Park Avenue's Summer Day Camps. Here is what they had to say about their experiences.

Sandy Writes:

At Horse Camp I got to ride cool horses, even though it was really hot out! My horse was named magic and she was fun to ride. Horse camp was fantastic. I learned many new things about horses, got to met new people, and did Bible Study. The best part about Horse Camp was that I got to ride on horses for an hour and a half. The worst thing about Horse Camp was we had to clean the horses, because they had dirt mostly everywhere. I would go back there and ride the horses again or be a counselor.

Joeny Writes:

Horse Camp was awesome! I loved my horse. It was a girl and her name was magic. She is a Black Morabo Breed and she is 22 years old. Me and Sandy shared the same horse. We learned how to trot and to do show games. The best part about camp was grooming, saddling, and riding. The staff were pretty nice. I miss camp and I would definitely go back next year!

Hi, my name is Eric, one of your new program assistants. Looking at the pictures of past years might tell you different, but I have been blessed to help out as a volunteer coach for the past 4 years. I started as a tutor and coach for the mites. This last year was spent helping with the squirts a bit. It has been awesome to be a part. I look forward to serving the Dinomights full time.

A little about myself.....I am from Watertown, SD and have been living in the cities area for almost 7 years. In 2002, I graduated from the U of M in St. Paul with a degree in Environmental Horticulture. Since then, I have worked in a couple different churches (this was quite a change from golf courses), been involved in several mission trips, worked with a campus ministry, volunteered in youth ministry and drove school bus. Some of my hobbies include reading, guitar, hockey, golf, running and disc golf.

And....I think one of the best activities in MN is playing ice hockey outdoors on a 20 degree winter's day (if you agree, write me an email: eric@dinomights.com )

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24

Hi! I'd like to take the time to introduce myself to all of you. My name is Leah Engelhart and I am the new part-time Program Assistant. I honestly had never heard of Dinomights a year ago. I moved to the Central neighborhood last August, and was looking for a place to volunteer. Someone had told me about Dinomights and the positive impact they have had on so many youth. I began tutoring Lacy on Tuesdays and would never have imagined how many amazing relationships were established this past year. It is really powerful to be driving, walking, or biking through the neighborhood and know so many of the kids. Prior to working with Dinomights I worked in a Saint Paul Elementary School. I love working with urban youth and this transition worked out beautifully. I am definitely looking forward to this new endeavor.

I graduated from Bethel University in 2005. I grew up in Central Wisconsin, but I am in Minneapolis to stay! I enjoy so many things about this city. I love being outdoors, traveling, building relationships with people, spending time with family and friends, and living in community. If there is anything else you'd like to know about me, feel free to ask.

leah@dinomights.com

Nancy and Kathy showed great improvement on their reading assessments this spring and wished to express their gratitude to their tutor for taking them on weekly trips to the library last summer

Dear Carol,

Thank you for taking me and Kathy to the library in the summer and helping us know how to read books

Nancy

Dear Carol,

Thank you, Carol for going to the library lots of times with us.

Kathy