PARENTS 4 LEARNING IN CHIPPEWA FALLS HOLDS “LEARNING PARTIES” THAT BRING TOGETHER KIDS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY.

Like the old adage says, it takes a village to raise a child. According to Sara Denrue, principal of Southview Elementary School in Chippewa Falls, “Connections to the community are so important for families and kids because without them we feel alone in the challenge of raising our children. When we are connected to others, we can learn from and teach each other so that our children have the best opportunities and experiences possible.” And it’s with this in mind that Chippewa County parents, schools, and businesses are banding together to create a strong village for area youth.

“It’s through relationships to others that we create a sense of being loved, a sense of belonging and purpose, which has a direct impact on the health and well-being of children, families, and the community in which they live,” says Tina Buhrow, executive director of Parents 4 Learning (P4L). Buhrow, along with Becky Gunderson, started P4L seven years ago in an effort to connect families – not just kids – in the area. She says that learning and growing together takes many forms – parent to child, parent to parent, parents to school and community – all of which are offered through P4L.

Parents 4 Learning is a nonprofit organization that offers everything from themed learning parties to art therapy for families in the Chippewa Falls school district. Learning parties are held on Saturdays and bring together parents, educators, and families to put a fun spin on learning and to make those valuable connections. The learning parties include a story time, snack time, a physical activity, and a hands-on learning opportunity. The added bonus: They’re absolutely free to families.

Art therapy is offered through P4L’s Parent-to-Parent Connection. Families spend time creating art together under the direction of a licensed art therapist, Trisha Lundin, and gain valuable insight into their own family dynamics. “Because the creative process and art making are so closely linked, metaphorically, to life itself, there is really no life skill that goes untouched,” Lundin says of the program. “What I think is most important is that Family Art Connection is so open that it really allows each family/individual to take what they need from it. As we engage in the creative process it really becomes a time for families and individuals to work on what they need at that time, and inevitably the result is always growth.” Mykle Buhrow, a 10 year old at Hillcrest Elementary School, sees the benefits at every art therapy meeting: “I feel good when we laugh and have fun with each other, and we watch each other grow each time we come to Parent-to-Parent.”

A PARTICIPANT IN THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY EXPLORER PROGRAM GETS HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE AT PMI, A STEEL FABRICATION BUSINESS IN BLOOMER.

Explorer Program

While Parents 4 Learning largely targets elementary school children, the Chippewa County Explorer Program is a new program designed to assist young adults (ages 12-20) in making more informed decisions about future careers. The program connects young people directly with area businesses in a fun and interactive learning environment. Companies such as Spectrum Industries and Superior Silica Sands have offered sessions on geology, information technology, product research and development, engineering in manufacturing, and marketing.

“One of the biggest benefits of Career Exploring is that the program encourages students to think about future careers while they are still in high school. A student may participate in an Exploring program, learn about a career, and decide to pursue it; or learn enough about the career to determine that it is not the right fit for them,” says Alyssa Kellagher, Exploring executive with the Chippewa Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America. “With either outcome, students are more prepared as they enter their career in an educational or vocational capacity after high school.”

“Partnering with parents and students to help students make career choices is a natural fit for us,” said Dave See, president of Spectrum Industries. “Our employees are so committed to the program that we have people from each area of the company volunteering to spend Monday evenings working with the students. We believe that this collaboration between educators, parents, students and businesses can truly promote great benefits for the whole community.”

For more information about these programs, visit  www.parents4learning.org and www.bsa-cvc.org/ExploringChippewaCounty.