passport for adventureCity of Salina
City Clerk's Office
P. O. Box 746
Salina, KS 67401
Dear Friends:
'PORT FOR ADVENTURE
% DIVISION OF THE ST. FRANCIS BOYS' HOMES
P.O. BOX 1148 TE LE PX ONE 913 8i 50541
SALINA, KANSAS 67401
October 6, 1981
Happy Birthday to us! Passport For Adventure is ten years old!
Experience has taught us much during those years, but, like a child of that
age, we are still seeking and learning ways in which to improve.
More than eleven hundred Kansas families have been served by
PFA since June 9, 1971, when the first bus load of excited campers left
Salina. That event in itself was a milestone, for years of dreaming and
planning had preceded it. The Rev. Kenneth Yates, then the Assistant
Director of the Homes, conceived and implemented the program. He also
oversaw its early struggles and growth, but by 1975 he was confident
enough about PFA's future to leave St. Francis.
Trial and error were our watchwords in the beginning. The
debriefing sessions required of all the "Chiefs" who led the children during
their trips to the wilderness were an invaluable tool. Each suggestion was
evaluated, and those with merit were incorporated into our program without
delay. Similarly, we learned to focus our attention on the problems which
the parents said caused them the most concern. Every child was inter-
viewed, and his or her comments were reviewed. This procedure is still
followed, for we will never stop trying to improve!
. Independent research studies were begun in 1973. Short-term
evaluations, based upon data collected six months after a child completed
Passport treatment, were initiated. These studies furnished information for
further program development, and provided a criterion by which children
could be selected for enrollment. Girls and boys who participated in
Passport were matched against those who were eligible to do so, but who,
for one reason or another, did not participate in the program. When the
first study was completed, we were elated to find that the Passport children
rated far better in many ways than did the youngsters in the control group.
How wonderful it was to learn that our efforts had not been in vain! And
just as wonderful is the fact that further studies have shown that we have
continued to achieve the same excellent results.
Page 2
In my opinion, participating in Passport cannot fail to broaden a
child's horizons, both literally and figuratively. The excitement and novelty
of traveling to new places will make a child more important to the classmates
left behind, and meeting new people and sharing adventures with them
cannot do other than bring a shy and insecure child out of his or her shell.
Best of all is the fact that Passport provides the most fun -filled
type of therapy that I know of. What child could resist group games,
singing around a campfire, exploring caves, or scaling a mountain --however
modest in size it might be. Activities are planned so that each child can
succeed in something, and praise is given for each child's accomplishments.
Even daily chores turn into games when the youngsters compete with one
another to do theirs rapidly and well.
We have received many notes from the children who have par-
ticipated in Passport. Some of them are funny, but all of them are
touching, and could serve as glowing testimonials for the program. Another
sort of testimonial, although not openly expressed, is given to PFA by the
young group workers who take the children camping. Taking full
responsibility for the well-being of a dozen kids who are strangers to you
and to one another is no small job. They must be fed, sheltered, taught
and counseled; all at the same time. In addition, the spirits of those who
are homesick must be lifted, little differences must be smoothed over, and
firm but almost invisible discipline must be maintained. Many of these young
people, whose salaries are low, return to PFA for session after session,
because they find the work so rewarding. The "Chiefs" are the backbone of
Passport For Adventure, and without them we would not be here today.
Semiannual letters usually serve to outline our activities of the
previous six months. I thought this one, which marks the completion of our
first decade, might be a bit different, since you are already familiar with
our work. I can assure you, however, that our appreciation of your
support has not changed a bit. Now that Father Yates has returned to St.
Francis as Executive Director, we look forward to the future with heightened
enthusiasm. We hope that you share that enthusiasm, and that your interest
in Passport For Adventure will continue for many years to come!
Sincerely,
dC4 rn
John Mag 're
Director
JM:evc