2016 has come to The P.L.A.C.E. and with it, each of our Tribal youthmembers have set goals for the coming year. They varied, with some setting very ambitious goals while others have set out to achieve goals that will help them become better people and get in better shape.

Our “Get Native” program is getting  the New Year started off right with their activities for this month including:

• Potawatomi language instruction and a talking circle where the Tribal youth discuss things that can help them grow in the community.
• We continued our lessons on other tribal nations, with the youth learning about the northern plains tribes, southwestern tribes and the plateau nations.

The Tribal youth also have the entire month of January to complete their team building exercises. In week one they will participate in a fort construction project with our Kaboom! Imagination Playground equipment. In week two they’ll get a little more active in team building by a week’s worth of dodgeball. In the third week, they’ll take part in our “Sweep your Teepee” Program, which teaches the youth how to break down barriers and live in a diverse society. To close out the month we’ll work on the Birthday Game which teaches them how to use non – verbal communication.

The P.L.A.C.E. may never be quieter than in final week of January!

With New Year’s resolutions fresh in our minds, we’ll also be cranking up a new “Lose it with a Deck of Cards” Fitness Program. It consists of the following challenges:

• Upper Body Build: Any time a youth picks a card with a heart, they’ll do the number of pushups (or any upper body movement) that is on the card.
• Core Strength: Anyone who picks a card with a spade will do sit ups.
• Lower Body Build: Any diamond card sends the youth on a set of squats (or any lower movement).
• Cardio Endurance: Clubs mean jumping jacks at the P.L.A.C.E.!
• Jokers are the worst: A one mile run around the gym floor is required when you draw the joker!

Amongst all that we’ve got an ongoing Jenga Tournament as well as our world famous karaoke contest from studio K-P.LA.C.E. taking place on Jan. 15, 2016. If you would like to learn more about FireLodge Tribal Youth Program or the P.L.A.C.E., please contact me at dgreene@potawatomi.org.