WHY WAS U-GROW ADVENTURES FOUNDED?

U-GROW ADVENTURES, INC. was founded in September 1997, because of the concern over the lack of positive values displayed by many elementary age children resulting in disrespect for both peers and authority, child and juvenile crime, gang membership, drug and alcohol abuse, and school truancy. Founder, Chad Mullin, saw the need for training and guidance of children to achieve positive self-esteem, successful family interaction, academic success, and appropriate peer interaction. He founded U-GROW ADVENTURES whose mission is to present and reinforce the values of kindness, respect, trust, and responsibility through diverse programs which compliment traditional education, the home, church, and community. The uniqueness of the program is "K9'S -4- KIDS" & "VERTICAL FUN". "K9's -4- KIDS" involves pet interaction with trained Labrador Retrievers. Children learn about kindness, trust, respect, and responsibility in relation to the training of the dogs and how to apply these values to their own lives. "VERTICALFUN" is an activity where children "climb to the top" on a 24-foot portable climbing wall utilizing an "auto-belay" system. Three routes with varying degrees of difficulty provide a challenge for the beginner to advanced climber. This wall offers a unique experience for children while providing an opportunity for development of positive self-esteem, self-confidence, and positive group interaction.

 ISSUES ADDRESSED:

Do these words concern you: Juvenile crime, gangs, drug and alcohol addiction, teen-age pregnancy, illiteracy, zero tolerance policy, and school dropout? If you say yes, please read on! In past decades the average American probably would not have felt the same alarm and concern as they do today about these issues. They are no longer problems that plague only ghettoes and inner city areas, but they have filtered into every American community including the elite suburbs. Teachers, law officials, and counselors who work with children daily will tell you that something has gone wrong. Schools are filled with problems because basic values are not evident in the lives of children. Either they do not learn the values at home or other influences are causing them to ignore the values they have been taught. More has to be done to instill and reinforce the values of kindness, respect, trust, and responsibility in our children and youth.

 Home, church, and school endeavor to give direction and build self-esteem and self-confidence in children's lives, but we as a country are seeing that these efforts alone are not enough. We as a society must stop focusing on the negative actions of our children and youth and work to find solutions to the existing and fast growing problems. Those who feel strongly that they must and can help to make a difference in the lives of children must take a step forward and put their ideas into action. That is what I have done as the founder of U-GROW ADVENTURES, a non-profit organization "helping to develop caring and responsible children".

U-Grow Adventures