What happens when curiosity meets opportunity? A group of Orchard Place Residential Campus youth found out by taking a trip downtown to the Des Moines Science Center. With giggles and interest in the wonders around them, they showed off their progress from treatment at Orchard Place. “It was an opportunity for them to practice good social skills and making safe choices, which is a big deal for them to practice off campus,” explained Owen Hoff, an Aliber House Mentor Milieu Treatment Counselor. “They got to try a dinosaur flight simulation, make paper boats with sails, and play with paper rockets and big contraptions. I would say that overall, they learned about physics and biology.”
Opportunities like this are made possible through the Passport to Culture funds from the BRAVO Greater Des Moines Regional Arts Council. They provide significant funding and support that maximizes the impact of arts, culture, and heritage on regional priorities. “I think it is beneficial for the children of Orchard Place,” shared Grace Krommenhoek, Activities Director at the Residential Campus. “They come from various towns and cities across Iowa and this allows them an opportunity to discover and learn about different cultures, ethnicities, and heritages that they may not experience in everyday life.”
Krommenhoek said the BRAVO funds also give the children opportunities for education through self-expression and creative arts. One youth even went as far as saying it felt rewarding. Both Hoff and Krommenhoek agree that these trips provide the children with a strong sense of accomplishment. “Lots of smiles, wide eyes of wonder and curiosity, and positive words were shared,” said Hoff. “When I asked one of the kids what it was like for them, they said that it was very fun, and they felt proud to talk about it later on.”
You can provide support for Orchard Place youth just like the BRAVO Greater Des Moines Regional Arts Council. Learn how to support the Orchard Place mission of providing a safe environment for children and their families to heal, find hope, be empowered, and build resilience to overcome mental health adversity here.
