Campers get high on being substance-free at Youth to Youth Conference

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 7/31/14

In 1984 Bob Houghtaling, the director of the East Greenwich Drug Program, traveled with a few staff and children to Ohio for his first Youth to Youth Conference.

Now 30 years later, Houghtaling …

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Campers get high on being substance-free at Youth to Youth Conference

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In 1984 Bob Houghtaling, the director of the East Greenwich Drug Program, traveled with a few staff and children to Ohio for his first Youth to Youth Conference.

Now 30 years later, Houghtaling had nearly 450 campers, staff and speakers gathered at the University of Rhode Island for the state’s 25th Youth to Youth Conference.

The Youth to Youth Conferences began in Ohio in 1982 as a drug prevention and leadership community initiative for children 13 to 18 years old. Youth to Youth has grown to both national and international levels servicing children from all over the world.

Houghtaling said, “Myself and everyone who went out to Ohio fell in love with the program. We realized there are so many children we can help right here in Rhode Island, so we began our own conference.”

He assures “conference” doesn’t mean long boring lectures, but rather the campers are having an engaging experience that equips them with leadership skills to stay substance-free. On coming to the camp, all participants must agree to be substance-free, refraining from drugs and alcohol. The camp costs $425, but most campers attend on scholarships provided by municipalities. They reside in URI dorms for the camp.

“Information is presented in a fun, creative way,” Houghtaling said. “Our speakers are comedic, but also motivational. We want these kids to have experiences that integrate information rather than just throwing them a bunch of information. They receive and retain better that way. They come to us wanting to learn about themselves, how to help their communities and make change. They leave wanting to make an impact on the world.”

Although students can choose different classes, from de-stressing, highway safety to informational classes on substance abuse, campers also participate in sports tournaments, obstacle courses, small group sessions and, on the last night, a dance.

Professionals not only teach campers but also get them comfortable with authority figures. Steve Ranch and Humberto Montalban, both School Resource Officers for the East Greenwich school system, taught a class on highway safety. Both men were Warwick Police officers for more than 20 years. Their class focused on texting and driving, seatbelts and how to interact with officers. The class was an open forum, and campers were able to ask the officers anything.

“These kids are ranting and raving about all the fun they are having. We volunteered pretty spur of the moment, but it has been fantastic,” Ranch said.

“We want to help not just our own kids,” Montalban said, “but we get to help people from all over the country.”

Houghtaling said, “We inoculate these kids with the realization that the world is not as limited as it may sometimes appear to be. We show them the possibilities that are awaiting them.”

The conference began on Sunday and ended Wednesday, but in only four days the campers create strong bonds not only with the other teenagers, but also the staff who become mentors, role models and resources for support.

“On the last day we always leave crying,” Selina Figueroa, a fourth time camper and Pilgrim High School student said.

She and her friend, Katelyn Medeiros, also a Pilgrim student, explained that friends are made quickly at Youth to Youth.

Medeiros said, “It’s amazing how 400 people can become so close in four days. You make a family here. I still talk to people I met from the first time I came to this camp. This camp helped me become more outgoing in everything.”

“You learn a lot, too, so you have the knowledge to tell your friends,” Figueroa said.

The girls said that the de-stressing class was their favorite, but they were really looking forward to the dance Tuesday night.

Rob Lindberg went to Youth to Youth himself when he was younger and now volunteers his time as a staff member for the four days.

“I think it is a testament to this program that we can put 400 people in a room, and when we have a guest speaker you can watch all 400 heads follow them with barely any side conversations.”

Lindberg said that one of the reasons campers continue to come back to Youth to Youth every year is that within the small groups children are making bonds with not only campers but the staff.

He mentioned that campers he had in previous years always seek him out to catch up or to ask his opinion on things. Everything within the groups is said in confidence and there is an understood confidentiality. This allows campers to talk about real problems without the fear of judgment.

“These kids can see they are not alone. Look, here is 400 other people who think like you. These are all teens who want to go somewhere in their life,” Lindberg said. “This camp is one of those things you never know what it is like until you do it. The kids are allowed to be themselves, and they take advantage of that.”

Houghtaling said, “Youth to Youth never gets old. It is like an instrument. There are only so many notes you can play, but think of all the different songs you could play. We are always getting bigger, we have new kids, new volunteers, new speakers. Every year it is exciting.”

For more information on the Youth to Youth Conference visit their webpage at www.youthtoyouth.net or the East Greenwich Academy Foundation at www.egacademyfoundation.org/

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