THE PROBLEM
Today our 12 - 15 year old boys are old enough to stay at home unsupervised during the summer months, yet they are to young for many entry level jobs. So what do they do with their time? How are they learning to become a man? Who is training them to be a worker and a leader? Our Culture used to impart servant leadership, work ethic and a sense of destiny for boys coming of age, throug
h opportunities in farm work, family business, and young apprenticeship programs. Those opportunities are not as available in today's society. THE SOLUTION
The Traverse Life Center is an organization that is dedicated to the reduction of family breakdown and poverty in our community. Our core values state that all people are designed and gifted to make a positive contribution in this world. TLC attacks the problem of family breakdown and poverty in unique ways. One of the unique ways is a summer day camp for boys ages 12 - 15 called: "Life Works." Life Works is a new initiative by TLC that is designed to attack family breakdown by imparting servant leadership, work ethic and a sense of destiny for boys coming of age. We designed Life Works to provide a day camp 5 days a week, for eight weeks during the summer; where they can learn skills and complete work projects for those in need, while earning currency within the system. At the end of a specified time, they can use their currency to purchase items at auction. Through providing entry level economic opportunities, interactive, guided lessons and a healthy dose of fun, boys will learn the power of work and the pride of living as a producer, not just a consumer.
