Middle School Wise Youth
Fridays, 3:30 - 5:30pm
at Oneida Nation Turtle School - small gym
Rides home available to Green Bay & Oneida
About Middle School Wise Youth
Wise Youth is a group of forward-thinking, high-energy youth committed to helping & changing their community!
Click on the flyer for the the exact meeting dates
and
For the downloadable/printable poster and permission slip.
Accessibility
WWGP is committed to recognizing the needs of the youth we serve, and removing as many barriers to participation as possible:
- Stability: Wise Youth group meets every Friday during the school year, with consistent staff and format. Many of our youth experience instability in other areas of their lives, some live or stay with a variety of relatives, some have transferred between public and Tribal school, and some lack reliable adult supervision at home. Wise Youth Group serves as a constant in their lives, a safe and supportive environment in which to begin their weekends. WWGP staff and interns attend dependably to build healthy, adult mentor relationships with the youth week after week.
- Time: Recognizing the importance of well-rounded young people, the middle school group meets on Fridays, so that students may still participate in school athletics and clubs Monday-Thursday. Historically, Wise Youth met on Thursday nights. After switching to Fridays, attendance more than doubled.
- Transportation: All students are eligible for a free ride home after group. Last year, only 3% of Wise Youth were confident that they would be able to attend group without the rides donated by Oneida Transit and provided by WWGP staff and interns.
- Meals: A meal is also served at each meeting, following cultural norms. Last year, 74% of students reported that the food served at Wise Youth is their primary meal on Friday evenings.
Impact of the program
In 2013, middle school Wise Youth was surveyed about their impressions. Over half reported that Wise Youth helps them watch comments, bully less, and be more respectful at school. Many stated that they were better able to handle conflicts with their families. Students also stated that Wise Youth makes them more confident and sure of themselves—“I’m a lot more braver, a leader not a follower” as one student noted. Meeting other people and gaining education on various topics were the top two reasons that students reported coming to Wise Youth group.
“To learn new things”
“Learn what to do in a hard time”
“To prevent violence and other negative stuff”
“To learn how to prevent certain things like teen pregnancy or abuse”
“To help the community”
“Fun place and safe place to be”
“I can be myself around people here”
“New experience”
“Be part of something awesome”
“To help me be a better person”
“Meet new people”
“To connect to people more“