John Lee, representing Catoosa Prevention Initiative, judged the 8th grade end of year projects at Lakeview Middle School.  The students were separated into groups of 5 - 6 and given the task of building a shelter using only newspaper and masking tape.  It had to be free standing and have a roof for cover.  John Lee was happy to report everyone passed the test with an A.  He was also allowed to speak with the students on how to handle stress and their choices on how to deal with stress.  He also took the opportunity to talk to the students about how the Dual County Defenders and how to get involved with the group.

New Dual County Defender Officers Elected and Summer Events

As the summer quickly approaches, the fiscal year for the Dual County Defenders is drawing to an end. At the May meeting new officers were elected.

 Join us in recognizing our incoming officers - Michelle Lin (Chairman), Manda Starr (Vice-Chairman), Dawson Norfolk (Historian), and Christian Chadwick (Treasurer). The group has a lot of activities planned, and the newly elected officers will really have their work cut out for them.

This summer will be busy for the Defenders.  Several members of the group are headed to Georgia Teen Institute  - GTI (a youth leadership conference) in Oxford, GA during the week of June 15th.  See the article below for more details on GTI.  

A big kick-off meeting will be held at Superfly in Chattanooga on June 27th, expectations for the upcoming year will be discussed.  Also, a work week is scheduled for July 20-24 to plan for Freeze Out (our fun activity program for elementary schools). 

Our first meeting of the new fiscal year will be held on September 8th, at 6:30pm at the Catoosa Learning Center.  If you know a teenager who would like to get involved, contact John Lee at [email protected].

Michelle Lin- Chairman	Manda Starr - Vice-Chairman
Dawson Norfolk- Historian	Christian Chadwick- Treasurer

Georgia Teen Institute

by Chan Oh, CaPI Summer Intern

 Georgia Teen Institute is a summer camp that is held on the Oxford campus of Emory-Oxford College. Teens from all over the state of Georgia come together for a total of three days in order to plan a project for the upcoming year in their local communities with the assistance of Youth and College age staff members. From GTI, the teams start to learn how to plan a big project with their respective groups and to implement the projects upon return to their community. As someone who has been to GTI as a youth participant, Youth Staff member, and this upcoming month as an adult advisor, I believe that this camp helps empower teens to try to make a real change and difference in their communities.

Preventing Adolescent Binge Drinking
http://www.youthbingedrinking.org/you/parents.php 
 Parents or caregivers are the most influential members of a child's life. The actions you take on the use of alcohol and control of alcohol availability in your home serve as a role model for your child. Any expectations that your child develops in relation to drinking behaviors are influenced by the norms you establish and the communication you have with your child. Studies show that children, whose parents play an active role in their lives, talk openly with them, attend school events, and listen to their problems, are less likely to drink or smoke. 

Common Myth About Alcohol

Myth:  My son or daughter knows everything about drinking, so we don't need to talk about it.

Fact:  Many teenagers have dangerous misconceptions about alcohol-for example, they don't realize that wine coolers have the same alcohol content as a shot of distilled spirits, or they think they can sober up by drinking coffee or getting fresh air

2015 Teen Maze

Mark your calendars!  The 2015 Teen Maze will be held in September this year.  The dates are the 21st to 24th at The Colonnade in Ringgold.  Over 300 volunteers are needed to make the event happen. Details will follow as the date approaches.