BTO Kicks Off a New Year of Connection, Leadership, and Fun!
Beat the Odds (BTO) is officially back, and we kicked off the new program year with an evening filled with connection, laughter, learning, and plenty of fun!
Our BTO Program Coordinators and youth helped lead the kickoff by introducing families and participants to BTO and sharing what the program is all about. Youth had the opportunity to talk about their experiences, connect with new participants, and get excited about the year ahead.
We also took some time to check in with ourselves through a
“How Are You Feeling?” activity, giving youth, parents, and staff a chance to reflect, share, and connect with one another. It was a simple way to start the year by recognizing the importance of checking in with ourselves and the people around us.
The fun continued with a
Let’s Talk Risk memory game, where youth and parents learned more about problem gambling prevention while putting their memory skills to the test. The activity created plenty of laughs and friendly competition while making an important prevention topic engaging and approachable.
Of course, no kickoff would be complete without food! Everyone enjoyed pizza, cookies, and time to simply relax and spend time together. Parents and youth had the opportunity to connect with one another outside of the usual program activities, and our Therapeutic Mentors joined in on the fun too!
It was wonderful to see everyone laughing, participating, and enjoying the evening together. The kickoff was a great reminder that BTO is more than just a program—it is a space where young people can
connect with their community, build connections, learn life skills, explore career paths, advocate for their communities, and have fun along the way.
We are excited for everything this new BTO year has in store and can't wait to see what our youth leaders accomplish!
