Prestige Club Hoot Camp A Great Success

The first seven week Hoot Camp which partnered with FISP is now finished. It took two years of struggle to get it in the schools. Raising the money was one of the obstacles along the way.

We went to the Sheriff’s Office asking for funds to hire the teachers and the director to write the program. The Sheriff approved the grant for $10,000.00 and then it had to be approved by the Broward County Commissioners. We finally was successful .

We decided which two schools to start the program and Dania Elementary and Collins Elementary won out. The principals wanted the program after school, however we wanted it to be during school hours where it was mandated. It was a struggle to get it but they finally approved on Thursday and Friday’s from 1:00 to 2:00.

We were targeting the fifth graders before they go to middle school. Each week was a different topic. We taught them Anti Bullying, Anti Drugs, Anger Management, Solving Problems, How to Get Help and many more wonderful lessons. Fisp interviewed the teachers and we were on our way.

The opening ceremony in the school there was a small luncheon for dignitaries. The Sheriff, the Police Chief, City Commissioners, Donna Korn from Broward School Board and even the School Superintendent attended. Prestige Board Members Wayne Eisen, Johnnine Porter, Ed Hickey, Jeanntte Smith, Jackie Rosen, Jasmine Porter, Vic Thompson, CEO Polly Wilkie and President Stan Bostic all attended the ceremony. Pictures by Steve Feldman

The last week of the Hoot Camp 93 children were bused in limo buses to the Inverrary Country Club a new member. Fred the owner of catering treated the children to a hot three course meal. The room was decorated lovely with even twinkle lights and chair covers. The children had never seen a limo bus or a place like the Country Club. Our member Associated Limo furnished the buses and Steve Feldman drove one for us.

We collected 100 ties and taught them along with Mr. Mouse how to tie ties. Fifteen Board Members came to help and sat with the kids. Many did not know what silverware was and had not eaten on china plates. One small child did not know how to cut meat she had never had any meat or chicken before.

The children learned manners, how to set a table, and how to tie a tie. We had the kids sign a card and gave all the ties to Board Member Joanne Miner to take to her church in Haiti from the kids.

At graduation we gave out the awards. Six girls one from each class was given a Pandora Bracelet with our mascot of the owl. The six boys will go in a limo with six Board Members to a VIP Marlins game. Our Board Member Sue Freedman will have a tour planned for them and once again Dex Imaging Jason Herring bought the tickets for the kids.

If you will remember for our education program Joanne Miner made an Owl Logo for the Hoot Camp Program and we did that so the kids would not be bullied about going to classes. Now everyone wants to go to Hoot Camp. The schools are writing letters to the Sheriff how wonderful the program is. Twenty schools now want it, however we do not have funding . The City of Dania wants it in three schools next year and Commissioner Bobbie Grace said if we will commit to doing it again she will find the funding for us.