Life Enrichment Alternative Programming
The L.E.A.P. initiative was launched in July 2011 to give all youth, served by OCH, the opportunity to participate in activities within their community, that they choose to pursue. The L.E.A.P. program acts as an additional means to the healing process, but is driven by the youth from the start and they are held accountable for their participation throughout the program.
Once the youth identify an activity they want to pursue, the L.E.A.P. team work diligently to find a business, organization or individual in the community that matches the interests of the youth and they then become a L.E.A.P. Community Provider.
L.E.A.P. is committed to OCH’s philosophy of “One Child, One Dream” and works to ensure that each youth has access to their passions and is offered experiences to allow them to discover new ones.
Another component of the L.E.A.P. program serves as a tool to help strengthen the family bond between foster family and child and allows OUR youth to create family memories to hold onto. This is done by offering Expression Days and events for our families to enjoy together without a financial burden.
For more information or to see how you can become involved with L.E.A.P., please email leap@ourchildrenshomestead.org or call Jacqueline Stogsdill at 630.369.0004 Ext. 123
Mission
Life Enrichment Alternative Programming (L.E.A.P.) is committed to OCH’s philosophy of “One Child, One Dream.” L.E.A.P. demonstrates its commitment by providing healing to uniquely challenged youth through positive forms of physical, mental and emotional release. This is accomplished by connecting them to their community and engaging them in activities tailored to their interests while supporting them in building the social and coping skills necessary to lead a positive and healthy life.
Community Providers
Please help us in acknowledging our L.E.A.P. Community Providers! These providers donate their time and resources to Foster and Adoptive youth, OUR youth, in their community. It takes people like these to help OUR youth understand that they deserve and belong. If you would like to take your part in our state’s responsibility to OUR youth, email leap@ourchildrenshomestead.org today!
Please help us in acknowledging our L.E.A.P. Community Providers! These providers donate their time and resources to Foster and Adoptive youth, OUR youth, in their community. It takes people like these to help OUR youth understand that they deserve and belong. If you would like to take your part in our state’s responsibility to OUR youth, email leap@ourchildrenshomestead.org today!
S.no |
Names |
Website |
1 |
Ama Dance and music |
|
2 |
American Music World |
|
3 |
Chang Brother's Taekwondo |
|
4 |
Chicago Transformers |
|
5 |
Community School of the Arts- Pierce chapel |
|
6 |
Cosley Zoo |
|
7 |
Definitive Martial Arts |
|
8 |
Double J. Riding Club |
|
9 |
Elite Academy of Dance |
|
10 |
Focus Martial Arts |
|
11 |
Genoa Park District |
|
12 |
Historical Fishing Display |
|
13 |
Illinois Gators |
|
14 |
Kidron Music |
|
15 |
Kim's Black Belt Academy |
|
16 |
Millennium Dance Center |
|
17 |
MMA STOP Fitness |
|
18 |
Moves Dance Studio |
|
19 |
Naperville Riding Center |
|
20 |
Rockford Dance Company |
|
21 |
Rockford Karate Club |
|
22 |
Royal Family Kids - Kane County |
|
23 |
Sunset Knoll Riding Academy |
|
24 |
The School of Performing Arts |
|
25 |
TM Martial Arts |
|
26 |
Lonzcha |
|
27 |
X3 Performing Arts Academy |
|
Expression Days/Events
L.E.A.P. hosts expression days to offer OUR youth a chance to explore a new activity they may have not otherwise had the chance to experience. Foster parents and their biological children attend the events together with their foster brothers/sisters to help strengthen the bond between bio and foster youth. Expression days offer our foster parents a chance to have a fun day with their youth without the financial burden.
If you own a business or have a passion that you would like to share with our foster families, please contact us.
Dinner and Professional Dance Show
L.E.A.P. hosted a group of 25 people in Chicago, IL for dinner and a professional dance performance. The group met in a private rented room for music, dinner, conversation and some dancing followed by viewing a performance by the Chicago Dance Crash Co. This event was a result of a donor seeing a performance by our OCH L.E.A.P. dancers in Dec 2010 and wanting to reward them by donating funds for the Director to be able to take them to a professional show.
Six Flags Great America “Dance Fest”
L.E.A.P. Director worked with OCH L.E.A.P. dancers to prepare them for their performance at Great America in Gurnee, IL. The event was organized for the dancers to be transported together for their early afternoon performance. After an amazing performance, the dancers enjoyed lunch and a day of fun at Six Flags Great America.
“Overcoming Fears and Team Building”
L.E.A.P. hosted a group of 20 at the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines, IL. The group participated in rock climbing followed by lunch with music and conversation. After lunch, the group took a High Ropes Course Team Challenge. Individuals were harnessed and challenged to complete a course 25ft in the air. In both the rock climbing and high ropes course, several individuals overcame fears of height and trusting others.
Woodstock Opera House “Hope Through Dance”
L.E.A.P. dancers were invited to perform at the Woodstock Opera House for the annual “Hope Through Dance” benefit. The benefit included several small dance performances and is held annually to raise awareness for mental illness and suicide. The dancers had the chance to experience a full dressing room, stage, lights and balconied audience while having the privilege of sharing the stage with several professional dancers.
Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm “Pumpkin Fest”
L.E.A.P. hosted a Fall Fun Day at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm for OCH families out of our Naperville, IL office. The families enjoyed lunch together followed by wagon rides, 20acres of corn maze, a haunted house, petting zoo, games and much more!
Lockwood Park “Loctoberfest”
L.E.A.P. offered an opportunity for our OCH families residing in the Rockford, IL area a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Fall at Lockwood Park. There were several games, live music performances, food, face-painting, hay rides and much more. The families took a 30minute wagon ride far into the woods that opened up into a field where they were able to pick their pumpkins right off the vine.
Expression and Connection Through Dance/ OCH Holiday Party
L.E.A.P. hosted 78 OCH Family members for the 2011 OCH Holiday Party at Esteban’s in Naperville, IL. The families were lead in some short dance activities, conversed over lunch and holiday treats, and took family photos with Santa next to the Christmas tree. Youth and adults alike tested their creative abilities at a provided holiday craft table.
L.E.A.P. hosts expression days to offer OUR youth a chance to explore a new activity they may have not otherwise had the chance to experience. Foster parents and their biological children attend the events together with their foster brothers/sisters to help strengthen the bond between bio and foster youth. Expression days offer our foster parents a chance to have a fun day with their youth without the financial burden.
If you own a business or have a passion that you would like to share with our foster families, please contact us.
Dinner and Professional Dance Show
L.E.A.P. hosted a group of 25 people in Chicago, IL for dinner and a professional dance performance. The group met in a private rented room for music, dinner, conversation and some dancing followed by viewing a performance by the Chicago Dance Crash Co. This event was a result of a donor seeing a performance by our OCH L.E.A.P. dancers in Dec 2010 and wanting to reward them by donating funds for the Director to be able to take them to a professional show.
Six Flags Great America “Dance Fest”
L.E.A.P. Director worked with OCH L.E.A.P. dancers to prepare them for their performance at Great America in Gurnee, IL. The event was organized for the dancers to be transported together for their early afternoon performance. After an amazing performance, the dancers enjoyed lunch and a day of fun at Six Flags Great America.
“Overcoming Fears and Team Building”
L.E.A.P. hosted a group of 20 at the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines, IL. The group participated in rock climbing followed by lunch with music and conversation. After lunch, the group took a High Ropes Course Team Challenge. Individuals were harnessed and challenged to complete a course 25ft in the air. In both the rock climbing and high ropes course, several individuals overcame fears of height and trusting others.
Woodstock Opera House “Hope Through Dance”
L.E.A.P. dancers were invited to perform at the Woodstock Opera House for the annual “Hope Through Dance” benefit. The benefit included several small dance performances and is held annually to raise awareness for mental illness and suicide. The dancers had the chance to experience a full dressing room, stage, lights and balconied audience while having the privilege of sharing the stage with several professional dancers.
Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm “Pumpkin Fest”
L.E.A.P. hosted a Fall Fun Day at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm for OCH families out of our Naperville, IL office. The families enjoyed lunch together followed by wagon rides, 20acres of corn maze, a haunted house, petting zoo, games and much more!
Lockwood Park “Loctoberfest”
L.E.A.P. offered an opportunity for our OCH families residing in the Rockford, IL area a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Fall at Lockwood Park. There were several games, live music performances, food, face-painting, hay rides and much more. The families took a 30minute wagon ride far into the woods that opened up into a field where they were able to pick their pumpkins right off the vine.
Expression and Connection Through Dance/ OCH Holiday Party
L.E.A.P. hosted 78 OCH Family members for the 2011 OCH Holiday Party at Esteban’s in Naperville, IL. The families were lead in some short dance activities, conversed over lunch and holiday treats, and took family photos with Santa next to the Christmas tree. Youth and adults alike tested their creative abilities at a provided holiday craft table.