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The Mentor Center

The 2006 Dinwiddie youth needs assessment documents the need for enhanced access to safe, supportive, and meaningful activities during out-of-school-time. One strategy for meeting this need is through availability of Educational Retreat Centers (ERC). 

An  Educational Retreat Center as defined in Dinwiddie County's Zoning Ordinance Sec. 22-1 is: "A building/complex of buildings and/or structure (s) that house an administrative office, temporary living quarters, dining facilities which provide cultural, recreational and educational programs on a short-term basis for small groups of people". 

RISKids.org pioneered the concept of ERC's in 1999, when we coined the term Mentor Center.  The idea originated from our research on the role of youth centered "third-places".  Through tremendous trial and error we have sharpened the Mentor Center concept

Currently we are in the process of acquiring, refurbishing and implementing a newer and more efficient Mentor Center where at-promise youth ages 10 – 18 can be matched with a mentor, be social and recreate. It is within this context that S.E.A.L.'s environmentally themed summer and after school programs are housed, our web presence and technology hub is maintained, and our out reach efforts originate.

Summer Curriculum

Summer S.E.A.L. is an eco-experiential, aquatic, leadership and stewardship adventure.  Youth will be exposed to and interact with a plethora of fun activities, "life" skills, community and personal enrichment projects, field trips, computer technology exploration and other experiences.  Want to know more..? / click here.

After School Curriculum

S.E.A.L After School is a 9-month program offered during the school year from 3:00pm to 7:00pm includes character, citizenship and career-themed activity plans that reinforce many of the skills, techniques and procedures taught in Summer S.E.A.L. Want to know more..? / click here.