Spring 2012 Snowball Weekends: April 13, 14, 15 and May 11, 12, 13

The Naperville Operation Snowball Chapter provides leadership programs in substance abuse prevention which help youth to enhance their self-esteem, develop responsible decision making skills, and create positive peer influence. The name originates from the idea that, "If I make a change in myself, then have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact on someone else, and the effect snowballs."

We offer two different Snow programs for youth in School Districts #203 and #204 – Snowball for high school students and Snowflurry for 4th and 5th grade students.

The Snow programs are unique because they include youth as the solution rather than the cause of the problem, thereby empowering them to care for one another, create, lead and evaluate the program's effectiveness.

The format of the Snow Programs involves large group presentations followed by small group discussions and activities. Drug free youth are paired with adults and work together to staff, plan and facilitate small groups during the events. The small groups serve as the participants’ place to personalize and process the large groups.  Participants’ parents are involved in the family portion of each event.

Each event is planned by a group of adult and teen directors.  The adult and teen directors work together to pick the themes, select the speakers for the event, and to recruit and train the staff. The adult staff and adult directors are drawn from all the programs sponsors plus many adults who volunteer their time (some of whom are former teen participants!).  

So what kind of student might want to attend a Snow event?  Any kind!  Whether a student is already a leader in their school, or someone shy who is just waiting to blossom, Snow can be a place for them.  Perhaps one of our teen participants at Snowball put it best when they said “Snow is about making healthy decisions and being supported the whole time!”

For more information about each program go to:
Snowball - our high school Snow program.
Snowflurry - our 4th-5th grade Snow program