Tournament details:
DinoMights
Impact
The impact of DinoMights is best described in the students' own words. Erica Rhodes, DinoMights alumni and graduate of Minneapolis Edison High School, says this about being a DinoMight, "It helped me to learn more about myself and grow closer in my faith in Jesus Christ. This program taught me never to give up what I believe, and a goal can never get set too high." Erica is just one example of the many young people whose lives have been touched.
Programs
The four components of DinoMights' mission statement make the acronym PASS. DinoMights aims to develop Physical, Academic, Social and Spiritual excellence in our urban youth.
Many current DinoMights hockey players never imagined playing outside on frozen ponds in the Minnesota winter. In fact, some who had recently moved from Mexico, had never even seen snow! Hockey is a great way for urban youth to be equipped to develop physical excellence.
Each year players who participate are assessed in their hockey skills as a measure of physical health, and they consistently show improvement over the course of each season.
As a further measure, 45+ DinoMights have gone on to play high school hockey, including Minnehaha Academy 2012-13 Captain Jacob Eggers. More importantly, students build self-confidence. One seven year old girl explained the impact of hockey this way, "I feel proud, because people tell me I do good."
Programs for Physical Excellence
One of the most common things that the students say about DinoMights is that it helps them make friends. What is really incredible is that they make friends across ethnic and economic boundaries that usually keep people from being friends.
Urban youth are equipped to develop social excellence through relationship building and service projects. The team environment provides mentor relationships with coaches, and a positive place to learn how to interact with peers in a diverse setting.
Each spring DinoMights serve their community by teaching First Graders at Richard Green Elementary School and Andersen Elementary School how to skate in The Greg Carroll Learn 2 Skate program.
About 10% of DinoMights' volunteers are former participants. One DinoMight put it this way, "I have made a lot of friends on the DinoMight team and it has helped me motivate others like when we taught those kids to skate."
Programs for Social Excellence
DinoMights Tutoring exists to equip students with skills to learn and achieve academic excellence and a vision for the importance and future of their education.
Part of the original vision for DinoMights was to walk alongside students from early elementary all the way to high school graduation. We are pleased to report that DinoMights participants are reaching graduation age, and graduating!
Since 1995, 86% of all Dino participants have graduated on time!
This is compared to an average of less than 60% over the same time period for all students in Minneapolis Schools. It also exceeds the current statewide average of 82%! (Source: Minnesota Department of Education Report Card).
DinoMights are equipped to develop academic excellence mainly through academic tutoring. In addition, participants have opportunities to learn web design and technology. Tutors serve as mentors as well as providing academic help. Tutoring students are assessed at the beginning and end of each school year using the Reading A to Z curriculum. Most students show at least one full year of progress. One young lady began 2nd grade reading at a first grade level. That year she increased two levels to be on pace with her peers.
Programs for Academic Excellence
In response to the question, "What do you value most about being a DinoMight," students respond with answers like, "I value, my friends, coaches, God," or, "always having fun and growing closer to God." One student said this, "That we beat the stereotype that all hockey players are white and that we do it through Jesus Christ." No student is forced into spiritual activities, however many will say that getting to know Jesus is one of the things they value about being a DinoMight.
DinoMights uses a unique approach that is founded on mentoring relationships. Staff, coaches, and tutors all seek to share the love of God with DinoMights by actively loving them. Good News to urban youth is the opportunity to participate in a positive activity in a community that can truly be a family for them. It is in this environment that they can come to know the great love of God.
Programs for Spiritual Excellence
12165 Ensign Ave N, Champlin, MN 55316
2025 Activities at this location