Dear Supporter,
As my family and I make final preparations for Thanksgiving, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your support of the Sundt Memorial Foundation. This message of thanks to you is echoed by thousands of educators and parents who have shared the Natural High message with their students and as a direct result, kids are pursuing their natural highs and rejecting the temptation to use drugs.
Below are a few stories and snippets about the impact we're making all over country. It is all because of your support.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Warmly,
Jon Sundt, Founder
Sundt Memorial Foundation
EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHT
- Natural High 4 was distributed to 90,000 Middle Schools nationwide this fall
- 6000 educators joined the Natural High Network, a virtual community of teachers and parents.
- According to a recent survey of over one thousand educators, 86% reported that the Natural High DVD program is an integral part of their substance abuse prevention efforts.
David Hedge, Student Assistant Counselor and Coach at McLaughlin Middle School in Manchester, New Hampshire, has used all four Natural High DVDs in assembly and small group settings. We asked David to share his experience with using the Natural High DVDs:
What is your natural high?
Working with youth and coaching softball and basketball.
How are you using the Natural High DVDs or message at your school?
This year I used different segments of Natural High 4 along with a slide show of students (put to music) participating in their natural highs during our annual Red Ribbon Week Celebration. This year's presentation was the best yet. The Natural High 4 DVD is also the best yet and allowed me to combine segments with the slide show.
Any additional thoughts?
The Natural High program is relevant and speaks to the audience not AT them. Personally, I have witnessed that Natural High has helped change the way our students look at drugs, alcohol and tobacco for the better. "It's not just another anti-drug message."
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More Educator Testimonials about Natural High 4:
"I teach in a high poverty area and drugs and gangs are a huge problem. I had my students write a paper and share it with the class about their natural high and how it helps them overcome the problems in their neighborhoods. This was the strongest drug prevention lesson I have ever taught and has had the most student participation."
- Chris, Elizabeth Morris School, IL
"My 6th grade daughter came home talking about the Natural High video and how I should show it to my students because it was really good. That was a natural high for me as a mom! Thank you for helping add value to our family."
- Malaika, Apex Academy, OH
"I strongly recommend the Natural High Video Series. They are by far, the best videos I have seen in my 19 years as an educator. The message is so powerful to make the choice to be drug free for life. Students of all cultures seem to really relate to the athletes."
- Robin, Rawlinson Road Middle School, SC
"Wonderful product! You would be hard pressed to find another DVD that gets this much buzz from students and teachers alike! I use it with 4th and 5th graders. I can't tell you how excited I was to get Natural High 4 in my school mail."
- Simon, Teacher, SD
"I've seen lots of anti-drug campaign videos in my many years in education, but this one is simply the best I've ever seen. The people in this video are ones that our students can easily relate to. Thank you so very much."
- Linda, Sharp Learning Center, GA
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT
- We know that Natural High 4 has already been seen by 2 million kids!
- More than 50 kids from all over the country told us about their Natural High via video, by participating in our first ever Natural High PSA Contest. Check the videos at http://www.naturalhigh.org/psa.html
- According to a recent survey, 77% of students said Natural High 4 encouraged them to find a natural high and reject drugs and alcohol.
Cody Johnson, PSA Contest Winner, from Canyon Crest Academy, had this to share with us about his natural high:
"I don't use drugs or alcohol because biking gets me naturally high. My sport is downhill mountain bikes. It's basically a time trail down a taped off mountain, and the person with the best time wins. I like downhill because its 98% mental and 2% physical. You can work out at the gym and ride for 8 hours a week, but if you don't have it down in your mind, your results will show, and when it comes to race day you'll just mess yourself up. It is the type of sport where you can psych yourself out. You have one run, everything comes down to the seconds, that is your bragging right.
For me mountain biking has kept me away from drugs and alcohol because being in a middle school where drugs are very prevalent, it gave me the chance to escape and just get away from everything. It's not only healthy for me and my mom encouraged it, but it just made me feel good. You know going fast and the air blowing, seeing nature and this and that, it just keeps you going and makes you want to do it more and more and more. Drugs and alcohol just slows you down and makes you want to do it less."
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More Testimonials from Other Students that Entered the Contest:
"This has really helped me stay away from drugs and alcohol."
- Skyler, Student
"I can stay healthy, fit and entertained by practicing the sport of parkour (free running). I don't need drugs or alcohol to have fun, and I see no need to take substances that will ruin my life."
- Andrey Student
"From watching Natural High, I really learned that instead of getting a high on unhealthy things like drugs, it is so much cooler to get a natural high that will keep you doing what you love instead of drugs."
- Kristine, Student
"I believe that everyone should have a passion that makes them happy. Happiness is natural and is easily gained through one's passion; no one should have to resort to artificial substances."
- Tyler, Student
"I think natural highs are great things for people to learn about. To stay drug free it feels so real to me."
- Nicole, Student
"Music drives both the instrument player and the listener. Music can inspire others and create a sense of calmness. This "natural high" inspires the participants and keeps them away from drugs and alcohol."
- Evan, Student
"My natural high is driving and exploration, just finding new places. It's the rush of a new discovery."
- Rio, Student
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Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for you!
